Housing

The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) helps residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable rental housing.

OHS helps tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. OHS also has information on emergency resources for tenants. Their goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability.

OHS provides information to tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.

OHS develops tenant and landlord resources and programs. They promote the creation and preservation of stable and affordable housing in Boston.

OHS researches, drafts, and puts in place policies that aim to prevent displacement. Their goal is to keep our communities intact.

The Boston Home Center helps Boston residents buy, improve, and keep their homes. 

• training, financial help and counseling to first-time homebuyers
• guidance and funding for homeowners to complete home improvements, and
• counseling to help families avoid foreclosure

They also market brand new houses developed for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers.

The Housing Innovation Lab is working to increase housing affordability. The lab tests innovative housing models and accelerates the pace of innovation in the housing sector.

The Housing Innovation Lab puts people at the center of their work. They engage both internal and external partners to move the work forward. The Lab also experiments early and often, taking a prototype-driven approach to policy making.

• Additional Dwelling Units
• Future Deckers
• Housing with Public Assets
• Intergenerational Homeshare

The Neighborhood Housing Development Division works to create neighborhoods that are affordable to all by ensuring that public funding is wisely invested in affordable housing and community development activities. These properties and projects serve both their local neighborhoods and the residents of Boston.

NHD’s team of development officers, architects, and construction specialists are focused on housing and community development efforts that build strong neighborhoods and thriving communities. The division oversees City investments in affordable housing for rental, homeownership, and cooperative preservation and new construction. It is also responsible for running the Acquisition Opportunity Program, which works with responsible investor-owners to buy occupied, multi-family rental properties in order to preserve their long-term affordability and prevent displacement of current tenants. NHD also supports owners and residents of affordable housing properties to ensure that they remain affordable for as long as possible. NHD works closely with the Boston Housing Authority and other partners on transformative community development efforts.

NHD oversees the disposition of City-owned land designated for affordable housing development and other community development activities. The division’s Neighborhood Homes Initiative leverages city-owned land to create affordable homeownership opportunities available to a variety of income levels. Other land dispositions in NHD’s purview include those used for affordable rental housing, urban agriculture, open space, and community facilities.  

Jessica Boatright is the Deputy Director for Neighborhood Housing Development. You can reach her at jessica.boatright@boston.gov or 617-635-0100.

This office creates our annual budget, which is about $100 million. It also oversees more than 4,700 loan accounts totaling more than $300 million. For more information, call 617-635-5626, or email loan.housing@boston.gov. Helpful documents are included below.

Rick Wilson is the Deputy Director for Administration and Finance. You can reach him at rick.wilson@boston.gov or 617-635-0251.

Policy Development and Research (PDR) oversees the citizen participation process for the City of Boston’s annual grant allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and prepares HUD required plans and reports. 

PDR also supports the work of DND through:

• completion of HUD required plans and reports
• publishing income and rent limits
• development of departmental policies
• providing research, data, and mapping services
• assisting with grant applications, and
• tracking program outcomes.

• Hearings and Public Comments
• Affirmatively furthering Fair Housing and addressing racial equity
• Environmental and project information form

Tim Davis is the Deputy Director for Policy Development & Research. You can reach him at tim.davis2@boston.gov or 617-510-6123.

Real Estate Management and Sales (REMS) is responsible for the maintenance, site assessment, and disposition of the City’s tax foreclosed and surplus property.

These properties can include vacant parcels, as well as residential, commercial, and industrial properties. REMS manages the process through which land and buildings are disposed. That often involves:

• community meetings
• crafting and issuing Requests for Proposals, and
• overseeing the review selection process of bidders.

In addition, REMS is responsible for the care and custody of the Strand Theatre.

Donald Wright is Deputy Director of Real Estate Management and Sales. You can reach him at donald.wright@boston.gov or 617-635-0398.

The Supportive Housing Division provides funding for housing and supportive services for homeless populations, those at risk of homelessness, and housing for people with HIV/AIDS.

The Supportive Housing Division manages over $30 million in federal grants. The division funds nonprofits to provide services for households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living with HIV/AIDS.

• Annual Homeless Census
• Boston's Way Home
• Continuum of Care Program
• Plan to End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness

Laila Bernstein is Deputy Director for the Supportive Housing Division. You can reach her at laila.bernstein@boston.gov or 617-635-0257.