State Announces Second Set of Awards and Third Round of Funding to Support Deep Decarbonization in Affordable Housing
Boston, MA — To demonstrate how existing affordable housing can become more sustainable, MassHousing and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) are announcing today the second set of awards and third round of funding from the state’s Climate Ready Housing program.
Fairweather Apartments in Salem and Prospect Place in Northampton are the second pair of projects to receive funding from the Climate Ready Housing program created for affordable housing owners to achieve deep reductions in energy use and carbon emissions in the refinancing, renovation, and preservation of their properties.
This program was created and authorized under the state’s 2021 economic development bond bill through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and seeded at $1.6M annually. After two successful pilot rounds, the Healey-Driscoll administration has increased program funds tenfold, making $16 million available for this third round. MassHousing and MHP are administering the program for EOHLC, with additional application and programmatic support from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Boston).
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is firmly committed to addressing the housing and climate crises simultaneously,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “The Climate Ready Housing program allows us to invest in solutions and demonstrate how to carve a path to decarbonize the affordable housing sector. Congratulations and thank you to the project owners who have taken bold steps to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels while also prioritizing affordability and quality of life.