CHAPA Statement on Senate Passage of Housing Bond Bill

On Thursday, June 27, the Massachusetts State Senate voted to approve a Bond Bill that makes a historic investment in affordable housing. Like the House of Representatives and Governor Healey, the Senate’s action demonstrated a commitment to providing the funding and policies needed to be intentional about housing affordability, equity, and choice. 

The bills passed by the House and the Senate are remarkable not only for the funding authorizations for the creation of affordable housing but for the policies that will help create the conditions in which challenges in home creation can be addressed. 

Both the House and Senate bills include significant increases in funding authorizations for public housing, infrastructure improvements, smart growth, energy efficiency, community planning, and for specific populations and regions that have been historically left behind in the current housing market. 

Additionally, both branches included policies such as the creation of an Office of Fair Housing, allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by right in single-family zoned districts, commissions on housing for low-income households and persons living with disabilities, a supportive housing pool fund to address the needs of households experiencing homelessness, and the creation of the Momentum Fund to accelerate the completion of mixed-income multifamily housing development. These policies will help move us closer to a Commonwealth where people can have safe, healthy, affordable homes in the communities they choose. 

Both the House and the Senate also resoundingly rejected attempts to weaken, undermine, or delay existing housing laws or to place unnecessary barriers to housing productions. Neither branch included harmful changes to Chapter 40B, the MBTA Communities Law, or the Community Preservation Act (CPA). 

Between now and the end of July, a Conference Committee of legislators from the House of Representatives and the Senate will work to reconcile differences between the bills passed by each branch. CHAPA will advocate strongly for the highest possible funding authorizations for each of the housing programs included in the Bond Bill as well as the inclusion of initiatives that were part of only one branch’s legislation, including:

• Eviction records sealing;
• Inclusionary zoning by simple majority;
• A commission on senior housing; 
• Expansion of the Historic Rehab Tax Credit; and
• The Small Properties Acquisition Fund.
  

Housing is the single best investment we can make for the future of Massachusetts. The funding and policies in the Housing Bond Bill put intention into the growth of our housing supply so that affordable housing grows as new homes are created. The new MBTA Communities Multifamily Zoning Law and the Housing Choice Act make it possible for communities to allow the 200,000 homes Massachusetts needs to stabilize home prices and rents. The legislation proposed by Governor Healey and now passed by both the House and the Senate puts funding and policies in place to move us forward in creating 40,000 homes that are affordable for households with moderate incomes and 20,000 homes that are affordable for people with low and extremely low incomes. Creating homes for people across income levels will ensure that people, our communities, our economy, and our Commonwealth thrive.

The housing challenges facing Massachusetts are significant, and CHAPA applauds the commitment shown by both the Legislature and the Governor to take the steps necessary to meet the moment. Together, we are poised to enact the strongest possible legislation that will serve to provide us with tools to create the homes we desperately need.