Groups such as the Pine Street Inn have not been able to move ahead with plans for affordable housing projects because of funding delays at the state level.
Worrying about affordable housing developments that have been put on hold, a diverse coalition is urging state lawmakers to pass a $508 million housing bond bill before the end of the month.
At issue are two versions of a housing bond bill that were passed by the House and Senate during the summer. If passed, the bill would provide money to preserve, improve and create thousands of affordable housing units.
A conference committee is currently trying to hash out a compromise bill, but several organizations fear that any more delays will hold up housing projects that are relying on the money.
Twelve organizations – including the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations – signed a letter sent to the conference committee members last week.
The conference committee includes three Senators and three House Representatives. They are: Sen. Steven C. Panagiotakos, D-Lowell; Sen. Frederick E. Berry, D-Peabody; Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester; Rep. John H. Rogers, D-Norwood; Rep. Patricia A. Walrath, D-Stow, and Rep. Cele F. Hahn, R-Westfield.
According to the letter, the House and Senate bills are virtually the same and Acting Gov. Jane Swift supports the legislation.
Several groups have not been able to move ahead with plans for affordable housing projects because of the funding delay.
The Pine Street Inn, which wants to build an 11-unit apartment building with common space for seniors, is one of them.
The nonprofit received a $500,000 commitment from the Housing Innovations Fund in August to build the apartments at Geneva Avenue in Roxbury, but the fund is out of money.
Even though Pine Street has secured nearly $1 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it still needs the additional money that passage of the housing bond bill would release.
We can’t move forward until we’re fully funded, said Lyndia Downie, president of Pine Street Inn.
Pine Street has already developed 250 housing units for very-low-income people and currently has 300 names on its housing waiting list. Downie said the group had to cap the waiting list because the list contains so many names.
The news isn’t any better for Pine Street’s shelters, which are overflowing. The men’s 350-bed shelter is operating at 35 percent above capacity, said Downie. During one night last week, there were 112 men sleeping on the floor because all the beds were occupied.
Any housing production at all helps relieve the pressure at the shelters, she said.
Other projects that are in jeopardy because the housing bond bill hasn’t been passed include a 19-unit supportive housing project for homeless veterans in Gardner.
The Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center wants to create 19 housing units for veterans recovering from alcohol and substance abuse and expand its outreach center. The center has received a $400,000 loan to acquire a 13,000-square-foot building and a $50,000 grant from the city. The U.S. Veterans Administration has also committed funds for services that will be provided to the veteran residents.
In addition to those two projects, construction of a six-unit housing development in Somerville geared for young parents and families also can’t proceed.
The units are being developed by Just-A-Start, a community development corporation. Construction won’t begin yet because the Department of Housing and Community Development can’t release the money until the bond bill is passed.
