Joel Barrera Joins the MassHousing Board
Governor Maura Healey has appointed Joel Barrera to the MassHousing Board of Directors. Mr. Barrera's career is steeped in community organizing and public service. He was most recently Director of Strategy at Massport, and previously held roles as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Baker administration; Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC); and Director of the Massachusetts Senate's Post Audit and Oversight Committee. He began his career as a organizer working with underserved communities along the Texas-Mexico border. Mr. Barrera also serves on the Boards of Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition.
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Expanded Homebuyer Assistance Now Available
$25,000 at 0% interest available April 27-July 31, 2026
For a limited time, MassHousing has expanded its Down Payment Assistance program to help increase the buying power and lower the upfront costs of homeownership for more Massachusetts homebuyers.
Eligible first-time homebuyers may qualify for $25,000 in interest-free homebuyer assistance when they lock a MassHousing Mortgage loan between April 27 and July 31, 2026. MassHousing continues to offer $30,000 in down payment assistance to first-time buyers who meet certain income limits. To learn more, contact a MassHousing lending partner or email our Homeownership team at homeownership@masshousing.com.
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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Loan Program Launched
MassHousing has launched the Accessory Dwelling Unit Loan Program (ADULP), which provides second mortgage loans to help income-eligible homeowners add an additional unit to their properties. The ADULP provides financing of up to $250,000 for detached ADUs, and up to $150,000 for attached ADUs. Before applying for the ADULP, homeowners must have all plans, permits and other pre-development materials in hand and be ready to move forward with construction. Learn more at www.masshousing.com/adu.
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ADU Resources, Free Designs Now Available
ADUs are small residential living spaces located on the same lot as another home, either inside an existing home (e.g., converting a basement into an apartment), attached to a residence as an addition, or completely detached (e.g., a cottage or a converted garage). The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently announced winners of the ADU Design Challenge Showcase, which is making available free ADU plans for homeowners. Explore free designs from the ADU Design Challenge and other ADU resources at www.mass.gov/adu.
| | | The Affordable Housing Trust Fund at 25 | |
Twenty-five years ago this month, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) made its first financing award. Since its inception, the AHTF has provided more than $1 billion to nearly 900 housing initiatives to create or preserve more than 44,000 homeownership and rental units across Massachusetts.
The AHTF is administered by MassHousing on behalf of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Learn more at www.masshousing.com/ahtf.
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Gov. Healey, City of Boston and MassHousing Announce $10.5M Partnership to Build 110 New Homes in Roxbury
Governor Maura Healey, MassHousing and the City of Boston announced a combined $10.5 million public investment that will advance the construction of 110 new rental homes in Roxbury. Funding from the Momentum Fund and Boston's Housing Accelerator Fund will help to transform an underutilized parking lot into a vibrant new mixed-income housing community with affordable and market-rate apartments, public space and neighborhood amenities. Read more.
| | Multifamily Events and Announcements | | |
Meshacket Commons, Edgartown
The ribbon was cut for Meshacket Commons, where $14.5 million in MassHousing financing helped Affirmative Investments and Island Housing Trust construct a new 36-unit, 100% electric rental housing community on a town-owned parcel.
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24 Webster Ave., Somerville
MassHousing joined Just A Start and project partners for a groundbreaking celebration at 24 Webster Ave., which will create 43 deeply affordable, energy-efficient rental homes in Somerville's Union Square.
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Beacon House, Boston (Beacon Hill)
MassHousing has closed on $26.4 million in financing to help Rogerson Communities complete property improvements and extend affordability for the senior residents of the 135-unit Beacon House. Read more.
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Flats at 8th, New Bedford
MassHousing was on hand for a ribbon-cutting celebration for Flats at 8th. MassHousing provided Alinea Capital Partners with $2.2 million in permanent financing and $14.2 million in bridge financing for the new 52-unit affordable rental community.
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Campello Apartments, Brockton
MassHousing helped the Brockton Housing Authority and Cambridge Housing Authority kick off the first phase of the three-phase redevelopment of the Campello Apartments, which was originally built in 1972.
| | | Conference to Explore Building Community Through Arts & Culture
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MassHousing’s Housing Stability Department and the Mass Cultural Council will host a one-day conference exploring the role arts and culture can play in supporting resident well-being and strengthening community within affordable and public housing settings.
The all-day event will be held on Tuesday, June 16 at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood.
Designed for resident services coordinators, property management staff, and community partners, the Building Community Through Arts and Culture Conference will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, performances, interactive experiences, and workshops designed to provide participants with practical ideas and approaches that can be applied within their own communities. Learn more about the conference and register today.
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Join TAP for 2026-2027
Each year, hundreds of affordable housing communities across Massachusetts join TAP. We hope your rental community is one of them in 2026-2027. TAP Members enjoy a variety of benefits, including unlimited access to trainings for site staff; on-site resident engagement programs; dispute resolution services; and hoarding consultation and flex funds. Membership is available to all affordable rental housing communities with 10 or more units throughout the Commonwealth. Learn more and enroll your site today at www.masshousing.com/tap.
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Not Eligible for TAP? Training Only Membership Now Available
The Training Only Membership (TOM) is an individual-based, paid subscription program that allows subscribers who are located outside of Massachusetts or who are not employed/contracted by a housing provider to access MassHousing’s Housing Stability Trainings. This membership is not available to those whose companies are eligible for full membership in TAP but have chosen not to enroll their site in the program. Learn more at www.masshousing.com/tom.
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Housing Stability Grants Announced
MassHousing has awarded $150,000 to support art and cultural opportunities at seven Agency-financed rental housing communities, benefiting approximately 1,400 residents across Massachusetts. The grants were provided through the Building Community Through Arts and Culture Program, which recognizes the power of art, design, and cultural identity to strengthen community bonds, encourage resident participation, and promote long-term housing stability. Read more.
| | Massachusetts Community Climate Bank | | |
Retrofit Underway at Brian J. Honan Apartments in Boston
As part of Boston Climate Week, MassHousing staff joined Allston Brighton CDC, state and city officials and other project participants to tour the ongoing deep energy retrofit underway at the Brian J. Honan Apartments in Allston.
The Massachusetts Community Climate Bank provided $8 million in financing—alongside nearly $10 million from other MassHousing sources—for the retrofit, which is expected to cut carbon emissions and utility costs in half and reduce energy use by two-thirds. The Honan Apartments are one of two affordable rental housing communities currently participating in a deep energy retrofit demonstration program with MassHousing and the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank. Read more about the retrofits.
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| ESHLP Powering Home Energy Projects in Western Mass. | | The Energy Saver Home Loan Program helped Adam install solar panels, heat pumps and a backup battery on his home, which sits at the end of a dirt road in Montgomery. Read more. | | Once she learned about the ESHLP, Meredith expanded her home improvement project scope from solar-only to also include heat pumps for heating and cooling. Read more. | | Strategic Community Investments | | |
CommonWealth Builder Projects Underway in Hyannis, Lynn
Two new housing developments that received CommonWealth Builder financing recently held groundbreaking celebrations.
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Cornerstone Hyannis: $10 million in CommonWealth Builder financing is helping nonprofit Housing Assistance of Cape Cod construct 46 new condominium units for purchase and four rental homes on a vacant downtown lot that was formerly occupied by a car dealership.
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144 Market St., Lynn: Boston Real Estate Collaborative Properties is using $9 million in CommonWealth Builder financing to develop 35 new homes for purchase by moderate-income first-time homebuyers. The project will replace a vacant building with a new six-story building with ground floor retail space and housing units on the upper floors.
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| $8M in Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grants Announced | | |
On April 13, as part of 413 Day in Western Massachusetts, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassHousing announced $8 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) awards to help 10 community-based organizations redevelop or rehabilitate 49 affordable homes, including 34 homeownership opportunities. The NSP addresses disinvestment and blighted conditions in communities across Massachusetts, offering capital grant funds for redevelopment, reconstruction, renovation or repair of substandard and/or blighted properties. Read more.
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Grants Support New Affordable Sober Housing in Bellingham and Lowell
MassHousing has awarded $300,000 in grant funding to support the creation of 39 new units of affordable sober housing in Bellingham and Lowell for men and veterans impacted by substance use disorder. The awards were made through the Center for Community Recovery Innovations, Inc., a nonprofit subsidiary of MassHousing that to date has provided nearly $17.5 million in grants to create and preserve 3,200 units of affordable substance-free housing in 56 Massachusetts communities. Read more.
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