Housing News

The Baker Administration is hosting four regional listening sessions to get input for its economic development strategy. Join Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealy, municipal officials, legislators, and community and business leaders for a regional engagement session to inform the Baker-Polito Administration’s economic development strategy for the next four years  

On April 16, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released FY2019 funding levels for formula programs including: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG); HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA); Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG); and Housing Trust Fund (HTF). For a spreadsheet showing the FY2019 allocations, please click here.

We at CHAPA look forward to working with the Baker Administration, the Legislature, and advocates across the state to pass the Housing Choice legislation. The Governor’s bill will make a substantial impact in communities working to encourage housing development and undo policies that prevent housing production and perpetuate segregation. Lowering the super majority threshold required for zoning changes will empower the simple majority of people in a community to vote “Yes” for housing.

Boston - Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to approve its final budget proposal for fiscal year 2020. Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) thanks the House of Representatives for recognizing the urgent need to expand investments in affordable housing, which help families thrive and build vibrant communities.

Yesterday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives concluded debate on its FY2020 state budget. For a table showing the final funding amounts for CHAPA's budget priorities, click here. During budget debate, the House approved additional funding for two of CHAPA's budget priorities through the amendment process:

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released its Draft Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing. The draft Analysis is open for public comment. DHCD will hold a public hearing on the draft on April 29 in Boston, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Boston Planning and Development Agency (City Hall, 9th Floor Board Room, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA, 02201).

On April 24, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released income limits for fiscal year (FY) 2019 to determine income eligibility for HUD-assisted programs. Those HUD programs include public housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs. To access the income limits for your municipality, use the HUD Income Limit search tool by clicking here.  

On April 22, the Baker-Polito Administration’s Division of Banks (Division) awarded $1.5 million in grants to fund first-time homeownership education programs and foreclosure prevention counseling centers throughout the Commonwealth. A total of 20 awards were made to 10 foreclosure prevention regional centers and 10 consumer counseling organizations. 

On April 10, the House Committee on Ways and Means released its $42.7 billion budget proposal for FY2020. CHAPA thanks Speaker DeLeo, Representative Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and other members of the Ways and Means Committee for their strong investments in affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and community development programs! Read more about the budget proposal on CHAPA's website.  

​  Check out CHAPA's April 2019 Housing Briefs for state and federal housing updates as well as recent research and reports.