Housing Policy & Resources

The Planning Office for Urban Affairs continues to actively work for an increase in Federal, State and local resources for affordable housing development, and for programs and policies that provide broad support for affordable housing production. As part of that work, POUA has recently participated in the following efforts:

Federal Legislation and Resources: POUA participated in local efforts to help shape the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008, and actively advocated for the establishment of the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NAHTF) in 2007. In November 2007 POUA's President was invited to testify before the Congressional House Financial Services Committee regarding the NAHTF Act, which created an avenue for the production and preservation of 1.5 million units of affordable housing over ten years. The NAHTF program was the first significant new Federal housing legislation passed in decades, and will particularly benefit extremely low-income households. For Ms. Alberghini's full written testimony click here.

Board and Committee Work: POUA's President has served on the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness New Supply Task Force; Governor Patrick's Public Housing Real Cost Task Force; the MassHousing Multi-Family Advisory Committee; Mayor Menino's Leading the Way III Housing Panel; and the Housing Partnership Network and Catholic Charities of Boston Board of Trustees.

State Legislation and Resources: POUA actively advocated for the passage of the Massachusetts Housing Bond Bill in 2008 that provided $1.275 billion for a variety of affordable housing initiatives. This legislation was the largest housing bond authorization bill in the history of the Commonwealth, and has provided significant resources for the development and preservation of affordable housing over the years.

POUA works closely with the Massachusetts Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) and the Housing Partnership Network on state and federal policy. Visit their websites for further information on their policy work: CHAPA and Housing Partnership Network.