News  Healey-Driscoll Administration Recognizes 43 Municipalities for Housing Leadership

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that 43 cities and towns across Massachusetts have earned the 2025 Housing Choice Community designation, gaining access to exclusive state funding opportunities and technical assistance that support housing growth and local planning. 

Now in its eighth year, the Housing Choice Initiative recognizes communities that are adopting policies that support increased housing production and lower costs. The 2025 round is the first to incorporate Housing Choice 2.0, a major expansion of the program by the Healey-Driscoll Administration that introduced new paths to eligibility, modernized best practice criteria and rewarded communities for reactivating rehabilitated housing units. 

“The high cost of housing is one of the greatest challenges facing Massachusetts residents, and communities across the state are stepping up to meet it,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s great that these 43 cities and towns are doing the work to create more reasonably-priced homes, support their residents and lead by example. The Housing Choice designation is one of the many ways we partner with communities to help them build housing and lower costs for us all.” 

This year’s awardees represent a diverse cross-section of Massachusetts communities, from Gateway Cities and rural towns to fast-growing suburbs and seasonal communities. Among them are first-time designees Arlington and Pittsfield. 

“This program is all about partnering with communities to make housing more affordable for everyone,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’ve seen incredible momentum this year from communities that have shown commitment not only to building more housing but doing it thoughtfully with affordability front of mind.” 

To qualify for the Housing Choice designation, municipalities must meet specific benchmarks for housing production over the past five years and demonstrate progress in implementing local policies and best practices. Housing Choice 2.0 introduced new eligibility "on-ramps," offering towns multiple pathways based on scale of production and policy leadership. This year, the program also piloted a provision allowing units brought back online through rehabilitation to count toward a community’s total. 

“Every unit counts when it comes to solving our housing shortage, and these communities are proving what’s possible when we lead with urgency, creativity and data,” said Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Whether it’s 150 homes or 15,000, every one of these communities is helping us build a stronger, more livable Massachusetts.” 

The 2025 designees include 11 Gateway Cities, seven rural or small towns and four seasonal communities, reflecting the program’s effort to support housing progress across different regions and housing markets. 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has made housing a top priority, starting with the creation of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in 2023. Since then, the Administration has initiated a comprehensive approach that includes passage of the $5 billion Affordable Homes Act, implementation of the MBTA Communities Law, creation of the Momentum Fund, the new State Land for Homes initiative to jumpstart housing production on state land, sizable increases in housing tax credits and subsidies and the elimination of renter-paid broker’s fees.   

About the Housing Choice Initiative 

The Housing Choice Initiative provides designated municipalities with exclusive access to the Housing Choice Grant Program and additional benefits through partner programs across multiple state agencies. It is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in collaboration with state and regional partners. 

Below are communities that meet the 2025 designation criteria: