Local and state elected officials and affordable-housing advocates crowded into three large reception rooms at the Golda Meir Hour on August 6 to celebrate as Governor Maura Healey signed the recently passed Affordable Homes Act. Hailed as “the most ambitious legislation in Massachusetts history to tackle the state’s greatest challenge — housing costs,” according to the State House and the Governor’s office, the legislation provides $5.16 billion in bond expenditures and tax credits to incentivize housing construction. The new law also offers 49 new policy initiatives.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told the audience that the Golda Meir House was a fitting place for the signing because it served as “partners and role models for how the Feds, the State, cities and town and nonprofits work together to create broad, affordable housing that meets the needs of a diverse community of older adults.” Governor Maura Healey, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus underscored the significance of that collaboration.
Golda Meir House, on Stanton Avenue in Auburndale, is a mix of apartments for seniors at least 62 years old, at a range of incomes including those as below and at 30% of the Area Median Income. It also includes units for “chronically homeless” and people younger than 62 with chronic disabilities, and for New England Conservatory graduates who provide enrichment programs at Golda Meir. Many of the residents attended the signing, and one woman, who identified herself as Mercedes, described her long struggle with homelessness and the complete turn-around in her life with her permanent apartment.
Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, and Secretary Augustus stressed the importance of workforce housing in Massachusetts, noting that Massachusetts offers so many educational and economic opportunities for people, but the high cost of housing drives them away. Gov. Healey described the Act as the means to assure housing for Massachusetts residents at every income level and at every stage of their lives. Lt. Gov. Driscoll, who has been credited with transforming the housing market in Salem when she was mayor, said, “Pro-housing is pro-community.” She told the audience that she and the Governor were “the cavalry that is going to get (affordable housing) done.” Without workforce housing, they said, businesses will not survive.
For retiring Newton State Representatives Kay Khan and Ruth Balser, passage of the Affordable Homes Act — at 9:13AM on August 1st — represented their last formal budget vote. Both were enthusiastic supporters of the law. Among the law’s features is the opportunity for homeowners to construct Accessory Dwelling Units no larger than 900 sf, by right, on their homes or property, for which Rep. Balser advocated as a member of the Board of Aldermen thirty-four years ago.
“I am proud to have supported the Affordable Homes Act — the largest investment in housing in Massachusetts history. The Governor and the legislature made addressing the housing crisis a top priority. I was particularly happy about the provision that allows for accessory apartments as a tool to increase housing in the Commonwealth. I have been an advocate for accessory apartments since my days on the Newton Board of Aldermen, when I was the lead sponsor of Newton’s first accessory apartment ordinance. I was proud to vote for it then for Newton, and proud now to support it for the state!”
For Rep. Kay Khan, the signing represented a successful conclusion to her legislative career, as well a bitter-sweet moment. She said she was “thrilled to be with Governor Healey, LG Driscoll, and their team for the official signing of the Affordable Homes Act, sent to the Governor’s desk by the legislature on the last night of the 2023/2024 formal session. I’m grateful, honored and proud to have participated in this important first step, as I finish my 29th year of service as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.”
Amy Sangiolo, who is running for Rep. Khan’s 11th Middlesex House seat and is a former City Council member, told Fig City News, “I was honored to be present for the signing of the Affordable Homes Act this morning – the largest investment the Commonwealth has made to preserve and create housing for all. As someone who works with those who are housing insecure [at the State Attorney General’s office], this investment marks the beginning of our commitment to provide safe, affordable, and accessible housing for all.”
Alex Jablon, also running for the 11th Middlesex seat, was on hand at the signing, commenting, “Today was a historic day in the Commonwealth, and one I’m proud to have witnessed in person. Today, Governor Healey and the legislature put their money where their mouth is and made a down payment for the future of Massachusetts. As the Governor and Senator [Lydia] Edwards [Senate Chair of the Joint Committees on Housing] said, this is just the beginning. And if elected, I will continue to build upon the work started today with the signing of the Affordable Homes Act. I am proud to be a resident of Massachusetts and am so happy that we are tackling the housing crisis head on.”
Two of the candidates for Ruth Balser’s 12th Middlesex District House seat attended the signing as well. Current City Councilor Bill Humphrey commented: “The Affordable Homes Act is another important step in the right direction on one of the biggest challenges underlying many of the struggles facing Massachusetts residents and businesses. It will be critical now to have legislators making sure the authorized bond money is actually deployed. In the next legislative term, there will be even more work to be done on state housing policy for stability and supply, to build on this step.”
Former City Councilor, Greg Schwartz, said, ” I was so happy to celebrate and witness the signing of the Affordable Homes Act. This landmark legislation proposed by the Governor and by the House and Senate makes a huge down payment on building housing units of all levels of income. I’m most excited by the Senate funding and incentives for the building of the missing middle of the market, which is too often not produced by the free market without government action. We need to build on this success and make sure the authorized funding gets spent on producing housing that is so needed.”
City Council member Rick Lipof, also a candidate for the 12th Middlesex House seat, did not attend because of a prior commitment.