Policy Development and Research
Policy Development and Research 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).
Our division supports the work of the Mayor's Office of Housing through preparing HUD-required plans and reports, developing programs and policy, assisting with grant-writing, analyzing research and policy, and mapping and data services.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Housing
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12 Channel Street
9th FloorBoston, MA 02210
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Plans, reports, notices, and policies
Plans and policiesTo get the federal grants to develop housing in the City of Boston, we provide HUD with a report and our plans for the year.
Comment on plans for housing and community development activities and on accomplishments during the past year.
The policies that govern our development of housing cover these topics.
Fair Housing and racial equity
In 2015, HUD, under President Obama, released new regulations, requiring an Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) plan. In 2017, the City of Boston began to create a plan, but the Trump administration eliminated these regulations in mid-2020. Despite this change in HUD policy, the City moved forward with a plan. The Biden administration is now restoring regulations requiring an AFFH plan. In January 2022, after a multi-year process incorporating significant input from the community and fair housing advocates, Mayor Michelle Wu signed an Executive Order adopting the Assessment of Fair Housing for the City of Boston.
The plan also serves, for the purposes of meeting HUD Fair Housing requirements, as the City of Boston’s Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing.
Research and data
We have links to research and data on Boston's housing and housing markets.
This report evaluates the City's work in 2020 as it relates to Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030.
Details on income-restricted housing in the City of Boston
View a database of income-restricted housing in Boston.
Recent residential sales in the City of Boston.
View information on student housing in Boston.
The 41st annual homeless census helps us better quantify homelessness in Boston.
Recent residential foreclosures in the City of Boston.
Information on distressed buildings in the City.
A list of distressed properties in the city of Boston.
This index measures risk of residential displacement in Boston.
This plan envisions a city where all Bostonians can find a place to call home.
