Ed Augustus stepped down as Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities secretary and will be replaced by Juana Matias, a former Massachusetts state representative for the 16th Essex district.

Augustus played a key role in the implementation of the Affordable Homes Act — legislation that has kickstarted development of over 100,000 housing units in the Commonwealth since it was signed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey in 2024.

Image courtesy of Mass.gov 2025.

The act introduced policies like The Momentum Fund, MBTA multifamily zoning changes and accessory dwelling units funded by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Matias will become secretary on April 1 after a brief transition period, during which Deputy Secretary Jennifer Maddox will serve as interim secretary.

“We’re excited to further our housing agenda and look forward to working with Juana to meet this moment,” Healey said in a press release. “I’m incredibly grateful for Secretary Augustus’ leadership as secretary of housing over the last three years. Together, we’ve passed the state’s most comprehensive housing legislation ever and ushered in the development of 100,000 new housing units. His dedication to Massachusetts has always been clear, and we’re thankful for all that he’s accomplished as secretary.”

“I’m honored that Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll placed their faith in me to help lead this new secretariat,” said Augustus. “Massachusetts’ housing crisis impacts every community, but we know what the solution is — build more housing and strengthen the systems that help people find stability at every stage. I’m deeply grateful to the talented, mission-driven public servants across HLC. This team delivered with creativity, rigor and heart, and I leave confident that HLC under Secretary Matias’ leadership will keep pushing forward to make housing more affordable and more available across Massachusetts.”