Program Description
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 79A, the Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Bureau of Relocation (BOR) is responsible for providing advice, assistance and approvals for and to public and private entities that cause businesses and/or individuals to move as a result of taking of real property by eminent domain, negotiated sale, or for the purposes of rehabilitation, demolition or other improvement where there is public funding. In general, the BOR acts as the central clearinghouse on state and local projects that cause displacement. Any resident or business that has been displaced by a project using state or federal funds may be eligible for assistance.
Relocation Assistance - How it Works:
Displacing agencies are charged with providing relocation services to businesses and residential occupants who are displaced as the result of a project with state and federal funds. Displacing agencies must have adequate in-house or contracted personnel to provide the necessary relocation assistance to displaced occupants. The Bureau of Relocation is charged with administrative oversight of the implementation of the local relocation process. The Bureau of Relocation also conducts administrative hearings under M.G.L. Chapter 30A to resolve disputes between displacing agencies and displaced occupants.
The Bureau of Relocation ensures that displacing agencies provide:
technical assistance to displacing agencies in preparing local relocation plans and issuing necessary notices and forms to displaced occupants;
all requisite services and payments to displaced residents and/or businesses in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and,
technical assistance to displaced residents and/or businesses, including explaining the availability of advisory services and payments under Chapter 79A.
Activities resulting in displacement and relocation of residents and/or businesses include, but are not limited to:
- housing initiatives;
- court construction and expansion;
- urban renewal;
- public school and higher educational facilities construction and expansion;
- public parking facilities;
- transportation improvements and mass transit projects;
- public parks and open space initiatives;
- hazard mitigation projects, watershed and environmental protection initiatives;
- fire and police construction and expansion;
- library construction and expansion; and,
- miscellaneous public facilities (e.g., skating rinks, convention centers, etc.).
For More Information:
Please contact DHCD's Division of Community Services at 617-573-1400.
Division staff is also available by appointment to provide assistance with applications.