The $4 billion plan includes one of the most aggressive housing production solutions for the state including allowing Accessory Dwelling Units by-right.
Boston, Massachusetts – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a $4 billion plan that centers housing production and more affordable housing for residents across the state. The Housing Bond Bill also known as the Affordable Homes Act, is a historic housing initiative that focuses on spending, policy, and programmatic actions geared towards housing affordability and the state’s climate goals.
A key component of the Affordable Homes Act is allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) built by-right without local permitting. State officials announce this would produce more than 8,000 ADUs in the next five years. This a huge win for state-wide pro-housing organization Abundant Housing Massachusetts. A key component of their priority bill, An Act to Promote Yes in My Back Yard, is a state-wide law that requires municipalities to allow ADUs by-right. AHMA’s Executive Director Jesse Kanson-Benanav played an integral role in advocating for ADUs during his time as a member of Governor Healey’s Affordable, Abundant Housing Transition Committee.
“I am thrilled and proud of the Governor’s announcement of this record Housing Bond Bill. At Abundant Housing Massachusetts, we take pride in our goals to help educate, reform, and organize around the right to build and sustain affordable homes for all Massachusetts residents. If adopted, ADUs will be an important tool in our state’s housing toolkit as a means to solving the state-wide housing shortage and ensuring that Massachusetts can be home for everyone. We look forward to working with the legislature to advocate for more homes and pass this comprehensive package.“ – Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts
Other elements of the act include eviction sealing, $1.6 for public upgrades, and homeowner tax credits. More information around the Affordable Housing Act can be found on the Mass.gov here https://www.mass.gov/lists/housing-bond-bill.
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Abundant Housing Massachusetts is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 to advocate for the creation of abundant housing for all and to develop and support a network of grassroots, pro-housing groups and activists across Massachusetts. AHMA is committed to fostering a movement that includes diverse voices, geography, and people with different lived experiences to help shape an inclusive statewide pro-housing network.