Unless the Governor extends the statewide eviction moratorium, it could end on August 18th. And when it ends, courts will be flooded with eviction cases. Landlord organizations estimate 15,000 new evictions will be filed.
Housing News
July 7, 2020
Press release per Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston with notes from CHAPA
The Federal Home Loan Bank Boston has announced the winners of the 2020 Affordable Housing Development Competition. CHAPA is proud to be a sponsor of the Competition, just completing its 20th consecutive season.
July 6, 2020
In March of 2020, Massachusetts faced rising cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 10, Governor Charlie Baker announced a State of Emergency in Massachusetts to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. These orders included direction for all residents to shelter in place, work from home when possible, and shut down or modified the way businesses operated. Over 500,000 Massachusetts residents filed unemployment claims as of early May 2020. There are likely additional households that face challenges to pay for housing due to the sudden loss of income.
July 2, 2020
On July 2, the State Senate passed its FY2020 COVID-19 response supplemental budget (S.2789). Click here for a summary of the affordable housing related provisions of the Senate budget.
July 1, 2020
On June 8, Governor Baker filed S.2753 that would remove affordable, public, and market rate housing providers for seniors and persons with disabilities from the burdensome reporting requirements of the new COVID-19 data law. The bill is currently before the Committee on Public Health, which is collecting comments on the legislation. Click here for a fact sheet on S.2753.
July 1, 2020
On June 30, the Baker-Polito Administration announced a new $20 million, statewide fund to assist low-income households facing difficulty making rent and mortgage payments. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
June 30, 2020
On June 30, 2020, Representatives Mike Connolly and Kevin Honan filed HD.5166 to protect housing stability for tenants, homeowners, and certain multifamily housing owners impacted by COVID-19. The bill also creates a fund to support landlords. The bill is expected to be assigned to the Housing Committee
For the period from March 10, 2020, until one year after the end of the COVID-19 emergency declaration, HD.5166:
June 30, 2020
On June 29, the Senate Committee on Ways & Means released a $1.1 billion COVID-19 response supplemental budget proposal for FY2020 (S.2789). Click here for a summary of the affordable housing related provisions of the Senate budget proposal.
June 29, 2020
On Friday, June 26, Governor Baker signed an interim $5.25 billion state budget (H.4806) to keep government running when the new fiscal year begins on July 1. It is expected that the short term budget will largely be based on FY2020 appropriations. The interim budget is expected to keep the state government funded through July. If the Legislature has not approved a final FY2021 budget by August, another short term state budget will need to be approved.
June 26, 2020
CHAPA submitted testimony on Governor Baker's Economic Development Bill (H.4529) to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Read CHAPA's submitted testimony.