In Massachusetts, housing is the topic of the day, every day. We are in the midst of a housing crisis statewide, the result of 30 years of underproduction of housing in the commonwealth as our population has grown. This crisis profoundly affects the business community in Worcester, and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce strongly believes the governor’s newly proposed $4.1 billion Affordable Homes Act is part of the solution.
For years, finding talent has been the No. 1 concern for our members. A lack of housing options of all types has exacerbated this issue for employers and small-business owners, and threatens not only the fabric of our community but also our economic well-being and competitiveness.
Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll have made housing their top priority. They appointed Secretary Ed Augustus Jr., our former city manager, to helm a brand-new Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and have charged him to roll out the administration’s housing blueprint: the Affordable Homes Act.