Citizens' Guide to State Services:
Housing

Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED)

1 Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-788-3610
Fax: 617-788-3605
www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-housing-and-economic-development

The Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development is the administrative office that oversees the Department of Housing and Community Development (below). The Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Office may be reached at the contact information above. EOHED has many other offices and divisions as well, see Section A Business and Economic Development for a complete listing.

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1100
TTY: 617-573-1140
www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development

The Department of Housing and Communities and mission is to strengthen cities, towns and neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life of Massachusetts residents. To accomplish this mission, DHCD will provide leadership, professional assistance, and financial resources to promote safe, decent affordable housing opportunities, economic vitality of communities and sound municipal management. DHCD will forge partnerships with regional and local governments, public agencies, community-based organizations, and the business community to achieve common goals and objectives. In all of these efforts, DHCD will recognize and respect the diverse needs, circumstances, and characteristics of individuals and communities. DHCD is responsible for a variety of programs and services that are administered through four divisions:

• Division of Community Services
• Division of Public Housing
• Division of Housing Development & Construction
• Commission on Indian Affairs
• Manufactured Homes Commission
• American and Canadian/French Cultural Exchange Commission
In addition, the following quasi-public agencies work closely with DHCD in supporting housing and community development activities:

• Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency
• Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation
• Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Housing Appeals Committee

Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1520
www.mass.gov/service-details/housing-appeals-committee

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40B:20-23, the "anti-snob" zoning act, also known as the comprehensive permit law, it is possible for a developer including locally based non-profit organizations to apply to the local zoning board of appeals for a comprehensive permit to build subsidized housing if the community does not have a minimum amount of such housing as delineated in the act. If the board turns down the request or makes building the houses economically unfeasible, the developer can appeal to the Housing Appeals Committee which will hear the case, review the local decision, and decide whether or not to override the community's zoning and other local regulations and issue the permit. Their Office of Local and Regional Planning handles zoning questions.

State Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS)

Office of of Public Safety and Inspections
1000 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: 617-727-3200
TTY: 617-727-4266
Elevator / Hoisting Emergency: 508-820-1444 (24/7) Fax: 617-248-0813
E-mail:DPSInfo@state.ma.us
www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-public-safety-and-inspections
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:45-5:00

The Board of Building Regulations and Standards has the sole responsibility for maintaining the State Building Code. The State Building Code contains provisions for structural safety by specifying loading criteria for dead, live, wind, snow and seismic loads; has provisions for foundation and structural design; contains life safety provisions to provide for safe egress from buildings in the event of an emergency; contains provisions for fire safety through the installation of automatic sprinkler and fire detection and alarm systems and; standards for energy conservation in buildings. The board has the following major objectives: promulgating uniform standards throughout the Commonwealth for construction and construction materials compatible with accepted standards of engineering and fire prevention practices, energy conservation, and public safety; and promoting the use of modern technical methods, devices, and improvements. Its responsibilities also include: (1) approval of new building products, materials, and construction methods not addressed in the State Building Code; (2) licensing of concrete technicians as well as laboratories testing concrete; (3) licensing of construction supervisors, and registration of home improvement contractors and sub-contractors; (4) certification of producers of manufactured buildings (including modular homes) and third-party inspection agencies (i.e. agencies certified by the board to act on its behalf); and (5) registration of persons or firms milling lumber within the state. The State Building Code Appeals Board hears appeals between the regular community and local building officials on building code matters as well as reviews decisions by local building code appeals boards. The BBRS develops requirements for the certification of municipal building officials (referred to as Building Code Enforcement Officials which include inspectors of buildings, local inspectors as well as building commissioners) and develops and approves courses of continuing education for maintenance of such certification.

State Building Code

The code is the set of comprehensive regulations to which all construction must adhere. It stipulates requirements for structural loads, materials, lighting, ventilation, fire protection, egress, energy conservation, and many other building topics, including responsibilities for administration and enforcement and procedures to be followed in filing appeals. Local building officials enforce the code as it applies to all buildings within their jurisdiction with the exception of state-owned buildings which are the responsibility of state building inspectors. The sixth edition of the entire state building code and its amendments, both the commercial and residential provisions, may be ordered from the State Bookstore. Copies of the one and two-family dwelling code is printed separately and is also available.

State Sanitary Code and State Environmental Code

Health codes promulgated by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection set standards to protect the health, safety, and well-being of Massachusetts citizens. The State Sanitary Code sets minimum standards for residential housing (105 CMR 410.000, Chapter II); for swimming pools (105 CMR 435.000, Chapter V); for developed family type campgrounds (105 CMR 440.000, Chapter VI), and for bathing beaches (105 CMR 451.000, Chapter VII). It sets housing and sanitation standards for farm labor camps (105 CMR 420.00, Chapter III); sanitary standards for recreational camps for children (105 CMR 430.000, Chapter IV); and minimum health and sanitation standards and inspection procedures for correctional facilities and detention centers (105 CMR 460.000). The State Environmental Code sets minimum standards for sub-surface disposal of sewage (310 CMR 15.000, Title V). The local boards of health administer the provisions of the State Sanitary Code.

Lead Paint Laws and Regulations

MGL Ch. 111: 190-199 and the Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Regulations 105 CMR 460.000 of the Department of Public Health contain requirements for lead paint inspection and control.

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Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs (MCIA)

Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1291
Fax: 617-573-1460
www.mass.gov/service-details/indian-affairs

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Commission on Indian Affairs (MCIA) fundamental role is to assist Native American individuals, tribes and organizations in their relationship with state and local government agencies and to advise the Commonwealth in matters pertaining to Native Americans. According to the 2010 Federal census, there are more than 37,000 Native Americans living in Massachusetts. The Commission consists of seven members who are recommended by tribal councils and Native American organizations and appointed by the governor. Each member must be of verifiable Native American descent. Each member serves a term of three years and are assigned an area of representation such as a county, Native American organization, or tribe. The Commission can assist tribal councils, Native American organizations, and individuals in the areas of social services, education, employment opportunities, health, housing, civil rights, legal aid, treaties, a census of Native American residents, legislation, and any other rights or services concerning Native American residents of the Commonwealth. The Commission is also responsible for making recommendations to the Commonwealth concerning programs and policies that will best serve the interest of Native American residents of the Commonwealth. In accordance with the Massachusetts Unmarked Burial Law, the Commission investigates the discovery of unmarked native graves, and in consultation with the Massachusetts Historical Commission, determines the disposition of the remains.

American and French Canadian Cultural Exchange Commission

Office of Policy Development
Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1100
www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development

The commission establishes, maintains, and develops cultural ties between French-Canadians and Franco-Americans.

Manufactured Home Commission

Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1100
www.mass.gov/service-details/manufactured-homes-commission

The Manufactured (Mobile Homes) Home Commission, created by the legislature, is responsible for studying and reporting on issues and problems relating to manufactured homes, manufactured home communities (mobile home parks), and/or their tenants. The five member commission meets monthly and files reports with the legislature including recommendations for proposed legislation.

Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)

Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
1 Ashburton Place, Suite 601
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-994-6000
TTY: 617-994-6196
mass.gov/orgs/Massachusetts-commission-against-discrimination

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination is the civil rights law enforcement agency of the Commonwealth under Massachusetts General Law Chapters 151B and 272. The Commission has the authority to investigate complaints of illegal discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit. Massachusetts Fair Housing Law (MGL Ch. 151B:4), prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of disability, race, color, religious creed, age (from 18), national origin, sex, sexual orientation, children, ancestry, marital status, military and veterans status, public assistance recipiency, blindness or hearing impairment. Exceptions exist for two-family dwellings, one of whose units is owner occupied and for the temporary (one year) leasing or subleasing of single dwelling units which are normally occupied by the owner or lessor. Children can be excluded from three-family dwellings in which an elderly or infirm person occupies a unit. However, a landlord cannot exclude families with children from a dwelling due to lead paint.

Regional Offices

New Bedford New Bedford 128 Union Street, Suite 206
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: 774-510-5801

Springfield 436 Dwight Street, Room 220
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413-739-2145

Worcester 484 Main Street, Room 320
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: 508-453-9630

Division of Public Housing

Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1150
www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development

This division has the responsibility for administrative oversight of all state-aided public and private housing programs, which address the housing needs of low and moderate-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities. They provide substantial assistance to local housing authorities to modernize and upgrade state-aided public housing developments and, to a lesser degree, federally aided housing developments. Repairs and renovations can address health and safety needs, code compliance, or energy efficiency. This office also oversees and regulates the day-to-day operations of the more than 254 local housing authorities to assure that they use sound management practices, follow the general laws of the Commonwealth, and enforce compliance with the regulations of the department, which cover a variety of areas including tenant selection, admission and eligibility criteria, and affirmative action. Under Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), the office allots money to housing authorities and non-profit agencies to subsidize rents for private apartments. Rental subsidies are assigned to the tenant based on income, household size, and the size and location of the unit. Clients are given a monthly voucher representing a certain amount of money, which they present to the landlord; the tenant pays the remainder. The goal of the MRVP is to empower individual tenants by allowing them to use the marketplace to their advantage while affording them rental assistance to supplement their limited assets. The state's role is reduced by providing tenants with the opportunity to negotiate their own leases with landlords with minimal state intervention.

Bureau of Housing Development and Construction

Department of Housing Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1300
www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development

The Bureau provides affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the private sector. Among the programs that are administered by the office are those that fund and encourage the development of mixed-income projects sponsored by community housing partnerships and developers, that make housing overstock and foreclosure properties available to the first time homebuyers, and that provide advantageous home financing terms for low and moderate-income families. Also, information on comprehensive permits is available at this office. A comprehensive permit is an all-encompassing permit, which subsumes all permits normally, issued by other local boards. It is issued to a developer proposing to build housing in which at least 25% of the units are affordable to low-income residents.

Division of Community Services

Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1400
www.mass.gov/orgs/housing-and-community-development

Formerly the Bureau of Neighborhood Services, the division serves as the state's anti-poverty agency and coordinates the state's anti-poverty efforts. A service network of community-based development programs and local non-profit organizations funded and supported by the division links housing, energy, job creation, and social services for the most deprived citizens of Massachusetts. Additionally, through many grant programs, the division provides community action agencies and local non-profit organizations with a wide range of development and service opportunities. The programs are as follows: Community Development Block Grant; Community Service Block Grant; Economic Development Fund; Individual Development Account; Massachusetts Downtown Initiative; Neighborhood Housing Services; and the Peer to Peer Technical Assistance Program. The office also oversees the 40B planning and permitting process.

Housing Energy Programs

Division of Community Services
Department of Housing and Community Development
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-573-1400
Cold Relief Heatline Toll Free: 1-800-632-8175 (within Massachusetts only)
www.mass.gov/housing-energy-programs

Housing Energy Programs provides extensive training and technical assistance to the community-based agencies and subcontractors, which provide weatherization services, as well as the fuel assistance program during the heating season. Some of the programs are: the Weatherization Assistance Program ( WAP) for low-income households; the Heating Energy Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program (HEARTWAP), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides services, which range from an annual cleaning and evaluation of the heating system to its repair or complete replacement; and the Massachusetts Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP assists income-eligible owners and renters in meeting the high cost of home heating.

Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC)

529 Main Street, Suite 201
Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone: 617-523-6262
Fax: 617-523-7676
www.massgcc.com/

In 2010 the former Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC) was merged along with Economic Stabilization Trust to the create the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC), a quasi-public economic development agency, provides debt and equity financing for small business and real estate projects in targeted low-income and moderate-income communities throughout the Commonwealth. The Mission of the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation is to create and preserve jobs at small businesses, women and minority owned businesses, and to promote economic development in underserved, gateway municipalities and low and moderate income communities.

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Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC)

18 Tremont Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: 617-727-5944
E-mail: info@cedac.org
www.cedac.org/

CEDAC is an independent state agency created by the Legislature in 1978 to increase the amount of affordable housing and foster revitalization of economically distressed areas by providing a range of development assistance programs to nonprofit development corporation throughout the state. Programs include: Technical Assistance Advances which are low-interest loan to cover predevelopment costs, Front Money Loan which provide additional financing for pre-devlopment costs, Site Control Loans which allow nonprofit developers to secure privately-owned sites, Spot Technical Assistance which are expedited small loans allowing staff review rather than CEDAC board review, and the Child Care Capital Investment Fund which provides technical assistance and term loans to metro Boston area child care providers to finances facilities' related capital spending.

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA / MassHousing)

1 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-3110
Phone: 617-854-1000
Toll Free: 1-888-843-6432
www.masshousing.com/

MassHousing is a self-supporting state agency, which finances the construction, purchase, and rehabilitation of housing in Massachusetts. Loan programs designed to stimulate the construction of mixed-income rental housing, to assist in the preservation of the Commonwealth's existing housing stock, and to provide home ownership opportunities for low and moderate-income households are financed through the sale of tax-exempt securities. Subsidized apartments are subject to agency regulations governing household income and family size. Call MHFA for a list of developments. Through the Lead Paint Abatement Program, known as "Get the Lead Out", the MHFA will provide reduced rate loans to abate lead paint in private residences. The Homebuyer Counseling Program educates first-time buyers in the complexities of the home buying process and prepares them for the responsibilities of ownership.

Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)

160 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-330-9955
Toll Free: 1-877-647-3863
Fax: 617-330-1919
www.mhp.net/

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership is a statewide public non-profit affordable housing organization that works in concert with the Governor and the state Department of Housing and Community Development to help increase the supply of affordable housing in Massachusetts. MHP was established in 1985 to increase the state's overall rate of housing production and find creative new solutions to address the need for affordable housing. In 1990, the state legislature took that premise to heart, becoming the first and only state in the nation to pass an interstate banking act that requires companies that acquire Massachusetts banks to make funds available to MHP for affordable housing. MHP offers the ONE Mortgage Program, a first-time homebuyer program for low- and moderate-income borrowers. Additionally, MHP specializes in permanent financing solutions for multifamily rental housing. Our financing can be used for acquisition, acquisition and rehab, refinancing, and takeout of construction loans. Potential projects must be five units or more and loan amounts must exceed $250,000.

Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment)

99 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-330-2000
Toll Free: 1-800-445-8030 (within Massachusetts only)
www.massdevelopment.com/

With the consolidation of the Massachusetts Government Land Bank and the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency, MassDevelopment is the Commonwealth's primary source of public financing for economic development projects. Criteria based assistance is offered for bonds, financing, tax credits, and grants in a wide variety of fields to businesses, non-profits, municipalities and developers.

Regional Offices

Fall River
275 Martine Street, Suite 201
Fall River, MA
Phone: 508-678-3761

Lawrence
360 Merrimack Street, Building 5
Lawrence, MA 01843
Phone: 978-459-6100

Springfield
1350 Main Street, Suite 1110
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: 413-755-1349

Worcester
89 Shrewsbury Street, Suite 300
Worcester, MA 01604
Phone: 508-363-2976