Issue Position: Ensuring Access to Affordable Housing

Issue Position

We have a housing crisis in Massachusetts; too many people can no longer afford to live in their homes or stay in their communities close to family and jobs. To keep our neighborhoods accessible and inclusive we need housing that is open to all income levels and is tied to sustainable transportation alternatives. We need to take bold steps to increase affordable housing that is designed to be a part of our neighborhoods. Let's work together to pass inclusive, community-driven legislation to expand access to sustainable affordable housing.

Affordable housing is a critical racial equity issue. Decades and centuries of racist government housing policies, from red-lining to exclusionary zoning to segregated public housing, have created significant racial wealth disparities. Racist policy created this problem, we need anti-racist policy to help fix it. I support continuing the eviction and foreclosure moratorium as well as establishing a fund to help individuals who missed rent payments and risk eviction due to COVID-19. It is also critical that we seal eviction records after three years so tenants can escape the stigma of eviction.

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