Farewell Message from Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein – December 17, 2014

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:

I am writing to let you know that my last day at DHCD will be on Wednesday, January 7.   I am very grateful to Governor Patrick and Secretary Bialecki for affording me this unique opportunity to serve as Undersecretary for the past three years.

With the hard work and commitment of the DHCD staff, our local and regional partners, and the Massachusetts legislature, we have much to be proud of.   We have expanded affordable housing production, preserved expiring use properties, boosted low income homeownership, revitalized and reformed state public housing, comprehensively addressed homelessness, expanded rental assistance, advanced community planning and development, promoted fair housing, enhanced energy efficiency in affordable housing, passed a $1.4 billion housing bond bill, expanded the state housing tax credit, and increased the DHCD capital and operating budgets.

Together, we have focused on improving the effectiveness of our existing programs while launching new ones.   Some of our new initiatives and programs include:  Supportive Housing Initiative; Secure Jobs; Learning, Employment, and Assets Program (MassLEAP); High Leverage Asset Preservation Program (HILAPP); expansion of MRVP and RAFT; improvements to HomeBASE; Planning Assistance Toward Housing (PATH); New Lease for Homeless Families; Massachusetts Homeownership Compact; Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP); Social Innovation Financing (SIF); Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC); project-basing of MRVP, VASH, Section 811, and federal Enhanced Vouchers; a centralized, online waiting list for public housing; and much more.

None of these gains would have been possible without your active engagement and feedback.  Your advocacy, advice, and participation have been absolutely critical.  Thank you for all that you do to improve the lives of low and moderate income residents in our state.  Have a great Holiday Season.

With deep respect and gratitude,
Aaron