One Year After Signing Affordable Homes Act, Nearly 100,000 New Housing Units Under Development to Lower Costs in Massachusetts

 One Year After Signing Affordable Homes Act, Nearly 100,000 New Housing Units Under Development to Lower Costs in Massachusetts 

BOSTON – One year after Governor Maura Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act (AHA) into law, the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s housing agenda is delivering results to increase the production of reasonably-priced housing and lower costs across the state. A new digital thermometer released by the administration today shows that since Governor Healey took office, more than 90,000 new housing units have been completed or are set to enter development. 

 

Governor Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act, the state’s most ambitious investment in housing in history, into law on August 6, 2024. This historic law – combined with the administration’s other initiatives such as converting vacant state-owned land into housing, commercial to housing conversions, increased housing development tax credits under Governor Healey’s tax cuts package, and the MBTA Communities Law – are already delivering results for the people of Massachusetts.   

Program	Est. total units*
Momentum Fund	461
Accessory Dwelling Units (permits and approvals)	732
Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP)	1,525
MBTA Communities multifamily zoning pipeline	5,200
Comprehensive permits (40B)	8,360
EOHLC-funded projects	10,566
Additional housing development	63,510
	90,354
*Represents units completed, permitted, awarded funds or in development pipeline.

 

“Our administration is delivering on building more reasonably-priced housing,” said Governor Healey. “Because of the Affordable Homes Act and other initiatives, seniors now have more options to age independently near their families, young families have more downpayment assistance to buy their first home, and developers are getting the support they need to actually deliver projects that will make a difference. We’re grateful for the Legislature’s strong partnership in this work, and we will continue working every day to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts.” 

“Just one year ago, we made a bold commitment to take on the housing shortage with the most ambitious housing package in state history,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “Today, we’re seeing the results: thousands of homes built, tens of thousands more in the pipeline, and new opportunities for people to live and thrive in the communities they love. This is the Massachusetts way – smart policy, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to making housing more affordable and accessible” 

“The housing shortage takes away people's power to choose where they want to live, which is why we’ve acted urgently to implement the Affordable Homes Act, build more housing and give choice back to renters and homebuyers,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is using every available tool to make housing more attainable across the state while also preserving and expanding essential protections for Massachusetts residents.” 

Increased Production 

 

New programs created by the Affordable Homes Act are already working to increase housing production and are creating new opportunities for development on underutilized land. 

The Momentum Fund, a first-in-the-nation revolving fund to support mixed-income housing production, has already invested in nearly 500 mixed-income units, helping three otherwise stalled housing projects in Milton, Boston, and Grafton get off the ground and under construction. Additional financing commitments to support an additional 500 units are expected in the coming months.  

In June, the Administration provided funding to convert two vacant office buildings in Boston into nearly 200 new housing units. Building on this progress, the new Commercial Conversion Tax Credit will open for funding applications later this month and is expected to support the creation of up to 200 additional units through the transformation of vacant commercial space into new housing. 

Recognizing the potential for housing development on underutilized state-owned land, the Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the State Land for Homes Initiative this summer, unlocking the potential for over 3,500 new housing units across 450 acres. The administration expects to make 17 additional sites available to developers in the next year, including issuing Requests for Proposals for 10 sites and holding an auction for an additional seven sites in September. 

Relief for Residents 

 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is also delivering immediate relief for Massachusetts residents amidst the housing shortage.  

Before the Healey-Driscoll housing agenda, homeowners in Massachusetts had to navigate a patchwork of complex permitting rules to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on their own property, homebuyers could be pressured to relinquish their right to a home inspection and pay for unexpected repairs or maintenance, and renters were forced to pay expensive broker fees before signing a lease, even if they didn’t hire a broker. 

Now, over 500 ADUs have been approved by local authorities thanks to statewide simplification of the permitting process, homebuyers have a clear right to a home inspection and cannot be pushed to ignore potential issues or unexpected expenses as they make a major financial decision, and renters cannot be charged a broker fee if they did not hire the broker, saving them money and reducing upfront costs when moving. 

Implementation Update 

 

The Affordable Homes Act represents the largest ever state investment in housing production and includes 50 policy initiatives, regulatory changes and reforms to speed up housing production in Massachusetts. In only one year, nearly 80 percent of the law’s provisions have been implemented, and full implementation is expected by the end of the 2025. 

Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has increased capital funding for housing by 78 percent, and by the end of FY2027, this increase will rise to 91 percent. The FY2026-FY2030 Capital Investment Plan funds programs authorized in the Affordable Homes Act and includes: $622 million for HousingWorks, $334 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $657 million for Public Housing investments, $50 million for the Momentum Fund, and $90 million to support several capital programs formerly supported by federal relief funds, including the Middle Income Housing Fund, the CommonWealth Builder Fund, and the ONE+ Mortgage and MassDREAMS programs. 

The work of the three commissions and one council created by the law are underway. The Senior Housing, Extremely Low-Income and Accessible Housing Commissions, and the Seasonal Communities Advisory Council, are all due to report their findings by the end of this year. 

Finally, the state’s first Office of Fair Housing is now open, with $1 million for the Fair Housing Trust Fund to support this critical work. The Office will begin a series of regional listening sessions later this year. 

美國亞裔促進正義會直言反亞裔仇恨事件數量仍高得驚人

（Boston Orange綜合編譯）美國亞裔促進正義會 (Asian Americans Advancing Justice，簡稱AAJC) 今（8月6）日發佈聲明，聲稱聯邦調查局 (FBI) 公佈的最新數據，儘管顯示仇恨犯罪案件的整體數量略有下降，但針對亞裔美國人和太平洋島民的仇恨事件數量仍舊「高得驚人」。

根據聯邦調查局的2024年度全國仇恨犯罪統計數據，2024 年共有 11,679 起仇恨犯罪事件，在該局有這類數據以來的記錄中，高居第二位。但是，儘管整體的仇恨罪案數量從 2023 年的 11,041 宗降至 2024 年的 10,873宗 ，下降約1.5%，針對某些特定族裔的仇恨犯罪案數量，卻創下了歷史新高。

AAJC 反仇恨計畫主任Sim J. Singh Attariwala 指出，儘管從 2023 年到 2024 年，反亞裔仇恨犯罪事件下降了 6.8%，但針對亞裔美國人的仇恨事件總數仍然高得驚人。他表示，2024 年是 有記錄以來反亞裔仇恨犯罪事件數量第三高的一年。目前反亞裔仇恨犯罪事件的數量幾乎是 疫情前平均水平的三倍，而且多半涉及暴力襲擊、身體和言語恐嚇。此外，針對夏威夷原住民和太平洋島民的仇恨事件以及反佛教徒的犯罪也有所增加。

AAJC 強調，FBI 記錄在案的反亞裔仇恨犯罪統計數據僅是冰山一角。許多受害者因為恐懼、恥辱感以及對執法部門缺乏信任而選擇不報告仇恨犯罪，許多執法機構也未向 FBI 報告這些事件，以致FBI的數據未能完全反映現實情況。

AAJC 敦促各界採取果斷行動，呼籲 FBI 系統性地改進其數據收集流程，以確保所有受害者都能「被看見、被統計和被承認」。

 Asian Americans Hate Incidents Remain Alarmingly High According to Newly Released FBI Hate Crime Data

Washington, DC – The FBI released its annual hate crime statistics today and the data indicate some troubling realities.  The overall data show record-high numbers across several categories and ethnicities – the second largest total since the FBI began keeping the statistics. 

While there has been a slight decrease in reported hate crimes, the situation for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders remains quite alarming.

In response to those concerns, Sim J. Singh Attariwala, Director of Anti-Hate Programs at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, issues the following statement:

“Despite a 6.8% decline in anti-Asian hate crime incidents from 2023 to 2024, the total number of hate incidents towards Asian Americans is still alarmingly high with 2024 marking one of the worst years for anti-Asian hate crimes on record – the third highest Asian American hate crime incidents in history. Anti-Asian hate crime incidents are nearly three times higher than pre-pandemic averages.

The persistent attacks against our community point to a troubling societal trend and the need for the FBI to make systemic improvements to their data collection processes. The majority of incidents range from violent assaults to physical and verbal intimidation. Furthermore, we are witnessing rising incidents of hate against Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, along with increases in anti-Buddhist offenses.

These FBI hate crime statistics reflect only the tip of the iceberg because many victims do not report hate crimes due to fear, stigma, and lack of trust in law enforcement— and because many law enforcement agencies themselves fail to report hate crimes to the FBI. It is imperative that we confront these challenges head-on. We must push for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to data collection and ensure that both victims and communities targeted by hate crimes are supported and empowered to come forward. They must also be given the dignity of being seen, counted, and acknowledged in our national statistics.

We urge Congress to take decisive action by appropriating funds to implement the full extent of COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, reinstating hate crime prevention grants, and passing the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act. We also call for sustained efforts in language-accessible and culturally competent prevention and victim support resources, as well as community peacekeeping services offered by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service.

Only through dedicated efforts and advocacy can we begin to shift the narrative and create a safer environment for all communities.”

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES SCALE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO ACCESS TO CITY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES

MAYOR MICHELLE WU ANNOUNCES SCALE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES’ ABILITY TO ACCESS TO CITY CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES

27 certified small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) in key industries will receive grant funding and technical assistance to help them grow their capacity to access public contracts



Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

Scale technical advisor Irene Li.

BOSTON - Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu announced the 27 businesses participating in the City of Boston Department of Supplier Diversity’s Supplying Capital and Leveraging Education (SCALE) Program to bolster more businesses’ ability to compete for contract opportunities with the City of Boston. Through the SCALE Program, the City of Boston provides participating small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) with six months of industry-specific technical assistance and grant funding of up to $200,000. This round of grant program funding is provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and is anticipated to total $6.5 million. This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s work to make Boston a home for everyone and the City’s overall efforts to support small businesses across Boston neighborhoods. In Fiscal Year 2024, the City of Boston awarded a total of $1.9 billion in contracts. Of these contracts, $230.1 million (12.1 percent) was awarded to certified minority- and women-owned businesses. This represents a 40 percent increase in contract value awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses from the previous fiscal year. Since the last full year before Mayor Wu took office, the contract value awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses by the City has increased by 155%. 

Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion

“We are able to support and showcase the full scope of Boston’s diverse small business landscape that is vital to our City through the SCALE program,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am excited to honor these small, local businesses that anchor our communities.”

The purpose of the program is to build businesses’ capacity to more effectively bid on, win, and perform public contracts, specifically for the City of Boston. SCALE focuses on industry categories that represent a large share of the City’s public contracts including construction general contracting, construction trade work, design and architectural, food and dining services, and snow removal and landscaping. 

"Our city has come a long way in ensuring City contracts are more accessible and competitive, using a data-driven approach to level the playing field for minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Although we still have gaps to close, the results of the past few years speak for themselves: When we unlock the power of these businesses, we lift our entire economy," said City Councilor Brian Worrell (District 4). "As chair of the Small Business and Professional Licensure Committee, I'm committed to finding even more ways to continue these essential grant programs in the future so that we can create a Boston for all.”

“For years, small, local, minority-, and women-owned companies have been told that they cannot access large municipal or private contracts because they do not have the capacity or equipment to fulfill a need. Thanks to Mayor Wu—a former small business owner herself and a champion for access to City contracts for all local small businesses—and the advocacy of local business owners and organizations, we were able to develop the SCALE program to remove this barrier,” said Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. “With reputable and dedicated technical assistance providers working with these 27 deserving local firms, we look forward to benefiting the taxpayer by creating a more competitive marketplace, building the capacity of these companies to hire more Bostonians, and providing a model for future government-led programs.” 

A committee of internal and external stakeholders reviewed applications from more than 180 businesses. The committee evaluated certified small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses located in the City of Boston on their capacity building narrative, commitment to participation, and interest in public contracting. The list of the 27 SCALE Program participants is as follows: 

Construction: Tradeswork

• Better Together Brain Trust (Roxbury)
• Boston BuildHERS LLC (South Boston)
• Golden Key Advisors LLC (Jamaica Plain)
• Truecraft Drywall and Painting (Dorchester)
• MVS Welding LLC (Mattapan)

Construction: General Contracting 

• Atomic Ant Construction, Inc. (Hyde Park)
• Bleu Line Designs (Back Bay)
• CAAN Fence Inc. (Dorchester)
• Desmond Tech, LLC (Dorchester)
• Nicoya Construction (Roxbury)

Design and Architectural Services

• Brown Sardina, Inc. (Charlestown)
• Delta Wye Critical Solutions, LLC (Back Bay)
• Joy Squared Design, Inc. (East Boston)
• Saam Architecture, LLC (North End)
• Studio Luz Architects, Ltd. (Roslindale)
• ZeroEnergy Design (North End)

Food and Dining Services

• Ariana Restaurant, Inc. (Allston)
• Bono Restaurant and Catering (East Boston)
• House of Seven Café & Bakery (Dorchester)
• Super Bien (Brighton)
• Ula Cafe (Jamaica Plain)
• Vision's Sown-The Ancient Bakers (Mission Hill)

Snow Removal and Landscaping 

• A & M Home Services LLC (Roxbury)
• Earthshapers Cooperative Inc (Dorchester)
• Edwards Group, LLC (Mattapan)
• Los Mellos Cleaning Services, Inc. (Hyde Park)
• RNS Facility Services, LLC (Dorchester)

“Golden Key Advisors is proud to be selected for the SCALE program and it will be a powerful step forward for my business,” said Shari Betty from Golden Key Advisors LLC. “As a woman and minority-owned construction company, this support helps us grow not just in size, but in impact—creating more jobs, building stronger client relationships, and expanding into services like ADUs, custom deck and porch projects, and finish carpentry contracts in our community. I’m grateful to the Department of Supplier Diversity for believing in small businesses like mine and helping us build a lasting legacy.”

The six month industry-specific technical assistance program began in May. Once the program is completed, each technical assistance provider will determine the amount of additional funding each business should receive. Each technical assistance provider will customize their curriculum and workshop schedule to align with the needs of their industry. 

For Fiscal Year 2024, the City of Boston broadly achieved the following results:

• In Fiscal Year 2024, spending with certified minority-and women-owned totaled $144.4 million, or 11.6 percent of all City of Boston discretionary spending, representing an 88 percent increase in discretionary spending with certified businesses. More information about business certifications is available here.
• The City awarded 19 Inclusive Quote Contracts (IQC) in Fiscal Year 2024, the first full year that the tool was available. An IQC allows City staff to use a simplified process to procure higher values of supplies and services when contracting small, local, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. 
• In Fiscal Year 2024, the City certified 209 new businesses, an increase from 157 new certifications in Fiscal Year 2023. The Department of Supplier Diversity increased the total number of City-certified businesses in the directory to 956, an 18.3 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

The awarded businesses will participate in small group workshops and one-on-one business consulting with the following technical assistance providers:

• Revby: Snow Removal and Landscaping
• Prepshift: Food and Dining Services
• Calyptus Consulting Group: Design and Architectural Services
• Initiative for a Competitive Inner City: General Contracting and Tradeswork 

“Our team at Prepshift is thrilled to be part of the SCALE program's mission to make government and institutional contracting accessible for more women-owned and minority-owned restaurant and food businesses,” said Irene Shiang Li, Prepshift CEO. “As a women- and minority-owned business ourselves, we know firsthand the value of these contracting relationships and are deeply optimistic about how this program can support both immediate success and long-term sustainability for these hard working, values-driven entrepreneurs."

Businesses will also receive a grant award of up to $200,000 administered by BDC Community Capital Corporation, a Massachusetts-based community development financial institution (CDFI). Of this funding, the BDC Community Capital Corporation dispensed $50,000 to each recipient at the start of the program. The businesses will receive the remainder when they complete the program. 

This announcement builds on Mayor Wu’s work to make Boston a home for everyone and significant investments made by the City of Boston in supplier diversity and equitable procurement initiatives. In Fiscal Year 2023, Mayor Wu relaunched the Contracting Opportunity Fund to help small, local businesses build their operational capacity and level the playing field for historically disadvantaged businesses interested in City contracts. The launch of SCALE also builds on the City’s sheltered market program that advances equity in procurement. For the latest data regarding equity in city contracting, please visit this dashboard. 

Massachusetts Veterans Homes Achieve All Licensure and Certification Milestones

 Massachusetts Veterans Homes Achieve All Licensure and Certification Milestones 

Holyoke Veterans Home secures final CMS certification as care quality and resident outcomes reach new heights 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is today announcing that Massachusetts has officially met all state and federal licensure and certification milestones for its two state-operated veterans homes, signaling a new era of stability, oversight and excellence in care for those who served. 

The final step came in July, when the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke received full certification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) — affirming its compliance with all federal standards for long-term care facilities and unlocking eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid funding. The designation followed a perfect score earlier this year on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) annual survey, which found zero deficiencies across dozens of regulatory categories — a rare outcome that placed Holyoke among the top-performing veterans’ long-term care facilities in the nation. 

The achievement is part of Governor Maura Healey’s multi-year effort to rebuild trust and strengthen the state’s Veterans Homes following the COVID-19 crisis. In approximately two years, the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke has achieved CMS certification, licensure from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and a perfect, zero-deficiency rating in the VA’s annual survey — a trifecta of state and federal oversight milestones that reflects the depth of the turnaround.  

“This is a proud moment for Massachusetts and a promise kept to our veterans and their families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We said we would rebuild trust, raise standards and deliver the highest quality care in our state’s veterans homes—and that’s exactly what we’ve done. These milestones reflect not just stronger oversight, but a deeper commitment to the dignity, health and well-being of those who served. I’m proud of the progress at Holyoke and Chelsea, and I’m grateful to Secretary Santiago and the leadership teams who made this transformation possible.”  

“Our veterans and their families deserve nothing but the best,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These certifications reflect the hard work, collaboration and compassion that have gone into restoring our veterans homes over the past two years. This progress didn’t happen by accident—it happened because we listened, we partnered, and we never lost sight of who we’re here to serve.” 

“This is more than a milestone—it’s a turning point,” said Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago. “We promised to restore these institutions with compassion, integrity, and accountability. That work is ongoing, but today we can say with confidence: Massachusetts is delivering for its veterans.” 

“We are extremely proud of our team for this extraordinary achievement. It’s a direct result of their hard work, compassion, and commitment to our veterans,” said Holyoke Executive Director Michael Lazo. “Our entire team is dedicated to continuously improving and providing the highest level of care to those who have served our country. This recognition is a testament to their dedication.” 

Both the Holyoke and Chelsea campuses are now fully licensed and certified, meeting the most rigorous benchmarks for safety, quality, staffing, and administration. Holyoke, for example, is exceeding statewide averages in six of the seven CMS benchmarks that track resident health, safety, and quality of life, further demonstrating the measurable improvements underway. 

A major driver of this success has been the implementation of a robust Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs. These data-driven systems proactively identify areas for improvement, reduce risks, and help drive measurable results. Both homes have also transitioned to fully electronic medical record (EMR) systems, modernizing operations and enhancing coordination of care. 

The transformation underway at Holyoke is also physical. The new Home—part of a $482 million redevelopment project led by Commodore-Walsh Joint Venture—will welcome its first residents in late 2026, with full project completion expected by summer 2028. The modern facility will feature 234 long-term care beds, a specialized memory care unit, and a 40-person adult day health program to support veterans living in the community. This follows the construction of the new Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea, which opened in 2023 and represents another major investment in veteran care infrastructure across the Commonwealth. 

“This achievement reflects the Commonwealth’s deep and enduring commitment to our veterans,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “In the Senate, we’ve worked in tandem with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to reform, invest in, and strengthen our veterans homes. I’m deeply grateful to the Administration for delivering the high-quality care facilities our veterans deserve, and I look forward to continued progress in both housing and quality of care.” 

“The Holyoke Veterans Home continues to be a source of incredible pride for all of us who call Western Massachusetts home, and today's announcement is a fulfillment and reflection of the dedicated work that has been taking place at both Chelsea and Holyoke over the last year several years," said Senator John Velis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs. "I am grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary Santiago for their steadfast focus on obtaining these licensures and certifications, to my colleagues in the Legislature for their support of critical funding and governance reforms for the Homes, and to all of the staff at both facilities for their incredible service and care for our Commonwealth's veterans and families." 

“I’m thrilled that Massachusetts is continuing its leading role in protecting and providing for veterans. While we cannot change the past, we can take an active role in ensuring that our veterans receive the highest quality care that they deserve,” said Representative Joe McGonagle, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs. “This achievement signals that this community has been and will always be seen and heard by the people of Massachusetts.” 

“The Holyoke Board of Trustees proudly celebrates this milestone as a testament to the extraordinary progress made at the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke. Achieving full CMS certification, alongside DPH licensure and a perfect VA survey, speaks volumes about the caliber of leadership and the dedication of the entire care team,” said General Sean Collins, Chair of the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Holyoke Board of Trustees. “These accomplishments are not just technical—they represent lives improved, trust rebuilt, and a renewed sense of purpose across our campus. On behalf of the Board, we extend our deepest thanks to the staff, residents, families, and state partners who helped make this possible. We remain committed to supporting the continued growth and excellence of this Home for generations of veterans to come.” 

Governor Maura Healey created the Executive Office of Veterans Services in March 2023 to restore trust and deliver stronger, more accountable care for veterans across Massachusetts. Over the past two and a half years, and with the strong support of the Legislature, the administration has passed the landmark HERO Act, launched the End Veteran Homelessness initiative, expanded access to mental health and suicide prevention resources, and strengthened benefits and employment pathways for those who served. Together, these efforts represent the most ambitious and comprehensive overhaul of veterans services in state history.