The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently released the initial results of Massachusetts’ first comprehensive statewide housing plan to increase housing production, meet the unique needs of communities and lower costs across the state. “A Home for Everyone” was developed in consultation with the Housing Advisory Council which Gov. Maura Healey established by Executive Order when she filed the Affordable Homes Act. Lieutenant Gov. Kim Driscoll served as Chair of the Council and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus was Vice Chair.
The plan, which includes an in-depth analysis of the state’s housing needs, also identifies strategies for increasing production, preserving and upgrading existing housing, supporting individuals and families struggling with homelessness and using housing as a way to create economic mobility for all Massachusetts residents. It provides both a statewide perspective as well as data and strategies specific to each region in the state, including an analysis of each region’s housing needs over the next 10 years. The report identifies that the state needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs. Every region of the state needs more homes in order to reach this statewide target.
“For the first time, Massachusetts has a statewide housing plan,” said Gov. Healey. “This plan tells us exactly where we need to go and how we can get there to build hundreds of thousands of new units and make sure that everyone – our teachers, nurses, small business owners, seniors and families – can afford homes in our state.”
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, in partnership with the Housing Advisory Council, engaged with more than 3,000 people in developing the plan. That included 14 regional listening sessions held throughout the state last year.
The statewide plan dives deep into the current state of housing in Massachusetts, including where our housing is, where people show a desire to live, what type of housing currently exists and what types are needed to meet projected demand. In addition to offering an analysis of housing needs by region, it identifies overall strategies to shape Massachusetts’ successful approach to housing.
The statewide plan also calls for exploring non-traditional housing, protecting existing homes and affordability by preserving homes with expiring affordability restrictions and bringing vacant or distressed homes back online, providing direct subsidies and increasing access to homeownership for first-time homebuyers, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and enhancing partnerships with employers to better address workforce housing needs.
A copy of the plan can be downloaded [here].
