Developing Affordable Housing

Massachusetts is facing a housing affordability crisis, and the old playbook just isn’t working. Having a safe place to live is a basic human right. But for far too many families, it doesn’t feel that way. Fundamentally, we need to address basic supply and demand by increasing density in places people want to live and improving transportation options to match housing and jobs. This means reforming rigid zoning laws, eliminating arbitrary restrictions like minimum parking requirements, and prioritizing development centered around transit hubs so more people can access alternatives to our congested highways.

We also must think beyond traditional housing policy. Transforming our current commuter rail system into a 21st-century regional rail network that includes high-speed East-West Rail across the Commonwealth would be truly transformative for affordable housing. If we do this, the market will respond to fast rail access by building denser, walkable, vibrant, and sustainable communities.

This is a local, state, and federal challenge, and I am committed to working across all levels to address it. Working hand-in-hand with the private sector, we can create a better, more sustainable housing future for the North Shore and beyond.