JALSA Submits Testimony in Support of The Affordable Homes Act

April 2, 2024

Dear Chairs Kennedy and Finn,

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) is a membership-based non-profit organization based in Boston, with thousands of members and supporters statewide. Guided by Jewish teachings and values, we are devoted to the defense of civil rights, the preservation of constitutional liberties, and the passionate pursuit of social, economic, environmental, and racial justice for all people.

Urgently, amid a perilous and pervasive housing crisis, we need to spark the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing on a major scale. The housing bond bill, H.4138, The Affordable Homes Act, provides a critically important opportunity to address a number of key priorities in the areas of housing affordability, housing justice, and climate justice. The sooner this crucial legislation gets passed, the more rapidly that housing in the pipeline moves to construction and we begin to substantially alleviate our housing crisis.

The $4.12 billion in financing included in The Affordable Homes Act is necessary for spurring this vitally needed increase in housing supply, both to affordably house families and to keep our economy growing. These investments represent both an economically prudent approach as well as being grounded in our morality. With up to 80% of the funds benefiting low-income households, this legislation will target resources to those who need them most, enabling people in our state to move forward with housing and broader economic opportunities.

Our faith-based values have impressed upon us the importance of housing as a civil right. Each year on Yom Kippur, our most sacred holiday, we read in Isaiah, “take the poor into your homes.” The Bible also commands that a poor person be granted “sufficient for what lacks, according to what is lacking to him” – which includes a bed and table – and, therefore, a home. We must take all steps that we can to make housing accessible, affordable, safe, and healthy for everyone – and that very much includes realizing the financing included in The Affordable Homes Act.

Further, JALSA would like to emphasize its particular support for the allocation of funding for the Momentum Fund, which capitalizes on a permanent, revolving fund to accelerate the development of mixed-income, multifamily housing. This approach will be especially effective in helping to alleviate the dire effects of our current housing crisis.

Additionally, JALSA expresses its support for these key measures in The Affordable Homes Act:
● Funding in the amount of $150 million for projects to decarbonize the public housing stock;
● Allowing for a Local Option Transfer Fee, which would permit municipalities and regional affordable housing commissions to adopt a transfer fee that would go toward affordable housing development; and,
● Permitting Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be built by-right in single-family zoning districts in all communities (and prohibiting owner occupancy requirements as well as parking mandates within a half mile of transit).

JALSA strongly urges the members of the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures, and State Assets to support these critical investments and provisions in the housing bond bill, H.4138, The Affordable Homes Act.

Sincerely,

Cindy Rowe
President and CEO
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action