On March 16, 2020, CHAPA submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in response to its proposed change to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. There were over 900 comments submitted by the March 16th deadline.
Housing News
On March 16, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh suspended all regular activity at construction sites in Boston. The only work that will be permitted moving forward will be emergency work, which will need to be approved by the City of Boston's Inspectional Services Department. This policy is effective as of March 17 and will be reviewed at regular intervals.
On March 16, 2020, the Senate is prepared to return to Capitol Hill from a weekend recess to take up the Families First Coronavirus Response bill.
On March 15, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the creation of a $10 million loan fund to provide financial relief to Massachusetts businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation will receive and process all applications for this fund. More information and applications can be found at: https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/what-we-offer/emergency-loan-funds/covid-19-loan-fund
On March 14, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced a partnership with private owners and managers to impose a moratorium on evictions while Massachusetts is under the COVID-19 emergency declaration. The partnership included the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB) and its entity the Massachusetts Apartment Association.
On March 14, the Massachusetts Housing Court placed a hold on all non-emergency eviction cases until April 21, 2020. However, a party may seek to advance its case, upon filing a motion with the court and by making a showing of good cause. The Housing Court also encourages parties to settle cases by out-of-court agreements. To read the court order, click here.
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On March 13, 2020, Reps. Kevin Honan and Mike Connolly filed legislation (H.4935) that would place a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration. Read the text of the bill here: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/HD4935.
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On March 13, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued a moratorium on the shutting off of residential utilities while the COVID-19 state of emergency remains declared. To read DPU's moratorium letter to National Grid and Eversource, visit: https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-shutoff-moratorium-eversource-and-national-grid/download
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Check out our March 2020 Housing Briefs for state and federal housing updates as well as recent research and reports.
This month features:
On the evening of March 12, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a $15 million coronavirus response budget bill (H.4561) that the Legislature hurried to his desk in the afternoon. Much of the money is expected to be directed into communities for first responders and local boards of health. To read the text of the bill visit: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4561.
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