Generating and Piloting New Housing Ideas

Happening Now

The City of Boston's Child-Friendly Housing Design Challenge is now accepting submissions! Submit your child-friendly housing design for a chance to win $10,000 and a feature in the City’s design library. This challenge is open to architects, builders, designers, contractors, and design-build partnerships practicing in Massachusetts. Submissions close on November 15, 2026.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHALLENGE HERE

Development + Design Sprints

Family Housing

In March 2026, the Housing Innovation Lab hosted a Family Housing Development and Design Sprint with families, developers, and architects to seed new ideas for housing that meets the needs of families with school-aged children. Teams were equipped with the results of a citywide family housing survey, prototypical sites, and facilitation by city staff. Following the sprint, concepts were presented to City leadership to inform the City’s approach to meeting the housing needs of families. Review a summary of the proposals we received.

Starter Homes

In November 2024, the Housing Innovation Lab hosted a Starter Home Concept and Design Sprint with local builders, developers, architects, and lenders to brainstorm ideas of how to create Boston’s starter home for middle income families. These ideas are informing the third phase of the Welcome Home, Boston initiative.

Pilot Programs

Co-Purchasing Pilot Program

The Boston Home Center and Housing Innovation Lab are offering a new financial assistance program to support relatives and friends come together to purchase multifamily properties. Learn more.

Research

AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP Case Study REPORT

The Housing Innovation Lab conducted research and compiled a case study report in July 2023 detailing strategies that neighboring cities and other high-cost cities use to promote affordable homeownership. The City of Boston is taking information learned from this study to inform new ideas, policies, and best practices to help make Boston a more affordable place for all.

Rent-to-Own Homeownership Models

In 2023, The Housing Innovation Lab released a Request for Proposals challenging developers, financers, and service providers to explore new models of affordable homeownership that would provide tenants with the opportunity to build equity in their homes. As a result, we funded the Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust’s (BNCLT) study of how they might support rental residents with pursuing an “ownership conversion” and collectively purchasing their building as a condo association (HOA). Access BNCLT’s final deliverables.