On March 12, the Boston Housing Authority announced it would suspend filing and pursuing of all non-essential evictions. The BHA defines non-essential cases to be nonpayment and cause cases that do not involve or include allegations of criminal activity or lease violations that impact the health or safety of BHA residents or employees and/or the general public. BHA intends to impose this suspension for the duration of the state of emergency.
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Housing News
On March 12, Governor Baker issued an Executive Order modifying certain requirements of the Open Meeting Law, to enable public bodies to carry out their responsibilities while adhering to public health recommendations regarding social distancing. Learn more here: https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law.
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On March 4, the Baker-Polito Administration filed a $240 million Economic Development Bill (H.4529).
In his press release, the Governor highlighted the following housing related provisions in the bill:
Housing Day has been POSTPONED
Out of an abundance of caution due to the coronavirus, CHAPA has decided to postpone Housing Day at the State House scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, March 11.
On March 9, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Community Scale Housing Initiative (CSHI). The initiative supports small affordable housing projects of 5–20 units.
The COMMBUYS bid number for the NOFA is BD-20-1076-OCDDE-OCD01-49220. If you are interested in applying to the upcoming CSHI round, please contact one of the following staff persons to describe your project:
On March 4, Governor Baker signed a supplemental budget for FY2020. The budget contains $5 million to recapitalize the Get the Lead Out Program to support lead paint remediation, $15 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and $2 million in additional funding for HomeBASE.
On February 28, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $2.15 million in awards for the new Gateways Housing Rehabilitation Program. The funding will support awards in nine communities to rehabilitate 75 housing units and make them available to low and middle-income households.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us last week as we and MHP welcomed Dr. Tiffany Manuel to help us make the case for affordable housing here in Massachusetts and in our local communities.
On February 21, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy announced that current Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Maddox has been appointed Undersecretary.