Housing Policy Development and Research
The Policy Development and Research Division supports the work of the Mayor's Office of Housing through:
- preparing plans and reports required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- developing programs and policy
- assisting with grant-writing
- analyzing research and policy, and
- mapping and data services.
It also oversees the citizen participation process for the City of Boston’s annual grant allocations from HUD.
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2 Center plaza, 7TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02208 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
HUD Required Plans and Reports
Plans and ReportsEvery year, we submit an Action Plan to HUD. The plan covers how we will use federal funds to fix the issues we discuss in our Consolidated plan.
The Federal CARES Act provides substantial funding to the City of Boston for responding to, and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In order to spend the funds that HUD provides to the City from the CARES Act, we must complete a "Substantial Amendment" to our 2019 HUD Action Plan. We have completed such amendments for $20,039,341 in CDBG funds, $449,562 in Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds, and $28,819,809 in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funds.
DOCUMENTS:To apply for federal grants, we create a Plan for the City's development needs over five years. HUD reviewed and approved the plan in February 2024.
We create a report at the end of each program year that describes what we've been able to accomplish with federal funding. We provide this report to the public, and to HUD.
HOME Investment Partnerships Program, American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Funding
The City of Boston was awarded $21.6 million in HOME Investment Partnership Program – American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds meant to increase housing stability by assisting individuals, households, or other vulnerable populations who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Read the HOME-ARP Summary in:
Inclusionary Zoning
Boston’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), first established in 2000 as the Inclusionary Development Policy and then updated and incorporated into the Zoning Code effective 2024, requires market-rate housing developments with seven or more units to support the creation of income-restricted housing, ranging from 15% to 17% of units, on site or else at a location near their building, plus 3% of units for voucher holders in large rental projects only. In some cases, developers may contribute to the Inclusionary Development Policy Fund in lieu of building income-restricted units. These funds are used by the City of Boston Mayors’ Office of Housing (MOH) to fund the creation of affordable/income-restricted housing across Boston.
Learn more about Inclusionary Zoning at the link below.
Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Zoning
Under AFFH Zoning review, residential projects or mixed-use projects with residential components undergoing Large Project Review and/or Planned Development Area Review under Article 80 with the Planning Department are required to consider impacts on area residents historically discriminated against so that steps can be taken to reduce those impacts, provide new housing opportunities, and address past histories of exclusion.
Fair Housing and racial equity
In 2015, HUD, under President Obama, released new regulations, requiring an Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) plan. In 2017, the City of Boston began to create a plan, but the Trump administration eliminated these regulations in mid-2020. Despite this change in HUD policy, the City moved forward with a plan. The Biden administration is now restoring regulations requiring an AFFH plan. In January 2022, after a multi-year process incorporating significant input from the community and fair housing advocates, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an Executive Order adopting the Assessment of Fair Housing for the City of Boston.
The plan also serves, for the purposes of meeting HUD Fair Housing requirements, as the City of Boston’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
Housing Development Policies
Our policies page includes links to all policies that govern our development of housing.
Research and data
We have links to research and data on Boston's housing and housing markets.
View information on student housing in Boston.
An analysis of the state of housing in Boston.
The 42nd annual homeless census helps us better quantify homelessness in Boston.
This is an overview the Mayor's Office of Housing's work in 2021
Details on income-restricted housing in the City of Boston
View a database of income-restricted housing in Boston.
Recent residential sales in the City of Boston.
Recent residential foreclosures in the City of Boston.
Information on distressed buildings in the City.
A list of distressed properties in the city of Boston.
This index measures risk of residential displacement in Boston.
Program outcomes
Reports on City of Boston efforts to create and preserve income-restricted and affordable housing.
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2 Center plaza, 7TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02208 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 A.M. - 5 P.M.
