Taking the Initiative: A Guidebook on Creating Local Affordable Housing Strategies
This guidebook is designed as a resource to help communities on a wide range of affordable housing challenges, from getting started to developing funding, zoning and land use strategies. There are also chapters on other housing strategies, such as ways to develop vacant or surplus properties, how to preserve existing housing and how to expand homeownership opporunities. Each chapter includes real example of communities that have tried these strategies, plus the book also includes a glossary of housing terms. The guidebook is a project of CHAPA and Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund.
Defining Housing Affordability
Chapter Two: Funding Strategies
Chapter Three: Zoning and Land Use Strategies
Chapter Four: Local Tax Incentives for Development
Chapter Five: Reuse of Vacant, Obsolete or Surplus Properties
Chapter Six: Preserving Existing Affordable Housing
Chapter Seven: Expanding Homeownership Opportunities
Chapter Eight: Alternative Development and Ownership Models
Chapter Nine: Forming Strategic Alliances
Chapter Ten: Town Initiated Development
Chapter Eleven: Pulling it All Together
Appendix A: Income Eligibility Guidelines
Appendix B: Affordable Housing Development Primer
Appendix C: Executive Order 418 Certified Communities
Appendix D: Affordable Housing Rolodex