Housing Affordability

Safe, stable, affordable housing is a human right. Yet in Somerville, 40% of all residents, tenants and homeowners, are cost burdened and thus spend more than 30% of their income on housing alone. A home should not be a luxury that only the generationally wealthy can afford. Erika will fight for resources to build and convert housing to be permanently affordable, protections to stabilize rent and stop exploitative fees and practices, and policies including zoning reforms for fair housing construction and a Housing First approach to end chronic homelessness.

Together, we will

Build and convert permanently affordable housing

We have the power to increase the permanently affordable housing stock by investing in the Somerville Community Land Trust, the Somerville Community Corporation developments, and expanding social housing and public housing. One critical vehicle to do this is by increasing funding sources for the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This fund was created 35 years ago to preserve and create affordable rental and homeownership units in Somerville. This is why I support the local option for the transfer fee and the tenants opportunity to purchase act. 

Ensure all communities do their part to build new housing - MBTA Communities Act

The MBTA Communities Act requires multi-family zoning for communities that have MBTA transit. The overarching goal is to increase housing density near public transit and ensure that all communities do their part in increasing housing stock near public transit. What has happened in Milton is an example of what can happen when good legislation is passed but isn’t followed. I am committed to taking further legislative action to ensure that solving the housing crisis is a collective effort across the Commonwealth.

Stabilize rents by lifting the statewide ban on rent control

Every month, I hear from renters across Somerville who receive the dreaded notice that on their next lease signing their rent will increase by several hundred dollars. For some residents, their rents have doubled in the course of just six years. Such uncertainty upends many residents’ livelihood, forcing them to leave their home and their community. I support rent stabilization so that municipalities like Somerville have the tools to provide stability from year to year for our residents.

End homelessness and protect the right-to-shelter law

I support the Housing First model that provides permanent supportive housing and support services for anyone experiencing homelessness. Housing First has proven to be both the right thing to do and the cost-efficient thing to do because residents are more likely to access housing faster and remain stably housed, thereby meeting their other basic needs including finding a job, saving up money, and attending to mental health and substance use issues.

What we’ve delivered so far

• Passed the Housing Bond Bill which includes $5.2B investment in housing, the largest investment in Massachusetts history.

• Secured over $150K for the Community Action Agency of Somerville to rebuild their grassroots tenant organizing and fight the city’s housing crisis

• Increased funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund by $800 million, providing resources to create and preserve permanently affordable housing, and $250 million for mixed-income multifamily housing

• Budgeted and voted for over $741 million for emergency shelter and rental assistance and vouchers, in order to support individuals and families at the risk of losing their homes or ensure shelter for all

• Invested $2.3 billion to fund the repair, rehabilitation, and modernization of over 43,000 public housing units across Massachusetts. Funded an additional $150 million to decarbonize the public housing stock and $15 million for accessibility upgrades

• Contributed $200 million for transitional and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness, and $70 million for community-based housing for individuals served by the Department of Mental Health and Department of Developmental Services.

• Supported the enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act and advocated against efforts to weaken the law. Voted for and advocated for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to be permitted in single-family zoning districts.