Boston awards climate-ready housing grants

Seven Boston affordable housing developments have received significant funding to advance deep energy retrofits and electrification projects.

The Climate Ready Housing (CRH) grant programme is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Liveable Communities (EOHLC), the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (Lisc) and MassHousing.

Net-zero emissions goals

The programme supports affordable housing properties statewide in reducing energy use, improving resilience, and contributing to the Commonwealth’s net-zero emissions goals.

“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration and our state partners for recognising Boston’s commitment to climate-ready housing,” said chief of housing Sheila Dillon.

“By embedding energy efficiency and decarbonisation into affordable housing development, we’re protecting residents from rising costs, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening our neighbourhoods against the impacts of climate change.”

The development teams secured funding for several transformative projects that will upgrade over 275 affordable units across Roxbury, Fenway, South Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Allston-Brighton.

“Climate Ready Housing helps owners tackle big-ticket upgrades – from insulation and electrification to next-generation heating and cooling – residents get cleaner air, reliable systems and more predictable costs”

Together, these developments will lower carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality, and extend the lifespan of crucial affordable housing stock. The CRH programme, created through the 2021 Economic Development Bond Bill and expanded under the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, awarded a total of $20.5m statewide this year, with Boston projects representing a key share of the investment.

“Massachusetts can’t meet its housing goals without preserving and modernising the affordable homes we already have,” said Ed Augustus, secretary of housing and liveable communities.

“Climate Ready Housing helps owners tackle big-ticket upgrades – from insulation and electrification to next-generation heating and cooling – residents get cleaner air, reliable systems and more predictable costs. With support from MHP, MassHousing and Lisc, we’re scaling this work statewide and keeping affordability and quality at the centre of every project.”