The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is making up to $2 million available to communities under the Gateway Plus Action Grant to support local planning efforts to expand housing opportunities for the Commonwealth's residents, resulting in revitalization that creates and restores vibrant mixed-income neighborhoods. The resulting plan and proposed actions should reflect a shared vision of a neighborhood improvement strategy, emphasizing housing needs, quality of life, and ongoing steps to sustain and enhance community and civic engagement.
Housing News
June 20, 2011
FHFA has stated that business will continue as usual at the Enterprises during the conservatorship—this applies to both their single-family and multifamily businesses.
Please click here to view the full announcement.
June 20, 2011
Secretary Bigby and the Governor's Office have approved the Community First Olmstead Plan linked below. "Community First" continues to be one of the Secretary’s top priorities. The Governor "officially" received the plan on September 12th.
Please click here to view a PDF version of the plan.
June 15, 2011
Area economists say the bottom may be near for the slump of housing prices in Massachusetts. That’s the good news.
The bad news: Don’t expect a rapid rebound. Expect prices to move sideways for a while before rising. Those who recently bought homes likely will remain “under water” — owning a home valued at less than they paid — for several years.
June 15, 2011
State Updates
Senate Committee on Ways and Means Releases FY’12 Budget Proposal
On Wednesday, May 18th, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its FY 2012 Budget Proposal. Like the Governor’s budget and the House budget, the Senate Ways and Means budget closes a gap of over $1.8 billion created by a revenue shortfall from the slow economy, the repeal of the sales tax on alcohol, and the loss of ARRA stimulus funds.
June 15, 2011
On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, together with the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), James Lockhart, released a statement announcing the decision of Lockhart to place the government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under conservatorship.
June 15, 2011
Testimony on DHCD’s FY 2010 Budget
Written by: Sean Caron
Director of Public Policy
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
Click here to view full text of testimony (PDF File)
June 15, 2011
Governor Deval Patrick today pledged more than $142 million from state housing programs and equity leveraged from private sector investment in low-income housing tax credits to support projects statewide that will yield 1,218 rental apartments, 1,124 of which will be affordable for low- and moderate-income residents.
June 15, 2011
Click to view full PDF File.
Advocates Join Forces to Prevent Human Tragedy This Winter State’s “Unmet Need” for Home Heating Assistance Estimated at $250 Million A diverse group of supporters representing elders, fuel companies, poor families, health care organizations, environmental groups and religious organizations across the state have joined together to demonstrate the critical need for significant increases in home heating assistance this winter in Massachusetts.