Massachusetts

In our next installment, we take a look at some positive outcomes—what happened with affordable housing on transit-owned land, cooperative agency work in Massachusetts that helped at-risk people, and the Minneapolis tenants who were facing eviction after court wins against their landlord.

Whether the governor’s rent relief and eviction diversion program will keep people in their homes depends on whether landlords can be persuaded—or compelled—to participate.

Affordable housing providers have touted the connections between health and the places where people live for years. In a small city outside of Boston, the evidence is incontrovertible.

The Massachusetts eviction moratorium—one of the strongest in the nation—expired, just in time for winter. How did this happen?

More than a dozen states are using Community Development Block Grant funding from the CARES Act to fund emergency rental and mortgage assistance programs.

Proposed state bill in Massachusetts boosts housing production, helps end exclusionary zoning.

We’re seeing bold actions from states across the U.S.—from strong eviction moratoriums in Massachusetts to a major homeless initiative in California. What if these new housing measures were designed to last beyond the coronavirus crisis?

Boston didn’t have the power to suspend evictions itself, so while advocates pushed the courts and the state legislature, affordable housing providers agreed to a voluntary eviction moratorium and the city encouraged other landlords to join.

A four-year-old Massachusetts program helps vulnerable populations by increasing communication among a range of local groups. And it’s having a positive effect—it’s helping reduce crime.

For Section 8 recipients, a step toward economic mobility (and community control) can be limited-equity cooperatives. A Section 8 voucher can be used to pay some of the monthly carrying costs of a co-op unit.

CDCs and their support organizations consider what it takes to weather the recession—from business model changes to different funding streams to mergers.

The fates of three venerable policies on fair share housing and sustainable land use can point the way for how to support similar efforts in other states.