Category: News
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Mayor Walsh Seeks to Expand IDP Program, Housing Activists Seek More
As the fight to quell Boston’s housing displacement continues, city officials plan to expand their Inclusionary Development Policy, which currently mandates the majority of housing developers to aid in the construction of affordable, income-restricted units. The Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) states that private housing developers must either make 13 percent of units in their new…
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Over 20 years rent control debate resurfaces in Mass.
Legislators within the Massachusetts House of Representatives are preparing to file a bill that would put rent control in Boston back on the table after being banned since 1994. To address Boston’s housing crisis, the bill would cap the rent prices that landlords can charge their residents as a measure of protection from eviction and…
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Cambridge and Somerville set up new defense fund for immigrants
The Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF), working together with the cities of Somerville and Cambridge, has established the United Legal Defense Fund to help defray the cost of legal representation for immigrants. This new fund expands the previous Cambridge Legal Defense Fund for immigrants which was launched one year ago by Cambridge mayor Marc McGovern-in partnership…
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Shelters Shouldn’t Do the State’s job
When I read that Pine Street Inn was planning to create 140 units of housing by putting up a five to six story building in Jamaica Plain I nearly fell over, and not from joy. For years I’ve been a staunch believer that shelter agencies, including Pine Street Inn, should not double as landlords. Why?…
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Cambridge eyes major zoning relief for affordable developments
Cambridge City Hall. Cambridge City Council dedicated the March 20 Housing Committee meeting to hearing public comments on the 100% Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay. The proposal would allow developers of affordable housing exclusively for low and medium income renters to build significantly more densely and with a streamlined permit process citywide. The meeting drew a…
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Bathrooms for customers only: Peeing with dignity in the city
Everyone needs to use washrooms, but public washrooms are hard to find. Just ask anyone with colitis, or who has ever cared for a child who really needs to go. Toronto, for example, has only one free and public washroom for every 9,213 residents. So, where do we go, when we really need to go? Whether…
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Bill would offer college path to homeless and youths in foster care
A new bill before the U.S. Congress seeks to give the country’s 1.3 million homeless students, and nearly 437,000 students in the foster care system, better access to college. The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act (HEASHFY) was introduced by Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark and Washington Senator Patty Murray, both…
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Dreamers, TPS holders join Members of Congress to advocate for new Dream and Promise Act
On March 18, in front of the JFK Building at Boston City Hall Plaza, Massachusetts leaders, and immigrant advocates spoke out in support of legislation that would ensure that Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders can obtain permanent residency. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), which represents a number of immigrant advocates…
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Braintree resists denser development that would add to affordable housing
Braintree Town Hall. Hundreds of Braintree residents filled the town hall on March 25, standing and sitting wherever they could, as the town opened the public hearing process for extensive changes proposed for Braintree’s zoning laws. Before the hearing, more than fifty protesters were outside town hall holding signs with slogans such as “say no…
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Pine Street Inn Bringing Housing to Jamaica Plain
One of the city’s most prominent homeless shelters is planning to bring 140 units of permanent supportive housing to Jamaica Plain. Pine Street Inn, the region’s largest homeless services provider, announced it is working with a nonprofit housing organization to create 225 new units of housing at 3368 Washington Street and is planning to file…