On April 1, Governor Baker signed a supplemental state budget for FY2022 that $100 million in additional funding for emergency rental assistance through the RAFT program. The budget also extends renter protections through March 31, 2023, that pauses eviction cases for tenants who have a pending application for emergency rental assistance.
Housing News
March 31, 2022
CHAPA's Comments on Draft Guidelines for MBTA Communities submitted to the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development on March 31, 2022.
Dear Secretary Kennealy,
March 24, 2022
On Thursday March 24th, the Massachusetts Senate will be debating the FY2022 Supplemental budget proposal (S.2776). The Senate Ways & Means proposal includes $100 million for rental assistance through the Rental Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT) same as the House allocation. The budget also extends renter protections that pause eviction cases for tenants who have a pending application for emergency rental assistance.
March 9, 2022
The following chart depicts CHAPA's current FY2023 state budget priorities for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness development programs. The chart also highlights funding levels in the current fiscal year (FY2022) and the proposed funding levels for the programs in the Governor's FY2023 budget request.
February 28, 2022
Please join CHAPA in signing a letter in support of a proposed Zero Carbon Renovation Fund to allocate $250 million of the state's ARPA funds to rapidly renovate the Commonwealth’s existing buildings to zero carbon.
February 22, 2022
Governor Baker filed a supplemental budget bill on February 18th, that seeks to spend $2.4 billion to keep COVID-19 response efforts going and make investments in areas like housing, human services, childcare, and others. The bill proposes $2.4 billion in spending with $1.6 billion allocated from the surplus revenues in FY2022, with the rest allocated from federal funds and reimbursements.
February 3, 2022
On February 2nd, the Joint Committee on Housing, chaired by Senator Keenan and Representative Arciero, favorably reported out four of CHAPA priority bills. The following bills will likely move to the respective Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means chaired by Senator Rodrigues and Representative Michlewitz.
January 31, 2022
On January 26, 2022, Governor Baker released his $48.6 billion state budget for FY2023 (H.2), which begins on July 1, 2022. According to Governor Baker, the budget would promote growth and support the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 while increasing total state spending by approximately 0.5% above Fiscal Year 2022.
January 6, 2022
On December 15, 2021, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released draft guidelines on the new state law requiring MBTA communities to establish zoning for multifamily housing.
January 5, 2022
Download pdf Version of Summary
The zoning reforms Governor Baker enacted as a part of the Economic Development Bill in January 2021 year created a requirement that MBTA communities have at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right and meets other criteria, including: