Housing in the Gateway Cities

While housing prices have climbed to record highs in Greater Boston, the Commonwealth's Gateway Cities struggle with the challenges of weak real estate markets. Low rents and declining home values hinder the maintenance of an aging housing stock, while vacant and abandoned homes caught in a foreclosure limbo exert downward pressure on entire neighborhoods. While COVID-19's economic impacts continue to evolve, they are likely to exacerbate these existing challenges. The stability of Gateway Cities is central to generating more equitable growth, as these communities are home to immigrants and first-time homebuyers of color, whose families have historically faced discrimination in the state's housing markets.

This webinar will focus on the ongoing neighborhood stabilization challenges facing Gateway Cities, current initiatives to support neighborhood revitalization, and new State programs and funds available for stabilization efforts.

This forum is sponsored by the Neighborhood Hub, a multi-agency partnership that includes MassHousing, MassDevelopment, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC), the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth (MassInc), and the Commonwealth's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in collaboration with the Attorney General's Office.

Panelists

• Alan Mallach – Senior Fellow, Center for Community Progress
• Jennifer Maddox – Undersecretary, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development
• Chrystal Kornegay – Executive Director, MassHousing