Housing Headlines

BOSTON --- Several major affordable housing owners and the organization that represents most of the state's non-profit affordable housing developers have agreed to halt most evictions during the coronavirus emergency. The announcement by owners like Winn Companies, the Massachusetts Housing and Community Development Corporation and others follow last week's announcement that the Boston Housing Court would also stop "nonessential" evictions.

Following Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to suspend certain provisions of the open meeting law to enable local decision-making during the coronavirus emergency, the Mass. Municipal Association has published an explainer to help local officials understand how to hold virtual meetings and allow virtual public access, as well as information of what towns can do if they are not set up to do so.

BOSTON --- The Citizens' Housing and Planning Association will hold an emergency virtual meeting on Friday, March 13 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., on the affordable housing sector's response to the coronavirus. The video conference is expected to include guidance from state Undersecretary for Housing and Community Development Jen Maddox and updates on current responses to COVID-19 in housing, including public housing, property management and shelters.

BOSTON --- In a move to continue important state activities, the Baker-Polito Administration announced an emergency order modifying the state’s open meeting law in order to allow state, quasi and local governments to continue essential functions during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The order includes allowing state, local and quasi-public organizations like MHP to hold virtual board meetings, and more broadly, "to permit the convening of a public body through virtual means."

BOSTON --- Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Boston Housing Authority said Thursday it would stop pursuing all “non-essential” evictions while the public health emergency is ongoing. Additionally (not in this story), state Rep. Kevin Honan and Michael Connolly are drafting legislation that call for the halt of evictions during the coronavirus crisis.

EASTHAM --- Concerned about declining enrollment in schools and the inability to hire and keep teachers due to a lack of housing, town and school officials will be monitoring the impact of the new Village at Nauset Green, which has begun leasing up all of its 65 affordable apartments. Town and school officials for more than a decade have had their eyes on district enrollment figures, which have been in decline since 2007. That year, there were 232 elementary school students in Eastham. Last year’s enrollment of 171 students was the school’s lowest in 13 years.