Click here for The Building Blocks Coalition's FY2016 state budget priorities for affordable housing and homelessness prevention.
Housing News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2015
Contact: Rachel Heller
617.742.0820
rheller@chapa.org
The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the start of the spring 2015 affordable housing competition for rental projects. The deadline for submitting applications to the spring 2015 competition is Thursday, April 23, 2015. On or before that date, DHCD will accept applications from sponsors whose projects were approved in February 2015 through the Department’s pre-application process.
The President’s budget request for FY2016, released February 2, seeks funding increases for almost all HUD programs except CDBG, including a request for 67,000 incremental vouchers. As detailed in a HUD fact sheet, it also includes funding new HUD/HHS initiatives to encourage innovative approaches to meeting housing needs by combining funding streams flexibly and working collaboratively. Details on individual program funding requests can also be fund in HUD’s
Three Massachusetts housing initiatives are finalists in HUD’s Innovation of the Day (IOD) Initiative. People can vote for up to 3 winners (until February 10). The IOD initiative was developed to disseminate information on innovative housing, community development and urban practices and to identify emerging trends and promising solutions. Information on all 26 finalists can be seen at http://www.huduser.org/portal/iod/searchDB.html.
HUD published an interim rule to implement the Housing Trust Fund in the Federal Register. The rule is available on the Federal Register website: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-01642.pdf.
Ask Your Legislators to Co-Sponsor the Housing Production Bill
Please take a few minutes to reach out to your legislators by phone, email, or social media and ask them to co-sponsor HD3173, AN ACT RELATIVE TO HOUSING PRODUCTION. The bill will provide Massachusetts with the tools necessary to help all residents in the Commonwealth have a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home.
Join NLIHC and other affordable housing advocates from around the country as we engage with renowned thought and policy leaders to Educate, Advocate, Activate – NOW! The 2015 NLIHC Housing Legislative Forum will be packed with dynamic, powerhouse presenters, speakers and panelists — some of the best and brightest minds in the industry.
The Mayor's Office of Fair Housing and Equity is hosting its first Fair Housing Landlord Award. Mayor Walsh believes Boston will thrive when housing is affordable and accessible and neighborhoods are strong. The purpose of this award is to recognize landlords/housing providers who not only provide safe, healthy housing, but who also provide housing that is affordable and accessible to all; and who provide services that improve the ability of residents and the community at large to achieve economic, social and educational success.