Mixed use zoning and zoning that encourages the production of a variety of housing types are crucial elements to ensure Metro Boston’s elders have housing options in their communities that meet their changing needs, allow independence, and encourage integration and participation within the community.  Building housing strategically in urban areas or village and town centers allows older adults to walk to shopping, medical, and recreational facilities.  Creating an environment that accommodates older adults includes encouraging walkable sidewalks and accessible building and p

Over the past 60 years the Commonwealth has built 50,000 units of public housing.  Of those, approximately 32,000 units serve elderly and handicapped households, 15,000 serve families, and 3,000 serve individuals with special needs.  State-assisted public housing is located not just in cities but also in most suburbs and many rural areas – altogether in 242 of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns.

Affordable housing units are a scarce and valuable resource.  All reasonable efforts must be made to preserve them whenever possible.

Regional nonprofit housing organizations already play an active role in preserving housing for low- and moderate-income families.   Municipalities have also played a part in housing rehabilitation programs for owner-occupied and investor-owned, single to multi-family housing (1 to 4 units).  Historically the HOME Investment Partnership Program, known as HOME, and the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) funds have been used to preserve and stabilize thousands of units for low- and moderate-income families.  As HOME and CDBG funding becomes more limited for th

To ensure that the region’s housing is accessible, visitability and “universal design” are important issues.  Often confused as an issue limited to special needs populations, visitability and universal design include principles such as providing smooth ground surfaces at entryways, wide interior doors and hallways, and installing handles with levers rather than knobs.  The universal design movement has grown largely because of the aging U.S. population.

The production of affordable units is only one component of increasing regional equity.  Repeated studies demonstrate that housing discrimination still exists in Metro Boston.  Extensive paired testing has uncovered a pattern of discrimination in the rental, purchase, and financing of properties to people of color, families with children, and people receiving housing assistance. These tests show that people of color experience discrimination in at least half of their attempts to secure housing in Greater Boston.

Municipalities may establish a preference for local residents during the selection of occupants for affordable housing.  Currently, up to 70% of the units can be for local preference based on regulations from the Department of Housing and Community Development.  Local preference criteria might be designed to address truly local housing needs -- needs that are unique to the community and perhaps not found in other areas of the region.  While local preference criteria may not include discriminatory criteria beyond an individual's location of residency, these preferences may cre

Housing discrimination has tremendous economic and quality-of-life repercussions for the entire region and must be addressed to advance regional equity and prosperity.

Fair housing refers to the protection of people’s rights to equal housing opportunity wherever they choose to seek housing as long as they can afford it.  A Regional Fair Housing Compact program can challenge housing discrimination and help to ensure equitable distribution of housing opportunities in the region.   Such a Compact would be based on the regional housing goals and objectives of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment; and would include local production targets developed collaboratively by MAPC and individual cities and towns.  It would also incorporate n

The Massachusetts Commission to End Homelessness has determined that the Commonwealth must shift resources away from shelters and crisis management to prevention and permanent housing solutions.  One of the current efforts to address homelessness is a Housing First model which provides housing to homeless individuals and families, coupled with a comprehensive array of health and social services.  The work of the Commission and the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness (ICHH) should continue in order to adequately advance the recommendations set forth in the Report.