Thanks to CHAPA for this advocacy alert to Governor Baker regarding the Conference Committee ARPA budget’s allocation of $600 million in housing funds. CHAPA also joined with other statewide organizations to issue this statement urging an additional $600 million investment of the remaining ARPA funds into affordable housing.
Action Alert:
Please call or email Governor Baker’s office today and ask the administration to support all of the affordable housing investments in the conference spending bill:
You can use the following script in your message to the Governor’s office:
Hello, I am [NAME] from [CITY or TOWN]. Housing is the single best investment Massachusetts can make to secure a healthy future for all. Substantial investments to support affordable housing production, preservation, energy retrofits and rehabilitation, public housing, homeownership, and supportive housing are important for our recovery for the pandemic. I am requesting that Governor Baker support and sign H.4269 into law with $600 million in affordable housing investments. Thank you.
Background:
On December 1st, the Massachusetts Legislature’s conference committee sent a $4 billion spending plan to Governor Baker’s desk. The spending plan allocates a majority of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal recovery funding as well as the surplus state tax revenue. CHAPA thanks Representatives Michlewitz, Hunt, and Smola, and Senators Rodrigues, Friedman, and O’Connor for prioritizing ~$600 million towards affordable housing.
Governor Baker now has less than 10 days to review and sign the bill. It is still possible that the Governor files amendments or vetoes certain spending line items.
CHAPA issued a letter to Governor Baker to underscore the importance of keeping all of the allocated affordable housing investments and conference language that strengthens our current affordable housing programs. More detail about the conference spending bill can be found here.
