On July 29, the Legislature finalized the FY2022 state budget by completing its budget overrides, including a veto of $4.7 million in funding for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program in the final FY2022 state budget.
Housing News
July 27, 2021
On July 27th, the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Federal Stimulus and Census Oversight will be holding a virtual hearing on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding focusing on housing.
July 16, 2021
On July 16th, Governor Baker signed the FY2022 state budget of $47.6 billion that included increases for many affordable housing programs. The Governor issued vetoes on some line-item language.
The budget signed by the Governor includes appropriation amounts similar to the Conference budget for several CHAPA priorities including MRVP, AHVP and HomeBASE. The only veto on CHAPA priorities was for RAFT; the Governor vetoed the transfer of $4,725,768 from the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.
July 15, 2021
On July 15, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $139 million in affordable housing awards for 28 projects in 21 communities across the Commonwealth. These awards will advance the development of 1,526 new rental units, including 1,346 rental units affordable for low- and extremely low-income households.
July 9, 2021
On July 8, 2021, the conference committee released for the FY2022 state budget released its conference report, which reconciled the differences between the House and Senate budget proposals.
For each of CHAPA's priorities, the budget contains the higher appropriation amount from the versions passed by the House or Senate.
June 24, 2021
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, the Biden administration extended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium for 1 month from June 30th to July 31st.
June 22, 2021
On June 21, Governor Baker introduced a plan to immediately use $1 billion of the Commonwealth's federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for housing and homeownership. The $2.9 billion plan also included priorities related to economic development and local downtowns, job training and workforce development, health care, and infrastructure.
June 17, 2021
On June 17, the Baker-Polito Administration and MassHousing announced the first awards under the CommonWealth Builder program, a new $60 million program to create homeownership opportunities and build generational wealth in communities of color. MassHousing is committing $3.35 million to four projects, located in Boston, Everett, and Haverhill, which will support the creation of 33 new mixed-income homes, including 23 CommonWealth Builder homes.
June 16, 2021
On June 16, 2021, Governor Baker signed a law extending certain pandemic-era policies. Many of the policies established during the pandemic were tied to the end of the state of emergency, which expired on June 15, 2021. The new law extends certain pandemic policies including eviction protections for tenants and allowing public meetings to be held virtually.
For eviction protections, the law:
June 14, 2021
On June 14, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration released its FY2022 Capital Investment Plan, which includes resources for affordable housing and community development programs.
Highlights from the FY2022 Capital Budget for affordable housing and community development include: