DHCD & CEDAC Announce $16 Million for Affordable Supportive Housing

Post date
June 8, 2020

Earlier this spring, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) announced funding awards for the annual Supportive Housing round. Awarded projects will provide affordable housing with supportive services serve families and individuals who have experienced homelessness; older adults; and individuals living with disabilities; and are located in metro Boston as well as the central, western and northeast portions of the state. DHCD expects to invest more than $16 million of state and federal funds as well as 73 vouchers from the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) in nine projects  located in metro Boston as well as the central, western and northeast portions of the state.

Funding for this affordable supportive housing round comes include the National Housing Trust Fund, dedicated to households at 30% area median income or less; state capital funding including the Housing Innovations Fund (HIF) and the Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF); and project-based subsidy from the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

The nine funded projects are:

  • A Place to Live, Worcester – Worcester Housing Authority will produce 25 studio units for formerly homeless households. CEDAC has provided $100,000 in pre-development financing to the project.
     
  • 555 South Union, Lawrence – Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. will produce 26 units for extremely low-income (ELI) older adults. Four of the units will be reserved for households with disabilities who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness or institutionalization. CEDAC has committed $200,000 in predevelopment financing and $1.9 million in acquisition financing to support this development.
     
  • Ashford Street Project, Boston – Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation will preserve a total of 12 SRO, studio and one- bedroom units in Allston for individuals who have experienced homelessness and/or chronic mental illness. Of these, 11 units will be affordable, including five units designated for ELI households.
     
  • 54 Eastern Avenue Malden Studio Housing 2019, Malden – Metro North Housing Corp will produce 14 studio units for formerly homeless individuals. The facility will also contain a food pantry and dining facilities for the Bread of Life, a volunteer organization that collaborates with local agencies to help low-income residents obtain counseling, furniture, housing, and financial assistance.
     
  • New South Street Apartments, Northampton – Home City Development, Inc. will preserve 18 units of affordable family housing. Seven of these units will be reserved for ELI households.
     
  • Lower Winter Street Apartments, Quincy – NeighborWorks Housing Solutions will produce 18 studio units for formerly homeless households.
     
  • Lynn Emergency Shelter, Lynn – Lynn Shelter Association will develop 40 new shelter beds in a new facility, to replace 40 existing shelter beds in an unsuitable building.
     
  • 12 Humphreys Street, Boston – Sojourner House, Inc. will receive seven MRVPs for its existing 11-unit supportive housing development for families in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. Eight of the units are designated for ELI households.
     
  • Meadowbrook Estates, Northampton – Preservation of Affordable Housing will receive three MRVPs for units serving households with chronic mental illness at this existing 252-unit multifamily development.