Boston Housing Panel Reviews $33 Million in Federal Grants, Flags HOME Program Cut

BOSTON — April 18, 2024 — Boston's City Council housing panel reviewed $33 million in federal HUD grants and heard that one key program faces a $1 million cut. Chair Liz Breadon convened the Committee on Housing and Community Development hearing Thursday on four entitlement grants — the Community Development Block Grant (estimated at $17.5 million), the HOME Investment Partnership Program ($5.2 million, down from $6.2 million), the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program ($4 million), and the Emergency Solutions Grant ($2 million). Daniel Lesser, chief of staff of the Mayor's Office of Housing, said the HOME cut is the result of a federal budget reduction and would likely translate to fewer affordable housing units over time. Council President Ruthzee Louijeune called the reduction a sign that the city must press forward on a real estate transfer fee. The committee also heard that the city's competitive Continuum of Care grant has grown from roughly $20 million to $44 million over the past seven to eight years, and that a newly won $16.5 million special federal award will fund approximately 300 units of permanent housing for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.