We are pleased to announce that CHAPA is currently seeking additional communities on a rolling basis for our MEI Lite Program, a lighter touch program of our Municipal Engagement Initiative, that will help to set communities up for coalition building efforts on their own.
Housing News
November 3, 2022
On November 2, a final Economic Development Bill (H.5374) emerged from its conference committee in the state Legislature. Uncertainty caused by an obscure tax rebate law triggered by stronger-than-expected tax collections delayed the bill's progress since the end of formal legislative sessions on July 31, 2022.
The conference committee presented a slimmed down Economic Development Bill compared to the versions passed earlier this year by the House and Senate. The final bill dropped certain tax relief proposals and any capital spending approvals.
October 21, 2022
On October 21, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) posted revisions to the MBTA Zoning Guidelines regarding inclusionary zoning requirements.
October 20, 2022
On October 20, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced that the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) will begin covering last month's rent starting on November 1, 2022.
October 17, 2022
On October 17, CHAPA, along with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, delivered a sign-on letter to legislators and the Baker Administration advocating for ending the notice to quit requirement in the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) emergency rental assistance program. 167 organizations joined the letter asking to stop the harmful requirement.
October 4, 2022
Please Sign-On Your Organization to Improve Access to RAFT
On August 1, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) made changes to Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program reinstating a requirement of Notice to Quit (NTQ) for households applying for assistance with rent arrears.
September 26, 2022
Close to 250 advocates, neighbors, municipal employees, organizational representatives, and legislators working on affordable housing in their communities joined us on Thursday, September 22nd for our Annual Regional Meeting.
September 12, 2022
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
September 12, 2022
On September 12, CHAPA, along with Department of Housing and Community Development and 21 industry, non-profit and state partners, submitted an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Terrence Marengi v. 6 Forest Road, LLC (“Marengi”) in support of a ruling of the Superior Court, as affirmed by the Appeals Court, applying recently enacted abutter appeal reform provisions to comprehensive permit cases.
September 9, 2022
After the success of affordable rental search website, Housing Navigator’s first year, MyMassHome launches today as the homeownership component in a suite of tools for hopeful affordable, accessible homebuyers. MyMassHome is a free website that serves as a one-stop portal with connections to all the resources homebuyers with low, moderate, and fixed incomes in Massachusetts need.