Housing News

On July 31, the Massachusetts Legislature passed

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has named Karen Kelleher, most recently deputy director of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing), as the new executive director of its LISC Boston program. Ms. Kelleher has also worked previously at the Department of Housing and Community Devleopment, The Community Builders, and Nixon Peabody.

On July 31, the Massachusetts Legislature finalized and passed an Economic Development Bill (H.4868). The bill contains a $250 million capital reauthorization for the MassWorks Infrastructure Development Program. This will allow more grants to communities to support economic development, affordable housing, and job creation. The final legislation also contains two provisions with CHAPA's priorities:

On August 1, the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) appropriations bill. This appropriations bill funds important HUD programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Public Housing, among many others. The HUD funding bill was included in a package that funded three other departments and was passed with broad bi-partisan support, 92-6.

On Monday, July 30, the State Legislature passed a compromise bill that would establish a first in the nation statewide registry for short-term rentals like AirBnB, and would also tax such accommodations like motels and hotels. The bill also authorizes municipalities to impose a special fee on short-term rentals that must be used, in part, for affordable housing or local infrastructure projects. It would also require short-term rentals to carry $1 million in liability insurance.

On August 1, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the “Housing, Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) Act” (S.3342). This bill would provide a refundable tax credit to households who spend more than 30% of their income on rent. The credit amount would be based on a calculation that takes into consideration annual rent and annual income.

On July 31, the Legislature established an Economic Mobility Commission as part of the Economic Development Bill (

On July 30, the Massachusetts Legislature finalized the FY2019 state budget and overrode Governor Baker's veto of the budget item that supports foreclosure prevention and housing counseling programs across the state (7006-0011). The Legislature voted to restore $500,000 to the program as well as language in the budget line-item that authorized the grants to support foreclosure and housing counseling programs.

On July 26, Governor Baker signed a $41.2 billion FY2019 state budget. The governor returned the budget to the Legislature with $48.9 million in spending vetoes.  

On July 26, Governor Baker signed a $41.2 billion FY2019 state budget. The governor returned the budget with $48.9 million in spending vetoes. For information on the Governor's actions on the budget, please click here.