Take Action on TOPA, SPAF, and Proposed HUD Changes
Take Action on TOPA and SPAF
The Boston Globe ran a great article on April 17th - "Mass. housing crisis can’t be solved by new construction alone: The state must also prioritize buying existing affordable housing that is at risk of conversion to market-rate units — arguably the most cost-effective tool the state has."
We couldn't agree more! This is why we need the legislature to pass the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) S998/H1544, allowing cities and towns to give tenants the right to buy their homes - or designate that right to an affordable housing purchaser like a CLT or CDC - when they're up for sale. Tell your legislators to pass TOPA! We also need more than revolving loan funds to rescue affordable housing from speculators at scale - the Small Properties State Acquisition Fund (SPAF) budget amendment #830 - would help nonprofits acquire housing and keep it affordable for the long term. Please take 2 action steps to support these policies!
Action Step #1: Come to the CLT lobby day on May 12 to join the fight for TOPA & SPAF.
Take Action on Proposed Changes to HUD that would Impact Vouchers for Mixed-Status Households
The rule proposes sweeping changes to 24 CFR Part 5, Subpart E, which implements Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980. HUD frames the changes as aligning regulations with statutory intent and with Executive Order 14218, "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders." The core effect is to eliminate the long-standing framework that allowed mixed-status families to remain housed with prorated rent. Give comments here. (There’s a blue comment box that links to a form on the upper left part of the page.)
The rule applies to all Section 214-covered programs, including Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Section 236. It does not apply to standalone LIHTC properties — unless those properties also carry a HUD assistance layer (e.g., a project-based Section 8 contract).
There’s a blue comment box that links to a form on the upper left part of the page.