Plan outlines strategies for lowering costs, achieving 222,000 new housing units by 2035

Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released the initial results of Massachusetts’ first comprehensive statewide housing plan to increase housing production, meet the unique needs of communities and lower costs across the state. “A Home for Everyone: A Comprehensive Housing Plan for Massachusetts” was developed in consultation with the Housing Advisory Council, which Governor Maura Healey established by Executive Order when she filed the Affordable Homes Act. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll served as Chair of the Council and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus was Vice Chair.

The plan, which includes an in-depth analysis of the state’s housing needs, also identifies strategies for increasing production, preserving and upgrading existing housing, supporting individuals and families struggling with homelessness and using housing as a way to create economic mobility for all Massachusetts residents. It provides both a statewide perspective as well as data and strategies specific to each region in the state, including an analysis of each region’s housing needs over the next 10 years. The report identifies that the state needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs. Every region of the state needs more homes in order to reach this statewide target.  

“For the first time, Massachusetts has a statewide housing plan. Our administration is not kicking the can down the road when it comes to addressing the high housing costs that are holding too many of our residents and our businesses back,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This plan tells us exactly where we need to go and how we can get there to build hundreds of thousands of new units and make sure that everyone – our teachers, nurses, small business owners, seniors and families – can afford homes in our state. I’m grateful for the hard work of our Housing Advisory Council, under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus, to develop this first-of-its-kind plan that is going to have a real impact for the people of Massachusetts.”

“While we know there is a lot of work to do to increase housing production and lower costs across our state, we have the tools and strategies in place to do it,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “From the Affordable Homes Act and the MBTA Communities Law, we have the opportunity to really tackle our housing challenges in a way that recognizes the unique needs of each of our 351 cities and towns. This work is essential for our state’s competitiveness, and it will be good for our communities, workforce, businesses, and quality of life.”

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, in partnership with the Housing Advisory Council, engaged with more than 3,000 people in developing the plan. That included 14 regional listening sessions held throughout the state last year.   

“From one end of the state to the other, we’ve heard from seniors, veterans, business owners and employees, families, health care workers and young people,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “The rising cost of housing has impacted everyone. This plan is the beginning of what will be an ongoing process. We hope that communities will use it as a resource as we continue to work to refine our strategies in the months and years to come.’

The statewide plan dives deep into the current state of housing in Massachusetts, including where our housing is, where people show a desire to live, what type of housing currently exists and what types are needed to meet projected demand. In addition to offering an analysis of housing needs by region, it identifies overall strategies to shape Massachusetts’ successful approach to housing.

Many of these strategies are already underway. Last year, Governor Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act into law, the state’s most comprehensive housing bill in history, which is expected to create or preserve 65,000 housing units. One key part of the bill allows for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right. ADUs are sometimes called tiny homes or in-law suites, and this provision is expected to result in 8,000-10,000 new ADUs across the state. The bill also increases funding for programs that support first-time homebuyers and creates the Momentum Fund, a new revolving fund to be used to increase development of mixed-income multifamily housing.  

Additionally, more than 116 communities have approved new multi-family zoning near transit under the MBTA Communities Act, and more than 3,000 new housing units are already in the pipeline. The Healey-Driscoll Administration supports compliant communities with the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund, which provides funding for infrastructure projects needed to support new housing development.

Governor Healey also increased the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) in her tax cuts package, which has increased housing production in Gateway Cities by 600 percent.

The statewide plan also calls for exploring non-traditional housing, protecting existing homes and affordability by preserving homes with expiring affordability restrictions and bringing vacant or distressed homes back online, providing direct subsidies and increasing access to homeownership for first-time homebuyers, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and enhancing partnerships with employers to better address workforce housing needs.

A full digital version of the plan will be launched in the spring and will include an interactive resource center and production tracking guide where we can assess the impact of our investments and movement in the market. The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released the initial results of Massachusetts’ first comprehensive statewide housing plan to increase housing production, meet the unique needs of communities and lower costs across the state. “A Home for Everyone: A Comprehensive Housing Plan for Massachusetts” was developed in consultation with the Housing Advisory Council, which Governor Maura Healey established by Executive Order when she filed the Affordable Homes Act. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll served as Chair of the Council and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus was Vice Chair.

The plan, which includes an in-depth analysis of the state’s housing needs, also identifies strategies for increasing production, preserving and upgrading existing housing, supporting individuals and families struggling with homelessness and using housing as a way to create economic mobility for all Massachusetts residents. It provides both a statewide perspective as well as data and strategies specific to each region in the state, including an analysis of each region’s housing needs over the next 10 years. The report identifies that the state needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs. Every region of the state needs more homes in order to reach this statewide target.  

“For the first time, Massachusetts has a statewide housing plan. Our administration is not kicking the can down the road when it comes to addressing the high housing costs that are holding too many of our residents and our businesses back,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This plan tells us exactly where we need to go and how we can get there to build hundreds of thousands of new units and make sure that everyone – our teachers, nurses, small business owners, seniors and families – can afford homes in our state. I’m grateful for the hard work of our Housing Advisory Council, under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and Secretary Augustus, to develop this first-of-its-kind plan that is going to have a real impact for the people of Massachusetts.”

“While we know there is a lot of work to do to increase housing production and lower costs across our state, we have the tools and strategies in place to do it,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “From the Affordable Homes Act and the MBTA Communities Law, we have the opportunity to really tackle our housing challenges in a way that recognizes the unique needs of each of our 351 cities and towns. This work is essential for our state’s competitiveness, and it will be good for our communities, workforce, businesses, and quality of life.”

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, in partnership with the Housing Advisory Council, engaged with more than 3,000 people in developing the plan. That included 14 regional listening sessions held throughout the state last year.   

“From one end of the state to the other, we’ve heard from seniors, veterans, business owners and employees, families, health care workers and young people,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “The rising cost of housing has impacted everyone. This plan is the beginning of what will be an ongoing process. We hope that communities will use it as a resource as we continue to work to refine our strategies in the months and years to come.’

The statewide plan dives deep into the current state of housing in Massachusetts, including where our housing is, where people show a desire to live, what type of housing currently exists and what types are needed to meet projected demand. In addition to offering an analysis of housing needs by region, it identifies overall strategies to shape Massachusetts’ successful approach to housing.

Many of these strategies are already underway. Last year, Governor Healey signed the Affordable Homes Act into law, the state’s most comprehensive housing bill in history, which is expected to create or preserve 65,000 housing units. One key part of the bill allows for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right. ADUs are sometimes called tiny homes or in-law suites, and this provision is expected to result in 8,000-10,000 new ADUs across the state. The bill also increases funding for programs that support first-time homebuyers and creates the Momentum Fund, a new revolving fund to be used to increase development of mixed-income multifamily housing.  

Additionally, more than 116 communities have approved new multi-family zoning near transit under the MBTA Communities Act, and more than 3,000 new housing units are already in the pipeline. The Healey-Driscoll Administration supports compliant communities with the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund, which provides funding for infrastructure projects needed to support new housing development.

Governor Healey also increased the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) in her tax cuts package, which has increased housing production in Gateway Cities by 600 percent.

The statewide plan also calls for exploring non-traditional housing, protecting existing homes and affordability by preserving homes with expiring affordability restrictions and bringing vacant or distressed homes back online, providing direct subsidies and increasing access to homeownership for first-time homebuyers, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and enhancing partnerships with employers to better address workforce housing needs.

A full digital version of the plan will be launched in the spring and will include an interactive resource center and production tracking guide where we can assess the impact of our investments and movement in the market.