Housing News
Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published three reports on the HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) Program that are frequently requested by housing advocates and the public. The HOME program is a federal block grant used to assist low and moderate income home ownership and rental housing. For instance, HOME grants can be used for security deposits, down payment assistance and rental assistance, as well as development costs to build and rehab housing.
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) intends to hold a multifamily rental funding competition in February 2019. Pre-applications for potential affordable housing projects will be due on November 29, 2018. Sponsors whose projects are approved through the pre-application process will be allowed to submit full applications on February 21, 2019.
A copy of the Notice of Funding Availability can be downloaded by clicking here.
CHAPA submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in defense of the Obama-era Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, promulgated in 2015.
On October 11, the Baker-Polito Administration announced nearly $5 million in awards to 31 communities throughout the Commonwealth through two new grant programs under the Housing Choice Initiative. The Housing Choice Initiative, introduced by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2017, provides incentives, rewards and technical assistance reform to cities and towns that have been designated as "Housing Choice" after demonstrating certain levels of housing production or the adoption of best practices that encourage smart growth.
Read the full report by Boston Indicators, Boston Foundation's research center, here.
The five main takeaways from this report (p. 7) are:
Economic mobility is down
Income inequality is up
Boston's middle class is hollowing out
Poverty persists
Wealth disparities are growing
On Wednesday, October 3, HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced new grants to reduce veteran homelessness as well as funding for a pilot program that helps disabled veterans make home modifications for greater accessibility.
Read CHAPA's October Housing Briefs for state and federal housing updates as well as recent research and reports.
On October 2, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, and 15 communities that form the Metro Mayors Coalition announced a new housing production goal for the coalition's region to meet the demands of a robust regional economy and a growing population in Boston and surrounding areas.