by Jacob Love | Oct 9, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
Last week, ProPublica reported that the Trump Administration is considering two major rule changes to federal housing programs that could deprive countless families of housing assistance and put them at risk of homelessness.
Both changes would have to undergo a public comment period prior to adoption. But, if allowed to take effect, they would: (1) permit public housing authorities and private landlords to implement work requirements and time limits for residence in public housing and receipt of certain federal housing subsidies (i.e., Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance); and (2) largely prohibit federal housing assistance from going to qualified people—including many American citizens—who happen to live in a home with an ineligible non-citizen (a “mixed-status” home).
While these regulatory reforms would be devastating for countless families with low incomes across the country, including many here in the Bay State, there is still time to push back. CHAPA strongly opposes both proposals and urges the federal government to reject them.
As we grapple with a nationwide affordable housing shortage and sky-high housing costs, our leaders should be championing proven solutions to our housing challenges. That’s why CHAPA works tirelessly on evidence-backed initiatives to boost affordable housing production, expand supportive housing programs, and implement inclusionary zoning reform.
Those are the kinds of policies we need to ensure that everyone in Massachusetts has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home. However, much like the policies propounded in the Administration’s recent executive order on homelessness, the justifications for these new rule changes run counter to the evidence and hinge on false premises.
Experts cited by ProPublica estimate that opening the door to work requirements and time limits could lead to a staggering 4 million people losing housing assistance. Although the Administration has claimed that these kinds of program constraints help generate “self-sufficiency,” a mountain of research supports that work requirements and time limits do not boost employment. The reality is that such constraints will strip vulnerable families of desperately needed assistance, exposing them to housing instability and homelessness without advancing the Administration’s purported underlying goal.
Likewise, HUD predicts that the new mixed-status rule will cause nearly every subsidy recipient in 20,000 mixed-status homes to relinquish their housing assistance to avoid family separation. This will subject thousands of children, many of them American citizens, to the numerous harmful effects of housing instability. The Administration contends that this change is needed to “ensure that only eligible persons receive benefits.” But not only do they point to no evidence that benefits are going to ineligible non-citizens, HUD’s current rules prevent that by prorating subsidies for recipients in mixed-status homes. Put simply, this change will operate to kick many thousands of eligible people out of vital HUD programs to fix a non-existent problem.
Fundamentally, in the midst of our affordable housing crisis, the facts tell us that more people need access to rental assistance, not fewer. CHAPA thus implores the Administration to drop these cruel and shortsighted proposals, which will only serve to hurt vulnerable families. Until that happens, we encourage everyone to join us in formally opposing the rules during the public comment period and vehemently advocating against their implementation.
by Matt Noyes | Aug 11, 2025 | Housing News
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 advance fair housing across Massachusetts. The resources from the Supplemental Budget represent the initial allocation for the trust.
Huge thanks goes out to Representative Dave Rogers for filing the amendment in the House to fund the Trust. Also thanks to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for including the funding in the bill they reported out and to Governor Healey for signing it into law.
Certainly positive news we can all be proud of!
by Jenna Connolly | Aug 5, 2025 | Housing News
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, like homeless sweeps and prosecution, that displace rather than house. This kind of crackdown will only serve to create more barriers to housing, not fewer.
The Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition (the “Coalition”) believes that everyone in Massachusetts deserves access to a safe and affordable home in the community of their choice. That is especially true for our neighbors experiencing homelessness who have the most to gain from stable, long-term housing. Overwhelming evidence shows that supportive housing is the most effective way to help this population. Supportive housing combines the Housing First strategy—which prioritizes fast, affordable, and permanent housing placement for those experiencing homelessness—with ongoing, person-centered services to increase well-being and improve housing stability.
Rising housing costs across the country continue to make affordable housing out of reach for millions and have contributed to record-high homelessness. To combat these issues, elected officials should be championing evidence-based solutions like supportive housing. Instead, the EO does the opposite and undermines state-level Housing First programs by directing the Executive Branch to “end[] support for ‘housing first’ policies.”
This directive could have disastrous consequences in Massachusetts. Not only is the Commonwealth already grappling with an affordable housing shortage, but recent social safety net cuts and changes to Medicaid and SNAP will soon inflict serious financial harm on the poorest Bay Staters. Under these conditions, any reduction in federal funding for supportive housing will hinder our best homelessness interventions, exacerbating and prolonging housing instability for countless Massachusetts individuals and families.
Contrary to the EO’s messaging, the unhoused are both less likely than housed people to commit violent crime, and more likely to be the victims of violence than to perpetrate it. And while many within the unhoused population struggle with drug use and mental health, research reveals that a third live with a serious mental illness and that 20-35% suffer from substance abuse issues. Far from overwhelming numbers.
False narratives about homeless people incite fear and dehumanization. And yet the EO relies on those narratives to justify its support for harsh and punitive tactics. Among its other directives, the EO instructs federal agencies to:
- Prioritize federal funding for jurisdictions that “enforce prohibitions” on things like “urban camping and loitering;” and
- Maximize involuntary civil commitment as a response to homelessness.
Encampment sweeps and other policies that criminalize survival activities may temporarily remove homeless people from sight, but they negatively impact health outcomes and can exacerbate homelessness in the long term. Involuntary commitments suffer from similar drawbacks. Jurisdictions that have studied forced hospitalization have found that it often fails the first time. And mental health professionals have explained that the practice is liable to cause serious trauma and do more harm than good, while providing no guarantee of housing, treatment, or recovery support services after discharge.
Even more fundamentally, these interventions do nothing to mitigate the primary structural driver of homelessness: a widespread lack of affordable housing.
The Coalition, which represents over 80 diverse organizations working in housing production, healthcare, and homelessness, has built a strong network of Commonwealth leaders and stakeholders committed to advancing the housing solutions we know work. Together, our impactful advocacy has already helped create new tools like the Supportive Housing Pool Fund, as well as three state commissions focused on affordable housing. The Coalition is committed to fostering a Massachusetts where homelessness is rare, brief, and one-time. And it will push back against any policy that impedes that goal, including the EO.
To make progress on homelessness, we must reject fear-based narratives and focus on strategies grounded in data and human dignity. That means restoring federal support for the Housing First approach and ending punitive policies that inflict damage without lasting results. There is still time to reverse the course charted in this EO, and the Coalition implores federal officials to do so immediately. Now is the time to focus on the future we want to see for Massachusetts—one where everyone has the support they need to thrive.
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH)
Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA)
United Way of Massachusetts Bay
Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness
###
The Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition is a diverse coalition of more than 80 nonprofit and for-profit developers, healthcare companies, service providers, policy organizations, and advocates working to scale supportive housing options and ensure those with the most to gain from a home have what they need to heal and thrive. To learn more, please visit masupportivehousingcoalition.org.
by Jordan Stocker | Aug 1, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
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 choose to hire a broker themselves. The policy also bans landlords from disguising these costs under labels like “admin” or “leasing” fees, and prevents them from conditioning apartment access or lease signings on tenants paying a broker they didn’t select. The change marks a significant shift in Massachusetts rental practices, shifting financial responsibility to the party who actually hires the broker, typically the landlord.
To support implementation, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) has released a comprehensive FAQ outlining the rights and responsibilities of tenants, landlords, and brokers under the new rules. The guidance clarifies when a fee can legally be charged, how required disclosures must be made, and what steps tenants can take if the rules are violated. The reform marks a major step toward making renting in Massachusetts more affordable and transparent for all.
by Jacob Love | Jul 30, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
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 the Legislature codified it as a separate statute, G.L. c. 40Y, in 2022.
Following the draft regulations’ release, EOHLC noticed a public comment period that ran from June 26 to July 25. CHAPA submitted written feedback to EOHLC on the proposed regulations last Friday. In these comments, we discuss how the Program—which encourages municipalities to zone for more “as of right” development of smaller, entry-level homes—has major potential to expand and diversify the Commonwealth’s housing stock. We also emphasize that the proposed regulations will play a vital role in encouraging municipalities to adopt starter home zoning districts, especially given that the previous iteration of the Program failed to garner meaningful engagement from cities and towns. To avoid that outcome this time, we advise EOHLC to streamline the compliance process and reduce administrative burden on participants.
CHAPA’s comments also applaud two key provisions EOHLC included in the draft regulations: a mandate for clear and flexible building design standards; and a rule permitting municipalities to “incentivize … additional affordability.” These terms will foster development in starter home districts and enable deeper affordability than Chapter 40Y requires, both of which will go a long way toward reducing the harmful effects of the Commonwealth’s housing shortage. The comments conclude by suggesting minor tweaks to these two provisions to make them even stronger and maximize their impact.
CHAPA looks forward to continuing to work with EOHLC and the Healey/Driscoll Administration on the implementation of Chapter 40Y and other efforts to build the homes Massachusetts and its residents need to thrive.
by Jordan Stocker | Jul 17, 2025 | Housing News
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 wage, and robust tenant protections, many renters are still unable to afford typical rent costs.
In 2025, the Housing Wage in Massachusetts—the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment—is $45.90. The average renter earns $28.66 per hour, leaving a gap of nearly $20 per hour. For minimum wage earners making $15/hour, affording a two-bedroom apartment would require working 122 hours each week, or more than three full-time jobs. This affordability gap places Massachusetts as the 4th most expensive state for renters in the country. The pressure is even more acute in areas like Greater Boston and the Cape and the Islands, where housing costs are among the highest in the nation.
At CHAPA, we’re working to close this gap by advocating for policies and investments that expand access to affordable homes. This includes our goal of creating 222,000 homes by 2035, while preserving the affordable homes we already have. We also continue to support and advocate for expanded investments in our state rental assistance programs like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), to help low-income and extremely-low income households access and maintain stable housing.
Addressing the affordability crisis in Massachusetts requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach. This includes expanding rental assistance, increasing housing production, and reforming local zoning and land use policies. By taking these steps, Massachusetts can make meaningful progress in closing the affordability gap and ensuring that more residents have access to stable, affordable housing in the communities where they live and work.
Read the full 2025 NLIHC Out of Reach report here and view the Massachusetts state profile here.
by Jenna Connolly | Jul 17, 2025 | Press
by Jenna Connolly | Jul 17, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
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 Attorney General will defer litigation against non-compliant communities until January 1, 2026. This measured approach provides communities with additional time to complete the local processes required to adopt zoning bylaws by the end of 2025. Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) commends the Attorney General for her commitment to enforcing this essential housing law.
“The MBTA Communities Act is an essential tool for creating the homes that people, our communities, and our economy need to thrive,” said Rachel Heller, CHAPA’s chief executive officer. “We applaud Attorney General Campbell for her commitment to enforcing state housing laws so that all people have opportunities to find homes they can afford in communities they choose. We hope that communities utilize the many resources available to implement the law, including CHAPA’s cost-free technical assistance program.”
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities’ (“HLC”) original MBTA Communities Act regulations required MBTA Communities with, or adjacent to, commuter rail stations to adopt compliant multifamily zoning districts by the end of 2024. The deadline was extended to July 14, 2025. As of today, 15 communities have missed that deadline and will immediately lose eligibility for most competitive state grant funding.
Although MBTA Communities have had nearly five years to create and implement multifamily zoning plans, a period in which 139 communities—the majority—have successfully complied, CHAPA recognizes the utility of providing more time to municipalities that have struggled to implement the law. Given the amount of inflammatory rhetoric surrounding this law, the Attorney General’s advisory turns down the temperature and political pressure and serves as a gesture of goodwill, encouraging residents to design multifamily zoning districts that meet their community’s unique housing needs.
“CHAPA has worked with planners from over 80 municipalities to educate residents about the MBTA Communities Act and all but four of those communities ultimately chose to adopt multifamily zoning districts,” said Will Rhatigan, CHAPA’s MBTA Communities engagement manager. “We’re confident that every municipality can find a multifamily zoning district that satisfies their residents, and we’re ready to offer our cost-free technical assistance with community engagement to any municipality that seeks to reach compliance with the MBTA Communities Act by the end of this year.”
Communities interested in participating in CHAPA’s cost-free technical assistance program for community engagement can reach out to Will Rhatigan at [email protected].
by Jacob Love | Jul 16, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News, Uncategorized
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 National Debt, while imposing historic slashes to safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP. CHAPA notes that the Bill makes a few significant housing-related policy changes that could have a positive long-term effect on housing affordability. But, in the immediate term, the Bill’s steep rollback of benefits programs will drain vulnerable Bay Staters’ pockets and make the Commonwealth’s sky-high housing costs even more burdensome.
Potential Long-Term Housing Positives
From an affordable housing perspective, the Bill’s most constructive change is its expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) Program. Beginning in 2026:
- There will be a 1.12 multiplier added to the formula for calculating each state’s annual allocation of “9 Percent” LIHTC credits, which will increase the total dollar value of those allocations by 12%; and
- The threshold of public activity bond (“PAB”) financing needed to qualify for “4 Percent” LIHTC credits will drop from 50% to 25%, theoretically allowing states to use their limited annual supply of PABs to ensure more projects qualify for credits.
These changes will increase the resources available to developers for the production and preservation of affordable housing on an annual basis going forward.
On top of LIHTC expansion, the Bill makes permanent two programs that can be used to fund housing development in distressed communities: the Opportunity Zones “OZ” Program and the New Markets Tax Credit “NMTC” Program. These initiatives aim to direct resources into low-income areas by providing tax breaks to people who invest in qualifying business activities, including housing development, in those areas.
The original OZ Program, created in 2017 and set to expire in 2026, allowed governors to designate 25% of low-income census tracts (“LICs”) in their states as OZs. It also said that 5% of designations could be for non-LIC tracts adjacent to LICs. Some early data indicate that OZ financing has flowed heavily toward multi-family developments. But, contrary to the spirit of the Program, evidence also suggests that developments receiving OZ funding are mostly market-rate and concentrated in higher income “adjacent” tracts.
The Bill corrects the latter issue by requiring periodic re-designation of OZs and eliminating the loophole for non-LIC tracts. But it does not build in any affordability requirements for residential projects receiving OZ funding. Including affordability is critical to ensuring that the Program benefits those living in targeted low-income areas.
Finally, the Bill’s extension of the NMTC Program, which was set to expire this year, represents a win for affordable and mixed-use development in underserved communities.
Major Negatives
The financial harm that low-income Americans will experience from the Bill’s provisions, including tax changes and well over a trillion dollars in SNAP and Medicaid cuts over ten years, cannot be overstated. Just to name a few major consequences:
- 11.8 million people will lose their health insurance by 2034, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office;
- 22.3 million families will lose some or all of their monthly SNAP benefits, per an analysis from the Urban Institute; and
- Post-tax incomes for the poorest Americans will fall by nearly $600 per year based on projections from the Yale Budget Lab.
People who struggle to make ends meet will now face more out-of-pocket costs for food and medical care, forcing them to make impossible choices with shoe-string budgets. For Massachusetts residents—who already face a severe housing shortage and extreme rent burdens—this will only exacerbate housing insecurity.
Additionally, the Bill undermines housing affordability by eliminating incentives for green housing production and energy efficiency improvements, and ballooning the National Debt. A higher National Debt can drive up interest rates and inflation, making it more expensive to both build and buy homes.
As things continue to happen rapidly in D.C., we invite everyone to stay up to date by attending CHAPA’s Federal Housing Policy Check-Ins: https://chapa.org/all-events/?event=233980.
by Jordan Stocker | Jul 10, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
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 funding for key programs, including a boost to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) from $219 million to $253.3 million to preserve assistance for existing participants, and $207.5 million for RAFT. Public housing operations received $115.6 million, while the Access to Counsel program was funded at $2.5 million and established as a permanent line item.
Policy shifts in the FY2026 budget include broker fee reform, which shifts the cost to whichever party first hires the broker—eliminating most renter-paid fees and significantly reducing up-front costs for tenants. The budget also advances the goals of the Unlocking Housing Production Act by promoting efforts to accelerate development through easing local barriers and exploring new tools for municipalities. These provisions support housing production through studies on tax incentives, inspection reform, and municipal authority, laying the groundwork for broader permitting and regulatory changes. Additionally, new language in the RAFT and HomeBASE programs directs the state to examine access barriers—such as “notice to quit” requirements and eligibility criteria—with the goal of improving program reach and responsiveness.
At the same time, funding for Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs)—which play a critical role in helping residents navigate evictions, access financial counseling, find housing, and utilize voucher programs—was significantly reduced. The Legislature approved $5.85 million for HCECs, already a 34.8% cut from the FY2025 level of $8.974 million. Governor Healey then vetoed $500,000 from that amount, lowering the final FY2026 allocation to $5.35 million. In FY2024, HCECs served more than 75,000 households statewide at an average cost of just $116 per household. With demand for services rising, the reduction in funding raises concerns about the capacity to support residents facing urgent housing challenges. CHAPA has submitted a letter urging the Legislature to override the Governor’s veto, emphasizing the need to restore critical funding to ensure these frontline services remain available as Massachusetts works to meet both immediate housing needs and long-term production goals.
You can view CHAPA’s full Budget Tracker here
