New England Public Policy Center Policy Brief No. 06-1
by Darcy Rollins Saas

Full-text paper

This brief investigates two housing laws passed in Massachusetts in 2006: Chapters 40R and 40S. In contrast to 40B, Massachusetts’ long-standing housing affordability law that requires a set percentage of a community’s housing stock be affordable, 40R provides financial incentives for affordable housing development located near transportation hubs.  40S provides state funding to cover any additional municipal costs of educating the children of the families that move into this new affordable housing, previously a significant source of local opposition to new housing development.