Office of Housing Stability
The Office of Housing Stability helps residents find and maintain stable, safe and affordable housing.
The Office of Housing Stability works to prevent displacement. Its mission to promote housing preservation and stabilization makes the Office of Housing Stability one of the first of its kind in the nation.
We help to stabilize households and neighborhoods by tackling displacement in four ways:
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Housing Crisis Support.
We assist tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. We can inform tenants of available emergency resources and help place residents on the path to housing stability.
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Tenants and Landlord Information.
We provide information to tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.
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Program and Resource Development.
We develop tenant and landlord resources and programs to promote the creation, maintenance and preservation of stable and affordable housing in Boston.
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Advocacy and Policy.
We research, draft and implement policies designed to prevent displacement and keep our communities intact.
Have questions? Contact us:
9th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The Jim Brooks Stabilization Act would protect residential tenants facing eviction or lease non- renewal by informing them of their legal rights and available resources to help preserve their tenancies.
Read the proposed Jim Brooks Stabilization Act or learn more with our Frequently Asked Questions.
The City Council has not yet voted on the Jim Brooks Stabilization Act.
Reach out to your City Council Member.
The proposed Right of First Refusal will provide tenants in properties to be sold at foreclosure or by short sale a right of first refusal to purchase the property. This right is an important tool to prevent displacement which occurs when properties are foreclosed or subject to short-sale and then cleared out by investors.
Read the proposed Right of First Refusal Bill or learn more through our Frequently Asked Questions.
Find out the current status of the Right of First Refusal Bill in the State House and Senate and voice your support with your local representative.
The proposed income tax credits to encourage rent reasonableness would give a $1500 tax credit to residential property owners who maintain their rents at or below market in buildings with 2-6 units.
Read the proposed Income Tax Credit or learn more with our Frequently Asked Questions.
Find out the current status of the proposed Income Tax Credit in the State House and Senate and voice your support with your local representative.
The Act to Promote Homelessness Prevention would provide a right to counsel for low-income tenants in certain eviction cases. In Massachusetts, only six (6) percent of tenants are represented in eviction proceedings compared to the majority of landlords who are able to afford legal representation. The Act is necessary to equal the playing field for Massachusetts’ low-income tenants and to prevent the consequences of homelessness to tenants and Massachusetts taxpayers who pay the cost of expensive shelter programs.
Read the proposed Right to Counsel and learn more with our Frequently Asked Questions.
Find out the current status of the Right to Counsel in the State House and Senate and voice your support with your local representative.
