Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- While defendants who face prison time are guaranteed a defense lawyer, there is no such safety net in housing court, meaning tenants are severely under-repreented when battling potential eviction. According to a recent story in the Globe, 97 percent of defendants facing eviction represented themselves while 88 percent of landlords were supported by an attorney.

STONEHAM --- The town is considering rezoning a former 7.6 acre commerical site to allow housing, a move local officials say is designed to help the community comply with the state's new multifamily zoning law. "This article will bring the town, if not into compliance, then very, very close to compliance with (the new law)," said Kevin Dolan, a longtime planning board member.

PITTSFIELD --- Two days after being first woman to be elected governor in state history, Maura Healey participated in a roundtable policy discussion in Pittsfield where housing was a main topic. “We talked about housing and the incentives for the creation of housing that will be affordable for families here in the state because right now there are too many middle-class families who cannot afford rent, cannot afford down payments, can't afford housing," said Healey.

A shift in the way the Boston, Cambridge and Brookline housing authorities value rental vouchers has given Section 8 tenants greater ability to rent in high-cost, high-opportunity areas. According to the Boston Globe, the three housing authorities received permission from the federal government to vary the subsidies by zip code instead of one flat rate for the region. As a result, there's been a notable increase in Section 8 voucher holders moving into neighborhoods with less poverty and a higher share of adults with jobs.

GLOUCESTER --- Work has begun on turning the former downtown YMCA building into 44 affordable aparments for seniors. The $44 million project - to be financed primarily with low income housing tax credits - wil be named after former longtime Cape Ann Y executive direcctor Jack Meany. The project will have preferences for veterans and those with limited incomes, and will provide homes for 88 people older than 62.

SWAMPSCOTT --- Even with the approval of the mixed-income 114-unit Elm Place development, Swampscott's inventory of affordable housing is just 3.7 percent, making it both unaffordable to many and below the state's 10 percent threshold, which means developers can use the state's Ch. 40B process to bypass many local zoning bylaws. "I think we've got to get busy and start driving projects," said Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald told the select board recently.