Posted on November 3, 2025
BOSTON --- For 40 years, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) has expanded access to affordable housing and promoted housing equity in communities across the Commonwealth. The milestone anniversary was celebrated with a “40 Years in Partnership” reception at the University of Massachusetts Club of Boston on October 21, 2025.
Approximately 175 affordable housing stakeholders attended the private event, which brought together representatives of the banking industry, nonprofit organizations, real estate developers, municipal leaders, and former and current MHP staff members.
It was an opportunity for MHP to thank partners and staff the organization has worked with over the years and guests to reunite with former colleagues and friends.
The formal portion of the festivities kicked off with the premier of a seven-minute video featuring interviews with MHP partners reflecting on MHP in the early days and its challenges and accomplishments through the years.
After the video retrospective, Executive Director Clark Ziegler invited key partners to the podium to make remarks through a forward-looking lens, giving their perspective on the future of affordable housing in Massachusetts and MHP.
Senior Vice President of Rockland Trust Bob Driscoll suggested the goal of partner banks and credit unions assisting 10,000 families over the next 10 years in purchasing their first home through MHP’s ONE Mortgage Program. “It’s a lot, but we have to ask ourselves, ‘if we don’t think big, we’re not going to achieve it.'”
E3 Development President Eliza Datta said she’d like to see MHP continue its research and advocacy around building technologies that accelerate housing delivery and bring down costs. “Such important work requires leadership across public and private sectors,” she said. “MHP has really shown its skill in bringing these parties together.”
Keith Fairey, President and CEO of affordable housing organization Way Finders, said that MHP has the expertise to help drive forward the statewide housing plan to meet demand by adding 222,000 affordable homes by 2035.
“We got where we are by doing revolutionary things” he said. “If we can focus on the intended task, which is to create the housing we need for now and into the future, I’m confident that MHP will partner with us to do that.”
Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Ed Augustus lauded Ziegler, MHP Chief of Public and Community Engagement Dana LeWinter, and the entire MHP staff for their work with EOHLC.
“Communities across the state are better able to understand how and where to approve ADUs, because MHP drafted the model bylaw that’s being used by communities across Massachusetts. MHP’s technical assistance has allowed us to have 145 communities approve the MBTA zoning necessary to make sure we have housing near transit.”
In addition to focusing on MHP’s past, present, and future, many in attendance took the opportunity to congratulate Ziegler on his 40 years with MHP. Ziegler will be retiring at the end of February, and the search for our next executive director is underway.
MHP was created in 1985 by Governor Michael S. Dukakis to foster civic leadership on affordable housing and break down local barriers to housing development through effective guidance, advocacy, research and technical support. As a leader and innovator, MHP expands access to affordable housing and promotes housing equity in communities across the Commonwealth. See MHP’s strategic plan summary.
To see more photos from the event, head over to our Flickr account. For press inquiries, contact MHP Communications Manager Lisa Braxton.