On July 31st, Governor Baker signed the $43.3 billion state budget for fiscal year 2020. Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) sincerely thanks Governor Baker for recognizing the urgent need to expand investments in affordable housing, which help families thrive and build vibrant communities.
Housing News
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) seeks comments on its Draft Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan. DHCD last updated the plan in September 2014. The proposed revisions incorporate changes in federal and DHCD policy. Public comments on the plan are due to DHCD by Tuesday, September 10, 2019.
Please direct all comments to:
Maryssa Schneider McLean
maryssa.mclean@mass.gov
On July 21st, the Conference Committee finalized its budget for fiscal year 2020. Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) thanks the Conference Committee for recognizing the urgent need to expand investments in affordable housing, which help families thrive and build vibrant communities.
On July 18, Governor Baker announced the 2019 rental housing awards, which will provide $118 million in funding for 28 projects to fund the development, renovation and preservation of housing opportunities throughout Massachusetts.
The awards will support the construction and preservation of 1,581 homes, including 1,349 affordable homes, with 273 units reserved for extremely low-income households.
Check out CHAPA's July 2019 Housing Briefs for state and federal housing updates as well as recent research and reports.
A bipartisan group of legislators from the U.S. House and Senate introduced legislation last month that makes key improvements to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to increase production and preservation of affordable housing across the country.
On June 25th the United States House of Representatives passed the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD) Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill.
Thank you to those who attended our recent forum on Construction & Design for Today and Tomorrow, Part II on June 12th.
CHAPA submitted comments to HUD in response to a proposed rule that would prohibit "mixed-status families" (households whose members have different citizenship or immigration statuses) from receiving federal housing assistance, including public housing. CHAPA strongly opposes HUD's proposed rule.
Click here to read CHAPA's response to HUD.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has made $150 million available for new Mainstream Housing Choice Vouchers for persons with disabilities.
HUD has released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for housing authorities to apply to receive vouchers. Only public housing authorities that already administer Housing Choice Vouchers are eligible to apply for funding. Applications are due September 5, 2019.