Housing Headlines

BROCKTON --- Since the state's eviction moratorium ended in October, landlords have filed over 265 eviction cases, with nearly half since the first week of February, according to a report by the Brockton Enterprise based on from the Massachusetts Trial Courts.

ARLINGTON --- With federal money and a grant from the Community Preservation Act Committee, the Town of Arlington is announcing a third round of rental assistance funding for income-eligible households that have been impacted by COVID-19.

BOSTON --- The Zoning Board of Appeal rejected a proposal to replace a crumbling 10-unit building with 23 apartments for homeless families after residents in the Wales St. neighborhood voiced concern that the new building would not include any parking for any of the formerly homeless residents who might have cars.

AMHERST --- In reaction to a petition drive seeking a six-month moratorium on building permits for residential buildings of three units or more, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking signatures on a statement that is against the moratorium, arguing it would be detrimental to the town's economic growth.

MANCHESTER --- The developer who was working with the town on a 157-unit housing proposal has stepped away from negotiations and now plans to apply to the state for a project eligibility letter that would allow it to come back to the town to seek a Ch. 40B comprehensive permit to build 136 mixed-income apartments. Developer Geoffrey Engler ended so-called "friendly 40B" negotiations after the town wouldn't agree to give up its option to claim safe harbor from 40B applications if it satisfied one of the state requirements that would allow it to do so.

BOSTON --- In an effort to address racial disparities and increase homeownership, the City of Boston is shifting $250,000 from the police department's overtime budget into a $325,000 matching grant program to help lower- and middle-income residents buy homes in the city. The grant would provide up to $5,000 to qualifying “first-generation” buyers who put up $2,500 of their own. The program is part of a larger homeownership effort by the city and the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, and includes MHP's ONE+Boston program.