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 Governor Baker, Boston's Mayor Walsh, Congressman Lynch headline groundbreaking for expanded veterans' facility
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Congressman Stephen Lynch and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (center front) were among those celebrating the start of renovations
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Federal, state and city officials recently gathered to break ground on the $31 million renovation of the New England Center for Homeless Veterans in Boston that will add more housing units and expand space for vocational training and support services for veterans.
MassHousing provided $2.3 million from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which it manages on behalf of the state Department of Housing and Community Development.
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Multifamily Owners: HUD issues revised Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Notice
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published new guidance to help private landlords of multi-family housing developments and public housing authorities that want to participate in HUD's
Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program. The
notice provides clarifications since the program launch, and incorporates changes made by Congress. HUD is accepting public comments for 30 days; the public comment period commenced June 15.
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$6.9 million from MassHousing spurs improvements, extends affordability for 82-unit Power Town Apartments in Montague
 The Village of Turners Falls in the town of Montague was once known as "Power Town" for its hydropower generated by harnessing the rapids of the Connecticut River. The similarly named 82-unit family and elderly apartment community reflects that heritage.
Now, thanks to an infusion not of hydropower but of $6.9 million of low-cost financing from MassHousing the Power Town Apartments will be renovated and low-income renters will continue to have affordable rents. Continue reading...
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MassHousing, Metro Credit Union announce "At Home" mortgage loan program for homebuyers and homeowners in Chelsea, Everett and Revere
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From left, Metro CU Senior Mortgage Originator John Sepulveda, MassHousing Relationship Manager Mounzer Aylouche, Metro CU President and CEO Robert Cashman and Chelsea City Manager Ned Keefe
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MassHousing and
Metro Credit Union have created "At Home" mortgage loan programs for low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners in Chelsea, Everett and Revere that will offer financing by Metro Credit Union insured by MassHousing.
This new mortgage program is focused on the financing of home purchases, home refinancing and property rehabilitation exclusively in these cities and will offer expanded loan-to-value ratios and less restrictive reserve and credit requirements for borrowers.
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MassHousing & CEDAC-sponsored study: Chapter 40T has preserved more than 11,000 affordable housing units
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Chapman Arms in Cambridge was preserved using Chapter 40T
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The Chapter 40T law, passed in 2009, has been directly or indirectly responsible for preserving more than 11,000 units of affordable housing in Massachusetts, according to a
recently released study funded by MassHousing and the
Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).
The report's findings were presented June 3 at an event sponsored by CEDAC and the
Citizens' Housing and Planning Association and hosted by MassHousing. The forum featured a panel discussion with Massachusetts Undersecretary of Housing and Community Development Chrystal Kornegay, Madison Park Development Corporation CEO Jeanne Pinado, and Massachusetts Senior Action Council Executive Director Carolyn Villers.
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MassHousing's Executive Director Tom Gleason receives Leadership Award from Lawyers Clearinghouse
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Larry Curtis of WinnDevelopment presents the Leadership Award
to Tom Gleason
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Earlier this month Lawyers Clearinghouse, a non-profit that provides pro-bono legal services, presented its annual Leadership Award to MassHousing Executive Director Tom Gleason in recognition of his many years of service in affordable housing. Gleason, who has been MassHousing's Executive Director since 2001, was honored during the organization's 27th annual meeting.
"Tom's commitment to affordable housing in the Commonwealth has changed lives and has helped make Massachusetts a leader in the creation and preservation of affordable housing in the country," said Lawyers Clearinghouse Executive Director Maribeth Perry. Continue reading...
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Three area developers make case for "greening" affordable housing
With environmental sustainability and green building techniques gaining in importance, three developers shared their success stories at the second in a series of MassHousing-led panel discussions.
Case Studies in Energy and Water Conservation: The New Normal to the Outer Limits was held on June 11 at MassHousing. Ed Connelly of New Ecology, Inc. moderated the discussion among Beverly Craig of Homeowner's Rehab, Hank Keating of Trinity Financial and Courtney Koslow of Beacon Communities. Continue reading...
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MassHousing's website for homebuyers wins award
A redesign of MassHousing's website that educates prospective homebuyers received a Merit Award from the Publicity Club of New England at their annual Bell Ringer awards competition on June 11. It was an honor to compete and win against public relations and corporate communications teams from all across New England. You can check out our award-winning website here.
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New guidance for management companies opening previously closed waitlists
MassHousing recently modified its Tenant Selection Plan to ensure fair and open access to waiting lists for affordable housing units that are in particularly high demand.
Project-based Section 8 units and other units with deep subsidies are often in the highest demand and generate the longest waiting lists. When demand is very high, property managers may close the waiting list once they have so many applicants that the wait is "excessive" (typically a year or more).
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Celebrating 25 years of mentoring elementary school students
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2015 MassHousing STARR Mentors
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MassHousing recently held its 25th Year-End Awards Ceremony for fifth-grade students involved in the STARR Mentor Program. The Striving Toward Academic Recognition and Respect (STARR) Mentor Program involves MassHousing staff mentoring students at the Martin Luther King K-8 School in Dorchester.
Some mentors work in the classroom with the students once a week to help develop mathematics and reading skills, while others donate time on weekends to take the students on educational field trips and other fun-filled activities. Continue reading...
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MassHousing, City of Boston team up for Father's Day walk in Boston
Despite heavy rain, approximately 100 people turned out for the inaugural Father's Day Walk for Families in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston on Sunday, June 21. MassHousing was pleased to partner with the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department to sponsor the two-mile walk that traversed Seaver Street and Humboldt Avenue.
Much like the successful annual Mother's Day Walk, the Father's Day Walk will be an annual event. Continue reading...
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MassHousing working with The Anthem Group to bring Boston youths to the Esplanade
As part of our efforts to "go beyond bricks and mortar" to enhance the quality of life for residents in apartments we finance, MassHousing and The Anthem Group-which operates the Charles River Bistro on Boston's iconic Esplanade near the Hatch Shell-are offering opportunities this summer for underserved youths in Boston to visit the famous park and take in some of its activities such as movie nights and other events.
Chris Sinclair, President of The Anthem Group and Thaddeus Miles, MassHousing's Director of Public Safety will organize chaperoned field trips to the Esplanade. The Charles River Bistro will provide complimentary meals prior to large-scale events, and will tailor its programming in support of MassHousing's initiatives. Property managers and resident service coordinators at apartment communities overseen by MassHousing can contact Keyla Jackson to learn more about how to participate.
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Former convent now provides sober living for 25 men
A recent commitment of $75,000 from MassHousing has helped to transform a former convent and orphanage into a sober living community for men in the western Massachusetts city of Holyoke.
opening of McCleary Manor for men trying to overcome alcohol and drug addiction. McCleary Manor was built in 1907 as a convent and later became the Brightside Orphanage. Continue reading...
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