- Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) today announced that construction upgrades are underway at 54 public housing authorities across the state, thanks to meaningful investments finalized by the Healey-Driscoll Administration this summer. The funds, authorized through the Affordable Homes Act signed by Governor Maura Healey, support upgrades to state-funded public housing across Massachusetts with significant improvements focused on weatherization and heating efficiency — including window and door replacements, new heating systems, and heat pumps — to improve comfort and lower energy costs for residents during the winter season.
Massachusetts oversees about 43,000 units of state-funded public housing. The finalized contracts, executed with local housing authorities across the state, will help make those homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient for tens of thousands of residents.
“Public housing should be warm in the winter, cool in the summer and efficient all year long,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. “These investments deliver common-sense upgrades — from tighter windows and doors to modern heating systems and heat pumps — that make homes more comfortable, reduce energy costs and extend the life of our buildings. HLC is proud to move this work forward with our local housing authority partners.”
Weatherization and heating
About 30 percent of the summer contracts emphasized projects that directly impact resident comfort and seasonal energy needs, including:
- Window and door replacements to eliminate drafts and improve building envelopes.
- High-efficiency boiler and heating system upgrades and heat pump installations to modernize aging systems and support decarbonization goals.
- Insulation and air-sealing measures where needed to reduce heat loss and improve indoor air quality.
Other critical building improvements
In addition to weatherization and heating, this summer’s construction activity advanced long-needed capital work that keeps public housing safe, accessible, and resilient:
- Accessibility upgrades to meet ADA requirements and improve mobility throughout buildings and sites.
- Roof replacements to protect homes and prevent water intrusion.
- Fire alarm, life-safety and electrical upgrades to enhance resident safety and system reliability.
- Security improvements at select developments to support safer communities.
Examples of work begun this summer include converting 41 family homes from aging oil furnaces to high-efficiency heat pumps at Gardner Housing Authority’s Forest Park property; replacing oil systems with heat pumps and electric hot water in Middleborough and Taunton Housing Authorities; swapping electric baseboards for heat pumps and new bath fans in the next phase of a retrofit in Holden Housing Authority; removing outdated gas equipment and installing heat pumps and new hot water in Great Barrington Housing Authority; boosting insulation, air sealing and ventilation across the Auburn Housing Authority state portfolio to meet HLC sustainability standards. Accessibility work includes Stoneham Housing Authority constructing three to four fully accessible units with wider kitchens and baths, and Norfolk Housing Authority creating an ADA-compliant common laundry.
Construction contracts signed this summer:
- Andover Housing Authority, $195,955 for the rehabilitation and remediation of vacant units.
- Arlington Housing Authority, $441,790 for the relocation and replacement of ejector pumps.
- Auburn Housing Authority, $1,153,518 for weatherization and ventilation.
- Bourne Housing Authority, $172,040 for drainage improvements.
- Braintree Housing Authority, $1,069,219 for major renovation to congregate building.
- Bridgewater Housing Authority, $1,326,042 for bath exhaust fan and kitchen range hood installation.
- Canton Housing Authority, $558,250.00 for window replacement (Hemenway Phase 3).
- Canton Housing Authority, $514,810.00 for Federal Pacific electrical panel replacement.
- Chicopee Housing Authority, $284,707.20 for fire escape refurbishment.
- Clinton Housing Authority, $726,255.00 for mid-rise sprinkler retrofit.
- Danvers Housing Authority, $220,600.00 for roof replacement.
- Dedham Housing Authority, $749,879.00 for master meter fix.
- East Longmeadow Housing Authority, $358,706 for storm and exterior door upgrades.
- East Longmeadow Housing Authority, $264,352.15 for significant vacant unit rehabilitation.
- Fall River Housing Authority, $3,076,756.78 for Phase Two Creative Placemaking: new community center.
- Fall River Housing Authority, $12,245,235.66 for Maple Gardens comprehensive improvements.
- Falmouth Housing Authority, $363,248 for vacant unit renovations.
- Fitchburg Housing Authority, $3,361,104.00 for emergency roof replacement and rooftop ventilation repairs.
- Gardner Housing Authority, $6,098,222.00 for oil furnace to air-source heat pump conversion.
- Gardner Housing Authority, $1,104,353.00 for gas stove replacement with electric.
- Great Barrington Housing Authority, $1,671,327.58 for heating system improvements.
- Hadley Housing Authority, $128,630.00 for unit turnover at 107 Burkeway.
- Halifax Housing Authority, $253,190.00 for kitchen and bath exhaust fans.
- Haverhill Housing Authority, $2,611,879.28 for structural integrity repairs.
- Haverhill Housing Authority, $1,354,065.50 for master meter electrification of stoves.
- Holden Housing Authority, $2,116,030.00 for electric baseboard to air-source heat pump conversion (Phase 2).
- Holyoke Housing Authority, $160,812 for window and exterior door replacement.
- Lancaster Housing Authority, $517,133 for fire alarm upgrade.
- Lexington Housing Authority, $356,431.70 for siding and window replacement.
- Ludlow Housing Authority, $646,345.38 for multiple unit vacancy turnovers.
- Mattapoisett Housing Authority, $1,673,246.04 for sliding glass door replacement.
- Medfield Housing Authority, $87,250.00 for door security system.
- Melrose Housing Authority, $459,100.00 for Phase 2 window replacement.
- Middleborough Housing Authority, $4,860,593.22 for oil furnace replacement and weatherization.
- Milford Housing Authority, $1,227,750.00 for master meter: gas-to-electric stove conversion.
- New Bedford Housing Authority, $175,946 for hallway security upgrades.
- Norfolk Housing Authority, $237,212 for ADA upgrades to laundry facility.
- North Reading Housing Authority, $275,080 for heat pump installation.
- Norwell Housing Authority, $631,650.00 for fire alarm upgrade (667-1).
- Pittsfield Housing Authority, $503,237 for outdoor stair replacement.
- Quincy Housing Authority, $504,523.79 for exterior unit door replacement.
- Reading Housing Authority, $443,111.00 for whole-house heat pump installation (Bancroft).
- Rowley Housing Authority, $292,060.00 for siding replacement (Phase 2).
- Salisbury Housing Authority, $585,364 for common area entry door replacement.
- Sandwich Housing Authority, $313,490.00 for roof replacement (Building B) and downspout drainage.
- Saugus Housing Authority, $555,492.17 for roof replacement.
- Sharon Housing Authority, $320,475.00 for siding replacement (Building 2).
- Southbridge Housing Authority, $377,320.00 for porch, railing, siding, and window replacement.
- Stoneham Housing Authority, $1,137,030.28 for ADA unit accessibility upgrades.
- Swampscott Housing Authority, $133,214.65 for kitchen and bathroom upgrades.
- Taunton Housing Authority, $2,629,490 for HVAC conversion: oil to air-source heat pumps.
- Ware Housing Authority, $412,858.00 for paving.
- Wenham Housing Authority, $240,054 for parking lot re-grading for drainage.
- West Brookfield Housing Authority, $304,430 for fire alarm system.
- Westborough Housing Authority, $157,242.00 for site drainage improvements.
- Westfield Housing Authority, $3,820,053.00 for master meter stove replacement (gas to electric).
- Williamstown Housing Authority, $254,760 for parking lot and driveway repaving.
- Winthrop Housing Authority, $289,048.78 for asphalt shingle roof replacement.
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