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CHAPA’s CEO Rachel Heller to transition to Executive Director of Massachusetts Housing Partnership
After 13 years of dedicated service to CHAPA, including nine years as our Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Heller will be stepping down from her role to become the next Executive Director of Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
Governor Healey Enacts Major Reform to End Mandatory Renter-Paid Broker Fees in Massachusetts
Starting today, August 1, a new statewide policy included...
CHAPA Comments on EOHLC’s Draft Starter Home Zoning Regulations
In June, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable...
Housing News
Conference Committee Approves FY26 Budget, Now Moves to Governor’s Desk
On June 30th, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a $61 billion FY2026 Conference Committee budget and sent it to the Governor for consideration. Marking the earliest completion of a budget in nearly a decade, the final agreement includes important progress on...
CHAPA Submits FY2026 Priorities to Budget Conference Committee
With the Senate completing its work on the FY2026 state budget last month, a House-Senate Conference Committee is now working to resolve differences between the two versions of the funding documents. CHAPA has submitted a letter to the six members of the committee,...
CHAPA and Lawyers for Civil Rights Celebrate Court Ruling Rejecting Unfunded Mandate Challenges to MBTA Communities Law
June 6, 2025 — Today, in yet another victory for the MBTA Communities Act (the “Act”), a Massachusetts Superior Court judge decisively ruled that the Act “does not constitute an unfunded mandate.” In doing so, the Court squarely rejected the State Auditor’s contrary...
Senate Passes FY26 Budget: Progress on Housing Priorities, Key Gaps for Conference Committee to Resolve
The Massachusetts Senate passed its $57.9 billion FY2026 budget last week, adding $43.5 million through more than 300 adopted amendments. The budget includes important progress on housing priorities, with investments in emergency rental assistance, first-generation...
New Report Highlights the Value of the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and How It Can Be Strengthened
Earlier this month, The Boston Foundation and the MassINC Polling Group released Voices of Experience: What Works, What Frustrates, and What to Do to Strengthen the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. The report draws on surveys, interviews, and focus groups with...
FY2026 Senate Budget – Anti-3A Amendments
Next week, the Massachusetts Senate will debate the FY2026 state budget. Among the 1058 amendments filed to the Senate Ways and Means proposal last week were several proposals that would roll back, weaken, or delay Chapter 3A - the MBTA Communities Act. ...
Support Key Housing Amendments in the FY26 Senate Budget
Last week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its budget proposal for the upcoming state fiscal year. At a time of fiscal challenges and federal government uncertainty, we are grateful that housing programs were largely protected, and in some cases received...
Senate Ways and Means Committee Releases FY2026 Budget Proposal
Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) budget proposal. Amid ongoing uncertainty around federal funding, the budget includes funding increases for some housing programs, while others remain level-funded at FY25 levels or...
CHAPA Submits Comments to HUD on Termination of AFFH Rule
CHAPA Submits Comments to HUD on Termination of AFFH Rule On Friday, May 2, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) closed the public comment period on the termination of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. AFFH is intended to...
MA House Passes FY26 Budget, Select Housing Adds Approved, Advocacy Turns to Senate for Additional Support
On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to approve a $61.5 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026, capping off two and a half days of debate and the adoption of seven consolidated amendment packages. The final vote was 151 to 6, with the...