Gov. Maura Healey talks on proposed $4 billion housing initiative in Attleboro

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WLNE) — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey traveled to Attleboro Tuesday, rolling out her plans to increase the amount of affordable housing in the state.

The Healey Administration introduced a $4 billion plan to lower housing costs, called the Affordable Homes Act. If approved, it would be the biggest investment into housing the state of Massachusetts has ever seen.

Gov. Healey said her administration’s main goal is make the state as accessible as possible.

“I want you living here in Massachusetts, I want you raising your family here in Massachusetts, I want you growing businesses here in Massachusetts — but that’s going to happen if we make life more affordable, and that’s why this housing bill is so important, that’s why we need your help,” Gov. Healey said.

The Affordable Homes Act, however, is a more than just a multi-billion proposal to improve and restore housing across the state. A quarter of that funding, roughly $1.5B, would go toward improving more than 40,000 state-aided public housing units, but officials say that’s just a portion of what’s needed.

“One-point-six percent of the housing units across the state are available for sale or rent. One-point-six percent. That is the lowest vacancy rate of all 50 states. A healthy housing ecosystem should be four-to-five percent vacancy rate at any given time,” Gov. Healey continued.

Nearly half of the proposed funding would go to driving new construction and housing preservation across the state.

Gov. Healey and other speakers went around Attleboro after their presentation looking at some of the projects that are already underway.

The Governor said if the act is approved, it’s going to do a lot for every community in Massachusetts.

“It’s going to do so many things. Help us address climate goals, equity issues, empower communities to meet their residents’ needs — it’s going to help us revitalize our main streets and our neighborhoods and improve the quality of life. It’s also a plan that’s going to generate a ton of great paying jobs, working directly with the Massachusetts building trade,” Healey explained.

The proposal still needs to pass the Massachusetts legislature, and while Gov. Healey would like to have it passed as soon as possible, she says it may not happen this year.