Neighborhood Development
The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing the homeless, developing affordable housing, and managing the City’s real estate. We also work to ensure that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes.
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Our guiding work plans and policies
Our guiding policies"Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030" is the Walsh administration's comprehensive housing plan.
"Boston's Way Home" is the Walsh administration's action plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness in Boston.
The plan is a coordinated, community response. We are including all groups and sectors in our community.
We submit a Consolidated Plan for the City's development needs over five years to HUD. We also submit an annual Action Plan.
On this page, view more information about policies and research.
Our Divisions
Our DivisionsThe Office of Housing Stability (OHS) helps residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.
OHS helps tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. They also have information on emergency resources for tenants. Their goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability.
TENANT AND LANDLORD INFORMATIONThey provide information to tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.
They develop tenant and landlord resources and programs. They want to promote the creation and preservation of stable and affordable housing in Boston.
ADVOCACY AND POLICYThey research, draft, and put in place policies that aim to prevent displacement. Their goal is to keep our communities intact.
Katie Forde is the Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Housing Stability. You can reach her at katie.forde@boston.gov or 617-635-0328.
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.
Maureen Flynn is the Deputy Director for Boston Home Center. You can reach her at 617-635-0458 or Maureen.Flynn@boston.gov.
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.
HOUSING INNOVATION LAB PROJECTS INCLUDE:Taylor Cain is the Director of the Mayor's Housing Innovation Lab. You can reach her at taylor.cain@boston.gov or 617-635-0259.
The Neighborhood Housing Development Division ensures that public funding is wisely invested in strong affordable housing developments. These developments serve both their local neighborhoods and the citizens of Boston.
Affordable Housing Preservation is part of Housing Development. They fund loans for developers who want to buy and fix up old housing. Developers can also buy land through a Request for Proposal process. Learn more about how we sell our land to developers.
THE DIVISION WORKS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES TO:- keep affordable housing options on the market
- create open spaces in the City
- fix up abandoned properties, and
- offer housing services to low-income and homeless residents.
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. They also oversee more than 4,700 loan accounts totaling more than $300 million.
For more information, call 617-635-5626, or email Loans.DND@cityofboston.gov. Helpful documents are included below.
SUBORDINATION POLICIESA detailed documents of our policies.
APPLICATION FOR SUBORDINATIONThe application includes a checklist of policies and procedures.
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCEYou may need to get this signed by Inspectional Services if you want to subordinate a loan.
AFFIRMATION OF COMPLIANCESome of our loans are partially forgivable. To qualify for forgiveness, you'll need to sign and notarize this form.
CASH FLOW CALCULATION FORMSome of our loans require annual cash flow payments. This form must be filled out and returned with the borrower's annual financials.
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 word of DND through:
- program and policy development
- grant-writing assistance
- research and policy analysis, and
- mapping and data services.
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.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES:Laila Bernstein is Deputy Director for the Supportive Housing Division. You can reach her at laila.bernstein@boston.gov or 617-635-0257.