Housing News

By Mark Feeney | Globe Staff Edward W. Brooke, the Massachusetts Republican who was the first African-American to be elected to the US Senate since Reconstruction, died Saturday morning in his Coral Gables, Fla., home. He was 95, and his health had declined in the past couple of months. Mr. Brooke served in the Senate from 1967 to 1979. Elected attorney general in 1962 and reelected two years later, he was the first African-American to hold that office in any state.

The Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) is seeking to amend its membership rules, which has the potential to impact current and future members of the Federal Home Loan Bank and impact the amount of funds available for affordable housing and community economic development.

Chrystal Kornegay, CHAPA Board President and Urban Edge President and CEO, was named Undersecretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development in Governor-elect Charlie Baker’s administration. CHAPA congratulates Chrystal and looks forward to working with her in her new role. Click here to read more.

New Supportive Housing Units Bring Total Number Over 3,000, Tripling Governor Patrick’s Initial 1,000-Unit Goal

CAMBRIDGE, MA - Mohsen Mostafavi, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and David T. Ellwood, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, announced today that Dr. Christopher E. Herbert has been appointed Managing Director of the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, effective January 1, 2015.  In making this announcement, the Deans noted that Herbert is a nationally recognized scholar and researcher with great depth of experience in housing analysis and public policy.

Tax Credits Will Allow Community Partners to Solicit Additional Support for their Organizations   WORCESTER – Thursday, December 18, 2014 – Continuing the Patrick Administration’s commitment to encourage new economic opportunities for low- and middle-income households throughout Massachusetts, Department of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein today announced  over $5 million in Community Investment Tax Credits to 44 community organizations across the Commonwealth.  

Thank you, Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, for your dedication to creating and preserving affordable housing. We will miss your leadership in the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Stay tuned for an event to be held at the end of January honoring Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein. More information will be announced. Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Through Council’s Efforts, Massachusetts is National Leader in the Housing First Movement BOSTON – Tuesday, December 16, 2014 - Marking the Patrick Administration’s commitment to reducing homelessness in the Commonwealth, Department of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein today presided over a meeting of the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH).The ICHH has met monthly since 2008, and today’s session marks the final under Governor Deval Patrick’s leadership.

By Jack Newsham, Globe Correspondent The city of Boston said Monday that it received a $1.35 million grant to create a “Housing Innovation Lab” that will study and suggest proposals to help achieve Mayor Martin Walsh’s goal of creating 53,000 new units of housing by 2030. Click here to read the full article.

The American Planning Association-Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) announced the winners of the 2014 APA-MA Awards Program, which honors outstanding planning projects and planning leadership. CHAPA congratulates Jennifer Raitt, CHAPA Board Member, on the Social Advocacy Award!   Click here for more information.