Housing Affairs Letter

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts Affordable Housing Push

Massachusetts will invest $67 million in affordable housing for 23 different developments spread across more than 20 communities. The funding includes $9 million in federal low-income tax credits, $7.7 million in state low-income tax credits, and nearly $50 million in state and federal housing program subsidies.

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MA Public Housing Plan Slammed

Reaction to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick’s (D) public housing authority consolidation plan HAL reported in the Jan. 11, 2013 issue has been swift and largely negative. The across-the housing spectrum criticism indicates that the Patrick plan will be quashed in a legislature closely attuned to the wishes of local politics in the state and local officials

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Massachusetts PHAs On Chopping Block

A public housing overhaul blueprint unveiled by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) would eliminate the 240 public housing authorities in the state and replace them with six regional agencies and a central management office. A disclosure of inflated PHA salaries prompted Patrick to seek legislation providing greater central oversight of the state’s

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New Attention For Mortgage Rescue Concept

Following the lead of some California communities and other cities such as Chicago struggling with the fallout from the housing crisis, Brockton, MA officials are considering the use of eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages from banks and modify them for troubled homeowners.

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Boston Toughens Landlord Rules

Boston, MA City Council adopts a new Rental Inspection Ordinance that requires apartment rental units to be inspected every five years. Mayor Thomas Menino (D) signed the bill into law Dec. 21

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City Girds For Eminent Domain Battle

A plan to revitalize downtown Holyoke, MA by seizing private property parcels for a private developer under eminent domain law sets the stage for a new court test of property rights. City planners unveil the blueprint to residents of the 749-acre project by declaring the four

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Smoking Ban In Boston Public Housing

Boston becomes the largest U.S. city to ban smoking in public housing. The policy takes effect nine months after the Boston Housing Authority began requiring public housing tenants to sign lease addendums agreeing to not smoke inside their apartments, elsewhere in the building or within a specified distance from the building.

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MA Allots $105 Million For Housing

State officials pool federal and state subsidies and low-income housing tax credits to award $105 million for construction and renovation of affordable housing projects. Officials estimate creation of 3,000 construction jobs

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Assistance Subsidies Extension Sought

Massachusetts policymakers should increase voucher availability in the state's Emergency Assistance (EA) program and allow subsidies for families transitioning out of homelessness to run longer than a year, according to a new study.

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MA Foreclosure Surge Anticipated

Massachusetts Supreme Court justices are poised to rule on a lawsuit that could lead to a surge in claims from homeowners seeking to overturn foreclosure seizures. The justices will decide whether to uphold a lower court ruling that returned a foreclosed Boston house to its former owner.

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