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Policy Recommendations: The Affordable Homes Act
Policy Recommendations: The Affordable Homes Act

Policy Recommendations: The Affordable Homes Act

by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute House Practice Group

On October 18, 2023, Governor Healey filed a $4 billion housing bond bill, The Affordable Homes Act, H.4138 (Bond Bill), calling for significant investments in housing as well as policies intended to protect tenants and provide new tools for local communities.

We applaud the Administration for proposing critically needed investments in preserving and creating affordable housing, as well as important policies to loosen municipal zoning and pilot social housing models. In addition to these commendable goals, however, we must ensure that this Bond Bill emerges as the comprehensive vehicle we need to meet our housing emergency. We look forward to working with the Administration and Legislature to strengthen the Bond Bill so it protects our lowest-income residents, renters, homeowners, and communities of color, and fosters equitable growth across Massachusetts.

We offer the following recommendations that prioritize the following:

  • Preserve existing affordable housing
  • Create more deeply affordable housing
  • Prevent displacement of tenants and homeowners
  • Reduce barriers to attaining housing
  • Dismantle structural racism in housing