Gov. Healey announces $62 million for new affordable housing across Massachusetts

Gov. Maura Healey and other officials announced Wednesday that hundreds of affordable housing units would be created throughout the state, funded by $62 million in new state and federal awards. 

A total of 12 affordable housing projects will be supported by the money, bringing 460 new units to Massachusetts. “Nearly all” of these units will be reserved for low-income households, officials said, and 317 units will be set aside for “very low-income residents.”

The housing projects will benefit chronically homeless people, adults with disabilities, families transitioning from homelessness, vulnerable youth, and low-income senior citizens.  

“We’re proud to support projects in every region of our state that are providing permanent supportive housing for families, seniors, veterans, young people and people experiencing homelessness. This is the type of housing production that we want to drive in communities across the state to lower costs and address our housing crisis,” Healey said in a statement. 

In addition to the $62 million in direct subsidies, officials said new state and federal housing tax credits would create an additional $74 million in equity for projects. Some of this money comes from American Rescue Plan Act funding.

The investment, a result of this year’s Permanent Supportive Housing Grant Awards, was announced by Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and others at the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation headquarters.

Three of the 12 affordable housing projects will be built in Boston. Wu said that this will create more than 100 new units for the city’s older residents. 

“Our older adults deserve to retire and live where they already call home, and these three projects will help our beloved community members stay in Boston,” Wu said in a statement. 

Details about each of the awardees, according to Healey’s office, can be found below:

• Hamilton at Mount Everett, a new construction project in Dorchester, will have 36 units for low-income seniors, including 16 units for very low-income seniors. The completed project will replace an existing abandoned house. 
• Cheney Homes Apartments, a new construction project for seniors in Boston’s Grove Hall neighborhood. A total of 48 units will be built for low-income seniors, including 20 units for very low-income seniors. Uphams Corner Health Committee will operate a health clinic on the first floor of the new building, which will serve residents and non-residents alike. 
• 3371 Washington Street, a new construction project for seniors in Jamaica Plain. 39 affordable one-bedroom units will be built, including 12 for very low-income seniors. Described by officials as “transit oriented,” this development will be two blocks from the MBTA’s Green Street Orange Line Station.
• 170 Cottage Street, a new construction project in Chelsea, will have 66 units. Most of these will be two- and three-bedroom apartments, and 15 units will be set aside for homeless families. The development will be within walking distance of Bellingham Square and is one block from the MBTA’s Eastern Avenue Silver Line stop.
• Forward at the Rock Phase 2, an expansion of a project designed to serve adults with autism in Dennis. Eight additional units will be added. 
• 60 Wells Street, a combined renovation and new construction project in Greenfield. An existing state-funded homeless shelter will be renovated to accommodate an extra 10 beds, and a new three-story addition will create 36 new studios for homeless people.  Shelter guests and permanent residents will have access to 24/7 services. 
• Hennessey House, an existing historic single-room occupancy property in downtown Lynn. This property will be converted to include 51 studios with private kitchens and bathrooms. An elevator will also be added to the building. 23 studios will be restricted for very low-income people.
• Bracewell House, the renovation of a two-family house in North Adams. The existing building will be converted to accommodate seven units for homeless and at-risk youth and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.
• First Street Apartments, which will serve homeless adults in Pittsfield. Part of an existing church will be converted into nine housing units and a resource center. 
• West Housatonic Apartments, a new construction project in Pittsfield. Very low-income people will have access to 28 new studio apartments.
• 775 Worthington Street, a new construction project in Springfield. An existing one-story building will be demolished and replaced with a four-story building that will have 36 studio apartments and a 40-bed congregate shelter. 
• At 237 Chandler Street in Worcester, the second story of a historic building will be converted into 20 studio apartments for chronically homeless people.