The Healey-Driscoll administration has kicked off a statewide initiative to raise awareness about the pressing need to reduce housing expenses throughout Massachusetts while emphasizing the impact housing has on everyday life.
Over the coming weeks, numerous events will showcase the different ways housing affects residents’ lives and emphasize the importance of making housing more accessible to everyone.
Additionally, Gov. Maura T. Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and cabinet secretaries will promote the administration’s initiatives to boost housing construction and reduce expenses, such as the Affordable Homes Act and the MBTA Communities Law.
Healey said everywhere she and Driscoll go across the state, they hear that the No,. 1 challenge facing residents, communities, workers and businesses is the high cost of housing.
“That’s why we’ve gone big on our housing agenda to lower costs for everyone — from proposing the largest housing investment in state history with the Affordable Homes Act, to partnering with communities to help them rezone for multifamily housing as part of the MBTA Communities Act, to passing significant incentives for housing development and relief for renters and senior homeowners in our tax cuts package.
“Over the next few weeks, our team is going to be visiting communities across the state to highlight the ways in which housing impacts every aspect of our residents’ quality of life and our economy and call for urgent action to make housing more affordable for all.”
Here’s a look at the remaining schedule:
Wednesday, May 8: Healey and Driscoll will join Wocrester business leaders for a roundtable discussion on how building more housing and lowering costs is essential for the state’s economic growth, competitiveness and innovation.
Thursday, May 9: The governor and lieutenant governor will participate in a roundtable discussion with hospital executives and health care leaders at Boston Medical Center to explore how housing serves as a social determinant of health and is crucial for supporting the state’s world-class health care workforce.
Friday, May 10: They will visit a local housing authority development to highlight the importance of revitalizing and preserving public housing, which provides stable and affordable homes for residents with low incomes, including seniors and those with disabilities.
Thursday, May 16: They will head to Chesterfield, joined by Housing Secretary Ed Augustus, to visit a community development organization to highlight the important role partnership with neighborhood organizations plays in addressing the state’s housing challenges.
Friday, May 17: Augustus and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng will head to Attleboro to highlight the importance of transit-oriented housing for increasing housing affordability, reducing community costs, expanding accessibility and fostering sustainable development
Monday, May 20: Driscoll and Augustus head to Gloucester to highlight the importance of ensuring that affordable housing projects have supportive services for residents. They will also discuss the importance of senior housing, for providing tailored accommodations and support services for older adults, while fostering independence and social connections, as well as access to health care and more.
Monday, May 20: In the afternoon, Driscoll and Augustus visit Haverhill to highlight how the state supports first-time homebuyers through the CommonWealth Builder and MassDREAMS programs.