Special Initiatives in Public Housing

EOHLC runs several special initiatives to bring in new resources to preserve public housing, improve management and operations at Housing Authorities, and offer economic mobility and social support services to public housing residents.

Public Housing Innovations Program

Beginning in November 2015, the Public Housing Innovations Program helps Local Housing Authorities interested in seeking creative strategies to redevelop their o state-aided public housing portfolio. This program seeks to bring in new resources to preserve public housing. Completed grant rounds funded strategies including mixed-income redevelopment, transferring units to federal regulation and subsidy, and mixed-finance redevelopment involving tax credits and addition of new affordable units. As of July 2022 awarded projects include 

• Chelsea, Innes Apartments: Mixed-Income (Awarded 2016, Closed) 

• Somerville, Clarendon Hills: Mixed-Income, Mixed-Finance (Awarded 2016) 

• Medford, Walkling Court: Federalization, Mixed Finance (Awarded 2022) 

• Worcester, Curtis Apartments: Federalization (Awarded 2022) 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Under the American Rescue Plan Act, passed by the federal government in March 2021, Massachusetts state, county, tribal and local entities will receive federal aid to respond to the public health and economic impacts of the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through that plan, the Division of Public Housing received $150,000,000 which it is distributing to LHAs through formula funding and targeted awards for addressing expired components including replacing obsolete electrical panels and upgrading fire alarm & suppression systems.

 

Chapter 235

In August 2014, Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014, An Act Relative to Housing Authorities (“the Legislation”) was signed into law (St. 2014, c. 235). The Legislation mandated a series of new performance management and capacity building actions to improve the management of state public housing in Massachusetts. 

Chapter 235 

M.G.L. 121B 

Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP)

Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014 requires each Local Housing Authority (LHA) to contract with an independent external certified public accounting (CPA) firm annually to perform “Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP)” review of the LHA’s financial records. 

AUP Reports 

Annual Plan

The Annual Plan is a requirement mandated by Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014. It provides residents and the public with a broad array of information about LHA operations, performance and policies, including; the Capital Improvement Plan, Maintenance and Repair Plan, Operating Budget, Narrative responses to Performance Management Review, Policies list, Waivers received by DHCD, and public comments. 

Annual Plans 

 

Local Housing Authority Mandatory Board Member Training

Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014 required that the Department of Housing and Community Development - DHCD (now EOHLC) establish a comprehensive training program for board members of state-aided LHAs. 

Performance Management Review (PMR)

Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014 requires an LHA to participate in a comprehensive performance-based monitoring program, or Performance Management Review (PMR), as established by DHCD (now EOHLC). 

Regional Capital Assistance Team (RCAT) Program

The Regional Capital Assistance Team (RCAT) Program is legislatively mandated under Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014. There are three regional teams, operating out of Housing Authorities, of technical assistance providers assisting smaller LHAs in developing capital plans, executing capital projects, and seeking additional funding for capital projects. Current RCATS:  

• RCAT North-East: Chelmsford Housing Authority 

• RCAT South-East: Taunton Housing Authority 

• RCAT Central-West: Worcester Housing Authority

 

Public Housing Tenant Survey

Included in Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014 is a requirement that the Department of Housing and Community Development - DHCD (now EOHLC) conduct an annual survey of residents living in state-aided public housing.

A Better Life (ABL)

A Better Life strives to improve outcomes for state-aided public housing residents in the areas of: 

• employment 

• financial literacy 

• education 

Current Awardees: 

• Gloucester Housing Authority 

• New Bedford Housing Authority 

• Taunton Housing Authority 

Self Sufficiency Program (SSP)

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) funds grant awards for the Self Sufficiency Program (SSP) to serve residents in state-aided public housing at five Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) and participants in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) through three Regional Administering Agencies (RAA). 

Each of these agencies receives a grant for a period of up to five years. This program follows the successful conclusion of the five year self-sufficiency pilot program, Mass LEAP (Learning Employment and Asset Program) that provided supportive services in education and training, career counseling and financial literacy to almost 200 families in state-subsidized public housing and MRVP voucher holders between 2014 and 2019. The SSP grantees are: Brookline Housing Authority, Chelsea/Everett Housing Authorities, Lowell Housing Authority, Somerville Housing Authority, Community Teamwork Inc. (CTI), NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, and Way Finders 

Resident Service Coordinator (RSC) Program

To support the stability of residents living in state-aided public housing, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) funds grant awards to support the hiring of Resident Service Coordinators (RSCs) to work with residents in c.200, 705, or 667 public housing developments. RSCs support residents in reaching their economic mobility goals and accessing resources, as well as facilitate social initiatives to build community among the public housing population. EOHLC awards support RSCs serving 87 LHAs across the State.