Housing News

On April 30, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) posted a Request for Responses (RFR) for a Fair Housing Initiative.  DHCD is soliciting proposals from eligible respondents to provide fair housing advocacy and services across Massachusetts. DHCD’s primary objectives for this Initiative are:

On April 14th, the House Committee on Ways and Means released its state budget proposal for FY2022. CHAPA thanks House Speaker Mariano, Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and other members of the Ways and Means Committee for their strong investments in affordable housing and community development programs. Read more about the budget proposal on CHAPA's website.  

On April 14, 2021, the House Committee on Ways and Means released its FY2022 state budget proposal. The proposal provides increased funding for many of CHAPA's affordable housing budget priorities, including for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, the Alternative Housing Voucher Program, Public Housing, Housing Consumer Education Centers, the Tenancy Preservation Program, and DMH rental subsidies.

CHAPA Virtual Housing Day 2021 Materials We're excited to come together virtually with housing advocates to support the policies and resources needed for everyone in Massachusetts to have a safe, healthy, and affordable home. To join us at Housing Day on April 6th from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M., please use this Zoom link.

On April 2, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that $400 million in new federal funding for the Eviction Diversion Initiative to increase emergency rental and utility assistance to low-income renters. The additional funding, and the flexibility created by federal regulations, will allow the Department of Housing and Community Development to expand aid to more households, provide deeper and longer-term assistance to households, and help households w

On March 31, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $13.7 million in capital funding and project-based vouchers to support the production and preservation of 67 supportive homes for vulnerable populations, as well as 100 shelter beds.

On March 31, 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded $5 million in capital grants to 28 communities under the Housing Choice Initiative and presented 14 communities with Housing Choice designations. 

On March 29, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended its federal moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent until June 30. This moratorium will help keep millions of renters stably housed during the pandemic and prevent further spread of and deaths from COVID-19.

On Wednesday, March 10th, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan of 2021. In total, the bill contains $1.9 trillion in comprehensive COVID-19 relief, including $1,400 stimulus checks, extension of unemploym

On Wednesday, March 10th, the Senate voted 66-34 to confirm former Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11) as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Secretary Fudge becomes the first Black woman in decades to head the agency and will be charged with addressing the challenges of America's housing crisis that have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.