Healey-Driscoll Administration and Broad Coalition of Stakeholders Testify in Support of Affordable Homes Act
Affordable
Homes Act and tax cuts package expected to create 30,000 jobs, generate $25
billion in economic impact, and bring in $800 million in tax revenue
Housing
advocates, business owners, labor unions and other stakeholders joined top
Administration officials to support the Affordable Homes Act
 |
The Affordable
Homes Act is the cornerstone of the governor’s housing policy.
The $4.13 billion in spending authorizations and 28 policy changes offer a
comprehensive roadmap to grow the state’s housing supply and make it
easier for people to find affordable places to live.
A forthcoming analysis from the
UMass Donahue Institute will show that over the next 5 years, the Affordable
Homes Act – combined with the tax cuts package signed
by Governor Healey last year – will create nearly 30,000 jobs,
produce $25 billion in economic impact and bring in $800 million in tax
revenue.
“Everywhere we go, Lieutenant
Governor Driscoll and I hear from families, seniors, recent graduates, workers,
and businesses alike that they are being held back by the high cost of housing
in our state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why
we’re going big by proposing the most ambitious housing bill in state
history. The Affordable Homes Act will make it easier for people of all
income levels to find affordable places to live in Massachusetts, create good
jobs and grow our economy.”
The Affordable Homes Act, in
combination with recently
reauthorized housing tax credits, will fund or enable the creation
of more than 40,000 homes that would not otherwise be built. It will also
preserve, rehab, support or improve more than 27,000 existing homes.
The legislation also invests
$1.6 billion to repair, rehab and modernize the state’s public housing
while increasing funding to several programs that support first-time homebuyers
and the building of affordable housing.
In addition to spending
authorizations, the Affordable Homes Act would enact strategic policy changes
such as authorizing accessory dwelling units under 900 square feet by right,
creating a seasonal communities designation and allowing cities and towns
to enact a real estate transfer fee on sales over $1 million. That
money would go to the community to support the development and
preservation of affordable housing.
“As the Mayor of Salem, I saw
firsthand the critical role that housing plays in supporting our local
economies. People and businesses can’t stay in the communities they love
if they can’t afford it,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim
Driscoll. “The Affordable Homes Act will help us create the housing
environment that we want and need for Massachusetts, unlocking our
competitiveness and improving quality of life for all.”
Homeowners, public housing tenants,
local business owners and chambers of commerce were scheduled to testify in
support of the bill today.
“The unconventional alliances that
have come forward to support this historic plan underscores just how great the
need is,” said Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus.
“It is rare to have this breadth and depth of support. The fact that
everyone from public housing advocates to employers, business
leaders and health care professionals demonstrates the
urgent need for the Affordable Homes Act and the broad coalition that
supports it.”
https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4819
沒有留言:
發佈留言