Housing News

Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee released its budget proposal for FY 2025, which begins on July 1, 2024.  In the days immediately following that release, representatives submitted 1,495 amendments to that budget.  On Wednesday, the House begins its multi-day budget consideration process.  

On April 16, the House of Representatives sent the Governor's Affordable Homes Act (H. 4138) to its third committee since it was filed last October. After moving from the Housing Committee to the Bonding Committee earlier this year, it is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means. While that committee is expected to make significant changes to the legislation (Speaker Mariano has said that he is "going to go big" on housing), timing is to be determined.

James Jennings, Ashley E. Harding, Kadineyse Paz, and Robert Terrell released their new fair housing report, Advancing Fair Housing in Greater Boston, Massachusetts: Voices from the Field. The report highlights the need to ensure that amplifying calls for increasing the affordable housing supply is consistently conjoined with ‘affirmatively furthering fair housing,’ not just to do the “right thing,” but to be in compliance with required federal laws and regulations.

Following Milton’s rejection of a new multifamily zoning plan, CHAPA applauds Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s leadership in pursuing legal action against the town of Milton. The AG’s lawsuit sends a clear message that municipalities unwilling to do their part in creating more diverse types of housing where families can thrive and that choose to fail to comply with the MBTA Communities Law will face consequences for their inaction.

At CHAPA, we’re proud of the policy and systems changes made in 2023 to allow for more of the diverse types of homes we need, including MBTA Multifamily Zoning, efforts made to eradicate the racial homeownership gap, and more. With a solid foundation to build upon in 2024, CHAPA will continue to help put Massachusetts on a path toward 200,000 homes by 2030. Check out CHAPA's 2023 Annual Report for last year's accomplishments, including our policy and program work!

On Wednesday, February 14th, 2024, residents of Milton voted no on a bright and inclusive future for their community. At a time when people across income levels are feeling the pain of escalating home prices and rents, CHAPA is disappointed that Milton voters chose the status quo that keeps their gates closed and limits opportunities for people to have homes they can afford in the neighborhoods they love. Milton’s vote impacts people, our region, and our economy. 

Four leading statewide affordable housing organizations today called on Milton residents to vote YES on February 13 to adopt multi-family zoning consistent with the MBTA Communities Law.

Right now, members of Congress are working to pass fiscal year 2024 spending bills for a range of federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Unfortunately, there are indications that the proposals being considered would underfund HUD and threaten housing and homelessness programs.   

On January 31, the House of Representatives passed HR 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 by a vote of 357-70.  Among the many provisions of the bill are housing tax credits: the restoration of the 12.5 percent allocation increase for 2023-2025 and the reduction of the bond threshold required to access the 4 percent credit from 50 percent to 30 percent for 2024 – 2025.   

On January 24th, Governor Healey revealed the FY2025 budget proposal of $56.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, focusing on investments in education, infrastructure, and housing.