See the highlights of the Governor’s visit in this video.
Gov. Maura Healey had the perfect backdrop when she visited Housing Assistance on June 22 to announce her administration’s five-year capital investment plan, which includes $1.5 billion for housing.
Standing before the “Home Is Where the Heart Is” children’s art exhibit, she shared details of a $14 billion capital investment plan for fiscal years 2024-2028 with state and local officials and Housing Assistance staff and supporters. The plan includes a commitment of $1.5 billion to help finance the construction of hundreds of new, affordable housing opportunities each year across the state – including on the Cape and Islands.
“Every one of these investments is focused on strengthening opportunity, quality of life and equity in our state,” Gov. Healey said. “When it comes to housing, we’re taking things to a new level, which is only right, because our needs have never been greater. This represents historic levels of funding.”
Gov. Healey described her investment plan while Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus and Alisa Magnotta looked on. Photo by Dee Sullivan
Gov. Healey acknowledged Housing Assistance Alisa Magnotta efforts as co-chair of the Affordable Abundant Housing Committee, one of her administration’s six transition committees. Thanking Housing Assistance for hosting the event, she added, “You do such incredibly critical work in supporting individuals and families on the Cape, and we’re grateful for that.”
Magnotta said that there are three building blocks to get housing across the finish line: “courage, cash and community. The funding announced by our governor today allows for bold, courageous action throughout our state, so together we can build more housing for the children and our communities.”
The governor’s plan includes the creation of a new $97 million HousingWorks program, which she said will “leverage existing programs and an infusion of new funding to create new flexible tools for developing affordable housing and preserving and rehabilitating existing stock.”
Magnotta said that this level of housing funding is urgently needed. “I say to anyone who will listen that the Cape and Islands are the canary in the coal mine,” she said. “The rest of the state should take notice of what’s happening here because it can happen anywhere. We need more housing inventory, and we need to diversify our housing stock. I know we can do better.”
Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, said the capital investment plan is “an opportunity to match our words with action. As the governor highlighted, housing is at the top of the list. It’s clear we need more tools in our toolbox to spur housing development, and I’m thrilled that within the new Housing Works program, we include $25 million in new funding to support housing infrastructure.”
Others who attended the event at Housing Assistance included: Secretary for Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz; State Sen. Julian Cyr; State Rep. Kip Diggs; State Rep. Chris Flanagan; State Rep. Sarah Peake; State Rep. Steven Xiarhos; and county and town officials.
Governor Maura Healey poses with Housing Assistance staff.
