Governor Healey signs historic housing bond bill at 2Life’s Golda Meir House
On August 6, more than 300 people gathered in Newton at 2Life Communities’ Golda Meir House to celebrate the signing of the landmark Affordable Homes Act — the largest housing bond bill ever passed in Massachusetts history.
The Affordable Homes Act, also referred to as the Housing Bond Bill, includes $5.16 billion worth of funding authorizations for the creation and preservation of affordable housing over the next several years. It also includes foundational policies that will help to identify and unlock new approaches to the creation of housing that meets the unique needs of broadly diverse populations in Massachusetts.
2Life CEO Amy Schectman and President Lizbeth Heyer welcomed the crowd on the rainy morning, noting that Golda Meir House is home to more than 300 older adults who — thanks to the support of many in the room — have the opportunity to thrive in a dynamic and supportive community, surrounded by friends and caring staff who believe in and support their hopes and dreams for aging well.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller also welcomed attendees to the broader Newton community and expressed how fitting it was that Golda Meir House was selected for the gathering because it “allows us to shine a bright light on the amazing work being done by 2Life Communities. Amy, Lizbeth, and team win the gold medal for quality, innovative, supportive, affordable housing not just in Newton but in Greater Boston.”
Public officials offering their remarks at the event included Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Office of Housing & Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, and Joint Committee on Housing co-chairs Senator Lydia Edwards and Representative James Arciero.
In addition to the importance of the bill, a central theme was the incredible amount of partnership, focus, hard work, and collaboration it took to pass. An enthusiastic Governor Healey praised the team effort and said it was “a great morning for Massachusetts because today we are signing the largest investment in housing in the state’s history.” Massachusetts is a great state, she noted, but if students graduating from college, downsizing seniors, veterans, first-time home buyers, and just ordinary, everyday residents do not have access to affordable housing, it will be a challenge to drive the economy and keep the state strong and growing.
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll joined the Governor in saying that the state faces many intractable problems, but the housing crisis is not one of them. Although hard to solve, it can be solved, and “We are the cavalry.” Sec. Augustus concurred, saying, “When we work together, we can move mountains.”
Housing Committee co-chairs Sen. Edwards and Rep. Arciero assured the crowd that no one in the room should hear “mission accomplished” but instead, “mission clear.” Senator Edwards recognized and thanked shelter workers, the “first responders of the housing crisis,” who see the crisis at its most extreme and were part of building the bill. “Today, the moral arc of our state leans further into housing justice,” she said. Arciero followed up, “We celebrate today and continue the work tomorrow.”
Closing out the program were Mercedes, a resident of Golda Meir House, and Shakeeda Bartee, a teacher at Blackstone Elementary in Boston’s South End, who both spoke to the impacts of housing insecurity. Formerly unhoused, Mercedes shared how safe, affordable housing changed her life, enabling her to maintain a full-time job, earn her driver’s license, and save up to buy a car. “I wish for everyone to know the peace I feel in having a place to call home,” she said. Bartee described how she had experienced housing insecurity not only firsthand but also secondhand through her students, asserting that having a secure home leads to better social, emotional, and academic health because “housing conditions are learning conditions.”
Photo credit: Josh Qualls, Office of the Governor
2Life worked closely with the Healey-Driscoll Administration to include language in the legislation that creates a senior supportive housing commission tasked with making recommendations for the production of safe, affordable, and healthy senior housing. We are proud to be listed as a member alongside other leaders in the senior housing and care spaces. This commission provides a meaningful opportunity to lead the country in addressing one of our greatest public policy challenges and promoting the opportunity to age in community, while simultaneously shining a light on the ways in which support for high-quality, affordable, and service-enriched housing opportunities for seniors can positively impact the broader housing ecosystem. We thank Senator Pat Jehlen and Representative Tom Stanley for their leadership in getting this language included, and to all the legislative and advocacy leaders who saw the Affordable Homes Act through to the finish line.
As 2Life’s Heyer sums up, “The Affordable Homes Act embodies an unprecedented commitment to addressing the housing crisis and ensuring Massachusetts is an affordable place for all residents to call home. This bill unlocks incredible potential to ensure that every demographic in the state has a home that meets their needs, and we are especially grateful for the creation of a special commission tasked with making recommendations for the production of safe, affordable, and healthy senior housing. We applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature for their bold leadership on this urgent issue.”
See the links below for more information and news coverage:
Governor’s press release
CHAPA Statement on Passage of the Affordable Homes Act
Bisnow
NBC Boston
MassLive
Boston Globe
Boston Herald
Newton Beacon
AARP
Banker & Tradesman
Boston Business Journal
WCVB
