CLTs Ask Cities and State to Commit $250m to Acquire 1000+ Homes

Greater Boston's communities of color deserve to stay in their homes and neighborhoods and not get pushed out by speculators.

Last Thursday, April 7th,  BNCLT joined its peers from Greater Boston CLT Network, CLVU, DOT Not 4 Sale and other supporters to call for racial equity through permanently affordable homes at a Press Event  in front of 6 Humphreys Place.  The demand? Investement of $250 million to purchase 1000+ units of housing that will be permanently affordable. 

Jean Paul Doh, a 6 Humphreys Place resident fought for many years with fellow tenants to stay in the building, which BNCLT finally was able to purchase in December.  Doh spoke at the event:  "After all the struggles we've been through, we are stronger than ever, and we know we don't have to leave".  He joined a powerful line-up of speakers, including  BNCLT Board Member (and CLVU co-director) Denise Matthews-Turner to explain why purchasing buildings like 6 Humphreys is an essential strategy to fighting displacement and keeping people in their homes. 

With the short window of federal dollars from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act), we have an opportunity that we might not see for decades to transform our neighborhoods by investing in housing to be permanently affordable.

We were encouraged to see Mayor Wu’s budgetary commitment to affordable housing, and in particular, to acquiring properties as a way to combat displacement in her budget announcement this week.