#VoteforDashe! Be the Change you Wish to See in the World.
At the end of August of this year, Governor Healy signed the Affordable Homes Act, which provides $5.1 billion in funding for the production and preservation of affordable housing. This was the largest housing bill in Massachusetts history. The act included several measures to encourage development and improvement of homes by changes to zoning laws and offering financial support through grants and tax credits. ๏ปฟ
In 2021, the state also enacted the MBTA Communities Act, which generally requires 177 cities and towns to establish a district where multi-family housing may be built. In general, the district must be within a half mile from public transportation, suitable for families with children and have a minimum gross density of 15 units per acre. In October of this year, Governor Healy announced the launching of a $15 million MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund to provide grants for housing and infrastructure projects in MBTA Communities.
These measures represent significant and historical funding to address the housing crisis in Massachusetts. Dashe believes legislators should now turn their attention to implementing these measures and assisting communities in understanding the changes in law and accessing available funds. Dashe believes the following next steps are necessary.
Legislators must understand the housing needs, concerns and challenges unique to each town to facilitate smart development decisions that take into account the town’s existing infrastructure, demographics and available tax revenues.
Legislators must understand the unique challenges towns face in complying with the MBTA Communities Law and help towns address those challenges.
Legislators must evaluate the extent to which low- and middle-income residents can afford the purchase and rental prices of these new developments, whether new developments are addressing the needs of our seniors, and whether Massachusetts citizens will be prioritized over immigrants when it comes to new affordable housing options.
Legislators must be a resource for developers and towns by helping them understand the new laws and available sources of funding (e.g., tax credits and grants).
The Affordable Homes Act includes a provision that facilitates turning surplus state real property into residential developments. It has been announced recently that prisons in Walpole and Concord will be closing permanently. The Commonwealth and developers should take advantage of the opportunity to develop this land and increase housing supply.
All Rights Reserved | Dashe Videira for Senate | Privacy Policy