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23)    Support and expand housing rehabilitation activities
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 this use, Community Preservation Act funds and Affordable Housing Trust Funds are becoming other sources for funding these programs.  

A more permanent funding mechanism and regional administrative body is needed to administer and oversee housing rehabilitation of owner-occupied and investor-owned 1-4 family housing rehabilitation.  The program would need the support of a lead municipality or lead regional organization to oversee all housing rehabilitation activities and ensure that, at a minimum, Section 8 Housing Quality Standards were being achieved.  Additionally, housing rehabilitation specialists would be needed in force to assess housing stock, determine code improvements, and provide cost estimates.  Home improvement contractors would also be needed to support this effort.  Local building inspectors should also be brought into the development and expansion of this program.

23.a     MAPC and allied organizations, including the Department of Housing and Community Development should study ways to improve housing rehabilitation program administration and delivery, identify best practices, and seek funding resources to support these efforts.

23.b    MAPC, HUD, and allied organization should develop a proposal for regional service delivery of housing rehabilitation programs

24)    Monitor deed restrictions to preserve affordability of units; preserve expiring use units or mitigate their loss
Affordable housing units are a scarce and valuable resource.  All reasonable efforts must be made to preserve them whenever possible.

Monitoring affordable housing deed restrictions is necessary to ensure that affordable housing is made available to households who meet eligibility criteria and that the units are rented or sold at an affordable price and marketed fairly.  Currently, multiple entities monitor affordable housing including municipal community development and planning offices, local housing authorities, property owners, and private nonprofits.  The added administrative burden of monitoring can be daunting to municipalities; the terms and conditions vary and are contingent upon the regulatory agreement and related restrictions.  

Maintaining the overall affordable housing stock is also critical.  Policies must offset the incentives that encourage private owners of multifamily housing to opt-out of Section 8 contract agreements.  Legislative, regulatory, and funding actions are possible to discourage owners from selling, to allow them to retain their subsidies, or to encourage transfer to a non-profit owner who will maintain affordability.

24.a    MAPC and allied organization should develop a proposal for regional monitoring of affordability agreements

24.b    MAPC with the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation and other allied organizations should develop an inter-municipal expiring use task force

24.c    The Legislature should pass legislation stalled at the end of the last session to protect expiring use units, and should provide funding for preservation of expiring use properties

25)    Modernize public housing
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.

Preserving these units is critical and less costly than full replacement.  Significant funding is necessary for repairs and modernization are to address deferred maintenance and maintain safe and decent state-owned public housing.  

25.a    MAPC and allied organizations should develop recommendations for public housing modernization funding and implementation.