Issue Position: Affordable Housing Reform

Issue Position

Reforming our affordable housing laws into policies that work

Rhonda supports the premise of affordable housing and she believes that the current 40B system needs to be re-worked to help meet demands and policies that work for municipalities, residents and developers. There is a shortage of affordable housing units across the Commonwealth and throughout the district. Providing affordable, subsidized units allows everyone to have a chance to put a roof over their head.

The current 40B system requires that 10% of all housing units in each municipality be affordable for low to moderate incomes. The town of Hanover is currently fulfilling 9.1% of their requirement with 441 units of subsidized housing. Representative Nyman will continue to advocate for legislation that will allow the town to include the Cardinal Cushing Residences as part of their inventory.

The town of Norwell is currently fulfilling 4.2% of their requirement with 139 subsidized housing units. The town has recently taken steps to increase their percentage by adopting a new plan to create more affordable housing. The town of Rockland has 6% of the 10% requirement filled with 411 subsidized units and is working to create more affordable units.

Rhonda will continue to work in conjunction with the town officials in helping them to secure their 40B requirement. She will also continue to work with the legislature to develop ways to assist our municipalities in fulfilling the required threshold. Another way to help reduce the burden of creating new 40B units would be to look at the possibility of including mobile homes and special needs housing as part of the inventory.

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