Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 12, 2024 Sen. Lewis applauds passage of legislation to address housing affordability crisis B OSTON - On June 27, 2024, Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate in unanimously passing the Aff ordable Homes Act. This comprehensive legislation takes major steps to address the Commonwealth’s housing affordability crisis by making the largest investment in housing construction and rehabilitation in the Commonwealth’s history. The bill also includes numerous policy proposals to help both renters and homeowners. On June 5, 2024, the Massachusetts House passed its own version of the bill, and on July 8, 2024, a Conference Committee was appointed to reconcile differences between the two bill versions before it is sent to Governor Maura Healey for her signature and/or other actions. “The biggest challenge to keeping young adults and working families in Massachusetts is the high cost of housing, especially in the greater Boston area,” said Senator Lewis. “This legislation is a major step forward in addressing the housing shortage and tackling the high rents and home prices that are putting aff ordable housing out of reach for so many people.” Provisions in the Aff ordable Homes Act include: ● Spurring construction of affordable housing units by authorizing up to $425 million for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Trust fund, working with municipalities, nonprofi ts and developers to support housing preservation, new construction and rehabilitation projects for affordable rental units. It additionally authorizes up to $800 million for the Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund to create and preserve housing for households with an income at or below 110 percent of area median income, helping to bridge the gap between the high cost of housing and what many families can aff ord. ● Maintaining and repairing public housing units by authorizing up to $2.2 billion for repairs, rehabilitation and renoLawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lien * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net Saving Should Be Easy. Everett Bank’s 24-Month CD Makes It Simple. Get a worry-free 5.0% APY 24-Month CD, the perfect solution to build your savings and watch it grow. 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Member FDIC | Member DIF one of the 29 communities that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ● Building sustainably by authorizing up to $275 million for innovative, sustainable and green housing initiatives ● Maintaining essential infraJason Lewis State Senator vation across the 43,000 units of state-aided public housing to ensure that the state’s public housing infrastructure remains safe, modern and sustainable. ● Supporting fi rst-time homebuyers by authorizing up to $200 million for the CommonWealth Builder Program to further the production of housing in gateway cities for fi rst-time homebuyers. The legislation also includes authorization of up to $50 million for MassDreams, a program that provides down payment and closing cost grants to fi rst-time homebuyers who meet the program’s eligibility criteria and who currently live in BILL | FROM PAGE 3 moting job growth, this bill will ensure that Massachusetts continues to remain at the forefront of economic advancement. We look forward to the positive impact this legislation will bring to the entire commonwealth, residents, and businesses.” structure by authorizing up to $375 million for HousingWorks, a program that awards grants to municipalities and other public entities for a variety of infrastructure-related projects that facilitate housing construction ● Addressing regional equity by authorizing up to $150 million to address the unique housing needs of rural towns, seasonal communities and mid-sized communities ● Protecting tenants from broker fees to ensure that buyers are not burdened with unexpected costs by requiring that real estate brokers’ fees be paid solely by the party that contracted with them, and promoting transparency and fairness throughout real estate transactions ● Establishing the Office of Fair Housing and the Offi ce of Livable Communities and Communities Services to set the Commonwealth on a path to address many decades of housing “This comprehensive economic development bill makes critical investments into major sectors of the Commonwealth’s economy, while also including consumer protection provisions and tax credits,” said State Representative Lipper-Garabedian (D – Melrose). “I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting discrimination by prioritizing equity issues in housing across the state, ensuring equal access to housing opportunities for all residents, and off ering technical assistance to cities and towns that often lack dedicated housing staff . ● Introducing a process for tenants to seal their eviction records in cases of no-fault evictions and other limited scenarios to protect vulnerable tenants from the long-term stigma of eviction records and enhance their ability to secure future housing ● Prohibiting the banning or unreasonable restriction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family residential zones to promote fl exible housing options and enable homeowners to create additional living spaces, which increases housing supply and provides more aff ordable rental options within established neighborhoods ● Establishing a homeownership tax credit that will be available for the production of homeownership units for households that make up to 120 percent of the area median income, which incentivizes housing production and promotes homeownership opportunities this legislation that will ensure Massachusetts remains a leader in leading industries, such as life sciences, while maintaining aff ordability for our residents.” H. 4789 was passed 155-2 by the House of Representatives on June 27th, 2024. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration.
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