Housing & Economic Development
SD2085/HD2563: Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning
Childhood lead poisoning can cause irreversible neurological damage; it disproportionately impacts low-income kids and kids of color and cities with older housing stock. Springfield has the highest risk in the state for childhood lead poisoning. Current funding is insufficient to meet statutory requirements to prevent and respond to cases of childhood lead poisoning – including providing family case management, housing inspections, and code enforcement to eliminate lead hazards. This bill will modestly increase licensing fees (in most cases by $10-25) and increases tax credits for lead abatement and increases penalties for housing discrimination.
HD 2395: Prevent Homelessness through Rent Arrearage Program
The best way to prevent eviction, and the homelessness that can occur after an eviction, is to prevent that eviction from ever taking place at all. This bill will restore the statewide rent arrearage assistance program, and provide low-income people who are behind on rent or mortgage payments with a cash assistance resource to help them stay in their homes and avoid becoming homeless.
HD3507/SD1578: An Act Relative to Neighborhood Stabilization and Economic Development
Filed by the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus, this bill will provide communities with more powerful tools to address blighted and abandoned property and stabilize distressed neighborhoods across the Commonwealth. In addition, the bill doubles the market-rate Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) from $10 to $20 million annually.