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CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center Releases First Report on Housing Choice Vouchers
CHAPA's Housing Policy Action Center released its first research report, Shaping Action: Findings on Use of Housing...
CHAPA’s new Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy to equip local leaders with skills to tackle housing challenges
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) opened...
CHAPA Statement on HUD Plans to Restrict Housing Aid
Last week, ProPublica reported that the Trump...
Housing News
MA Fair Housing Win – $1 Million in Funding for the Fair Housing Trust
Last week, Governor Healey signed S2575, the FY2025 Supplemental Budget, into law. Included in this legislation was $1 million in funding directed to the Fair Housing Trust. The Trust, which was created last year as part of the Affordable Homes Act, will be used to...
Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition Statement Regarding Executive Order on Homelessness
On July 24th, President Trump issued an Executive Order (“EO”) on homelessness that trades effective solutions for fear-based politics. Casting the unhoused as “public safety threats,” the EO sidelines proven Housing First strategies in favor of punitive measures,...
Governor Healey Enacts Major Reform to End Mandatory Renter-Paid Broker Fees in Massachusetts
Starting today, August 1, a new statewide policy included in the FY2026 budget and signed by Governor Maura Healey prohibits landlords from charging tenants broker’s fees when the broker was hired by the landlord. Tenants are only responsible for such fees if they...
CHAPA Comments on EOHLC’s Draft Starter Home Zoning Regulations
In June, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) released draft regulations regarding the Commonwealth’s Starter Home Zoning Districts Program (the “Program”). The Program was originally part of the Smart Growth Zoning statute, G.L. c. 40R, but...
NLIHC Releases 2025 Out of Reach Report: What it Means for Massachusetts
The latest Out of Reach report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) highlights the growing gap between wages and rental housing costs in Massachusetts. While our state continues to lead with strong commitments to affordable housing, a higher minimum...
CHAPA Applauds Attorney General Campbell’s Enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act
On Tuesday, July 14, Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued a legal advisory informing MBTA Communities of the next steps her office will take to enforce the MBTA Communities Act. Although the final regulatory deadline to adopt compliant zoning has now passed, the...
Federal Government Enacts Taxing and Spending Bill
On July 4th, the federal government enacted a taxing and spending bill (the “Bill”) that will have enormous consequences for the American public. The top-line view of the legislation is that it expands and enacts tax cuts that will add trillions of dollars to the...
Governor Healey Signs FY2026 Budget: Housing Investments Move Forward, but HCEC Funding Faces Veto
Governor Maura Healey has signed Massachusetts’ $61 billion FY2026 budget, which includes significant housing investments and policy reforms aimed at improving affordability and strengthening housing stability. Overall, the budget maintains or modestly increases...
Jacob Love to bolster policy team, pro-housing advocacy reach for CHAPA as general counsel
On June 30th, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) added Jacob Love to their growing team as general counsel for policy. In this new role, Jacob will work with CHAPA’s policy team to shape and implement CHAPA’s policy agenda, advise on legislative...
Governor Healey Releases FY2026-2030 Capital Investment Plan
On June 30, the Healey-Driscoll Administration released its Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for the next five years, outlining capital investments in a range of state policy areas. In a departure from recent practice, this CIP proposes specific bond allocations for...