Malden Delegation Supports Passage of Largest Housing Investment in State History

BOSTON (August 16, 2024) —State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass the Affordable Homes Act, the largest investment in housing in Massachusetts history and a powerful step in tackling the state’s housing affordability crisis.

The legislation authorizes $5.16 billion in bond authorizations and tax credits to spur housing production in Massachusetts, while implementing sweeping policy initiatives to facilitate the development of affordable housing and preserve public housing in Massachusetts.

“The biggest challenge to keeping young adults and working families in Massachusetts is the high cost of housing, especially in the greater Boston area,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “This legislation is a major step forward in addressing the housing shortage and tackling the high rents and home prices that are putting affordable housing out of reach for so many people.”

“I am proud to support the passage of the Affordable Homes Act, as it will allocate important funds towards combating the Commonwealth’s housing crisis,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “It is crucial that we continue to work together to create more housing options for our constituents. The passage of this legislation is a monumental step forward to ensuring every resident in Massachusetts can have a place to call home.”

“The Affordable Homes Act represents our promise to ensure safe and affordable housing to residents across the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “I am incredibly proud of the work the legislature has done to put forward a critical housing bill that will eliminate barriers to housing for low-income individuals and families, senior citizens, and underserved communities.”

“I was glad to support this comprehensive housing bill and its historic investments and impactful policy initiatives,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “This legislation will boost housing production and increase affordability; result in healthier, climate-resilient homes; and enhance our State’s competitiveness by empowering individuals and their families to stay in Massachusetts. I’m particularly proud of the funding for our public housing authorities, in the 32nd Middlesex and across the State, to address maintenance, accessibility, resilience, and decarbonization efforts.”

Key provisions in the Affordable Homes Act include:

● Spurring construction, preservation, and rehabilitation of units by authorizing up to $425 million for the Housing Stabilization Fund and the Community Investment and Preservation Fund and $275 million to consolidate the existing Transit Oriented Housing Program and the Climate Resilient Housing Program and create a new, innovative program to accelerate and unlock new housing. ● Maintaining and repairing public housing by authorizing up to $2 billion for repairs, rehabilitation, and renovation of the over 43,000 units of state-aided public housing.

● Further supporting public housing initiatives by authorizing up to $200 million to support Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) who partner with developers to add mixed-income developments on LHA land, $150 million to decarbonize the public housing stock, and $15 million for accessibility upgrades.

● Promoting affordable housing development by authorizing up to $800 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund which helps to create or preserve affordable housing for households earning less than 100% of area median income (AMI), $200 million to accelerate the development of mixed-income multifamily housing, $100 million for the Middle Income Housing Fund which funds housing development for households earning less than 120% of AMI, and $100 million for the Commonwealth Builder program for the construction of affordable single-family homes for households earning between 70% and 120% of AMI, primarily in Gateway Cities.

● Housing vulnerable populations, including seniors, veterans, people with mental health conditions or disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and people recovering from substance use disorder by authorizing up to $385 million to promote a variety of programs and initiatives to find, modify, and support safe housing.

● Providing support for municipalities by authorizing up to $175 million for municipal infrastructure projects to encourage denser housing development; $50 million to provide payments to municipalities that receive a Housing Choice designation through high housing production and/or demonstration of best practices, including a grant program to assist MBTA Communities in complying with the multi-family zoning requirement in the MBTACommunities Law; $50 million for planning and zoning initiatives that support housing production, workforce training and economic opportunities, childcare and early education initiatives and climate resiliency initiatives; and $20 million to provide incentive payments to municipalities who adopt smart growth housing districts.

● Supporting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by permitting one ADU equal or less than 900 square feet to be built by-right on a property in a single-family zoning district to create additional living spaces, which increases housing supply and provides more affordable rental options within established neighborhoods.

● Introducing a process for tenants to seal their eviction records in cases of no-fault evictions and other limited scenarios to protect vulnerable tenants from the long-term stigma of eviction records and enhance their ability to secure future housing.

● Assisting municipalities to convert commercial properties into multi-unit residential or mixed-use properties by making project sponsors eligible for a tax credit of up to 10 percent of the development costs upon completion of a project.

● Extending the sunset of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit through December 31, 2030, and increasing the total available amount from $55 million to $110 million.

After passing both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Affordable Homes Act was signed into law by Governor Healey on August 6, 2024.

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Press Contact:

Hannah Li

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Hannah.Li@MAHouse.gov

Malden Delegation Secures $925,000 for Numerous Local Prioritie

BOSTON (August 8, 2024) —State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian are pleased to announce that they have secured $925,000 for various local priorities in Malden as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Massachusetts state budget.

The FY25 state budget, totaling $58 billion, received final passage by the House of Representatives and Senate on July 19, 2024, and was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on July 29, 2024. This budget delivers significant levels of investment in early education and childcare, K-12 public schools, public higher education, housing, healthcare, transportation, workforce development, and more, as part of a comprehensive strategy to make Massachusetts more affordable and equitable for all.

Within the budget, Senator Lewis and Representatives Donato, Ultrino, and Lipper-Garabedian secured funding for the following Malden local priorities:

● $100,000 for flood mitigation, including the maintenance and cleaning of the Townline and Linden Brook culverts.

● $100,000 for accessibility improvements to the Forestdale school playground.

● $60,000 for Urban Media Arts to make repairs to their ceiling, insulation, and fireproofing. ● $50,000 to construct a shelter at the bike kitchen on the Northern Strand Trail.

● $40,000 to update equipment and amenities at the Bridge Recovery Center.

● $200,000 for Triangle’s School-to-Career program that connects students with disabilities to services designed to enhance their job and career opportunities.

● $150,000 for Portal to Hope for a community-based domestic violence program, including a “Teens-at-Risk” project.

● $100,000 for Housing Families’ homeless children program.

● $50,000 for Housing Families to purchase transport vans for their street outreach program.

● $75,000 for Action for Boston Community Development’s (ABCD) mobile homeless outreach team.

“This budget will deliver substantial resources to our communities, and make our state more affordable for working families by helping to address the high costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and college,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m especially pleased that Representatives Donato, Ultrino, and Lipper-Garabedian and I were able to also secure funding for some important local Malden priorities.”

“I am grateful for the successful collaboration with my colleagues, Senator Lewis and Representatives Ultrino and Lipper-Garabedian, in securing essential funding for Malden,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “I am especially thrilled to see the funding towards early education, childcare, and public schools. I believe these funds will continue to enhance our community and make Malden a city of opportunity for all individuals and families.”

“The FY25 budget is a reflection of the legislature’s goals to empower and invest in our communities to build a stronger Commonwealth. I am especially pleased to see the increased investments in education to ensure high-quality education is accessible to all,” said State Representative Steven Ultrino. “The budget allocates funding to special projects in Malden from housing to infrastructure. I would like to thank my colleagues Representative Donato, Representative Lipper-Garabedian, and Senator Lewis for their continued work in securing key funding for Malden.”

“I am proud to have joined Representatives Donato and Ultrino, along with Senator Lewis, to secure $925,000 in earmarks for the City of Malden and community partners,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “This funding for Malden will be directed to the areas of housing security, public safety, and infrastructure. Additionally, among the many critical and responsive statewide investments in the budget, I am thrilled to see historic funding in early education and childcare as well as critical policy reforms like making the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) direct-to-provider grants permanent, a top priority for which I advocated.”

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Press Contact:

Hannah Li

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Hannah.Li@MAHouse.gov

$885K Goes to Malden in FY24 Budget

The House and Senate approves a compromise spending bill for the fiscal year 2024 which includes $885,000 dedicated to funding local initiatives and services in the City of Malden.

BOSTON – Tuesday, August 1, 2023 – Yesterday, the Massachusetts Legislature passed, H. 4040, the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) state budget. Funded at $56.2 billion, the compromise FY24 budget makes critical investments in areas of food insecurity, early education and care, higher education, housing instability, healthcare, and workforce development. Taking into consideration the ending of COVID-era federal funding and rising inflation nationwide, this spending bill represents a continued commitment to the people of Massachusetts and aims to put the state in a more competitive position in a post-pandemic world.

The FY24 budget prioritized measures addressing rising food insecurity across the state by codifying free universal school meals, increasing funding for food security infrastructure grants, and providing capital investments to local food organizations. With this bill, Massachusetts is slated to become the seventh state nationwide to provide free school meals to all public school students. Additionally, the bill promises free community college programs for students over 25 years old, increases funding for Early College Programs, and expanding Pre-K opportunities across the state – reflecting historic investments across all levels of our public education system.

Representatives Steve Ultrino, Paul Donato and Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Senator Jason Lewis have successfully advocated for and secured $885,000 in Malden earmarks in this budget including the following:

• $200,000 for the School-to-Career program operated by Triangle, Inc.

• $150,000 for Portal of Hope to develop programs combatting domestic violence and providing supportive services to survivors and victims of domestic violence;

• $100,000 for Housing Families to assist in their general operations;

• $85,000 for capital improvements and equipment for Bread of Life’s new building;

• $75,000 for a new multi-utility vehicle for Malden’s Department of Public Works;

• $75,000 for Malden’s Pedestrian Safety Pilot Projects;

• $75,000 for Action for Boston Community Development’s Mobile Homeless Outreach Team;

• $75,000 for the establishment of an arboretum at the Forest Dale Cemetery;

• $50,000 for Urban Media Arts to construct a new roof at their facility.

“I am excited to see Malden community organizations receiving funding to continue their critical programs and services for our residents in need,” said State Representative Steve Ultrino (D – Malden). “This budget prioritizes creating a more livable and competitive Commonwealth and addressing urgent issues faced by our residents every day. Once again, I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in the Malden delegation to successfully advocate for investments in the Malden community.”

“This budget will deliver substantial resources to our communities, and make our state more affordable for working families by helping to address the high costs of housing, healthcare, child care, and college,” said State Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m especially pleased that Representative Ultrino, Representative Lipper-Garabedian, Representative Donato and I were able to also secure funding for some important local Malden priorities.”

“By placing a focus on affordability and equity, this budget will have immediate and long-lasting positive effects for residents throughout the Commonwealth,” said State Representative Paul Donato (D – Medford). “Additionally, I am grateful that Senator Lewis, Representative Ultrino, Representative Lipper-Garabedian, and I were able to deliver funding towards Malden.”

"With the Malden delegation, I am proud to have secured funding of $885,000 for the City and critical community partners including in the areas of housing security, public safety, and infrastructure,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D – Melrose). “Additionally, among the many critical and responsive statewide investments in the budget, I am thrilled to see ongoing historic funding in early education and childcare, a top priority for which I advocated, as well as universal free school meals to make Massachusetts the seventh state to make the program permanent.”

The FY24 budget will be the first annual budget to integrate new revenues from the Fair Share Amendment. With $1 billion in anticipated Fair Share revenue directed into a new Education and Transportation Fund, several critical education and transportation initiatives will be funded through this additional revenue stream, including:

• $69 million for permanent Universal School Meals;

• $25 million for reducing the waitlist for income-eligible early education and care programs and ensuring fair and adequate access to early education and care services;

• $5.5 million for expanding pre-K and preschool opportunities across the state;

• $50 million for the Green School Works program;

• $20 million for MassReconnect, which will provide free community college certificates and degrees to Massachusetts residents aged 25 or above who have yet to earn a college-level credential;

• $20 million for MBTA Commuter Rail infrastructure improvements;

• $20 million for MBTA Workforce and Safety Reserve to address ongoing safety concerns identified by the Federal Transit Administration’s inspections.

Other notable highlights in the FY24 budget include:

• Elimination of asset limits for Medicare Savings Program eligibility;

• In-state tuition and financial aid at community colleges and universities for undocumented high school graduates and GED holders;

• No Cost Calls provided to incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts correctional facilities;

• Reviving the pandemic-era Chapter 257 eviction protections for tenants who have applied for rental assistance;

• A 2-year pilot program extending eligibility for ConnectorCare to applicants at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Limit;

• $190 million allocated to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, representing a $40 million increase from FY23;

• $15 million for the Early College program to help expand access to higher education pathways for high school students, representing a $5 million increase from FY23;

• $17.5 million for Head Start grants, which provides comprehensive social, educational, physical, and emotional services for over 100 Malden families in the past year.

The FY24 budget proposal (H. 4040) was passed to be engrossed by the House and Senate on July 31, 2023 and now goes to the Governor’s desk. Governor Healey will have 10 days to review the annual budget for any amendments and vetoes before the proposal is finalized.

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Press Contacts:

Claudia Chung

Office of State Representative Steve Ultrino

Claudia.Chung@MAHouse.gov

Elizabeth Anderson

Office of State Representative Paul Donato

Elizabeth.Anderson@MAHouse.gov

Haley Tobin

Office of State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian

Haley.Tobin@MAHouse.gov

Paul Albright

Office of State Senator Jason Lewis

Paul.Albright@MASenate.gov