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Housing and community development budget focuses on grants, homebuyer program and workforce partnerships
Summary
The Housing & Community Development department seeks modest operating increases while staff described grant‑funded programs, an RFP for a first‑time homebuyers down‑payment program and a target to support 100 affordable units through multiple funding tools.
The Chelsea Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) presented a FY26 operating request that modestly increases general‑fund support while emphasizing grant programs, a soon‑to‑launch first‑time homebuyer assistance RFP and workforce development planning.
Deputy City Manager Michael Mason said the HCD general fund request rises about 5.8% year‑over‑year driven by salary adjustments; Director Ben Kears told councilors the department has grown staffing and is managing an interdisciplinary portfolio that spans affordable housing, community preservation, open space and economic development.
Kears said the department is preparing a first‑time homebuyer down‑payment assistance program funded through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Community Preservation Act allocations. He said an RFP to contract with a program operator had been issued and that the city council previously appropriated approximately $1.5 million for a homeownership pilot; the goal is to get a contractor under contract in early summer and launch assistance soon after.
On federal funding, Kears said the city has not received notice that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding will be cut: “We have not heard anything from that office. We've also not heard anything from HUD directly about CDBG being cut.” He said CDBG currently helps fund portions of staffing and program delivery and the department monitors federal developments.
Kears described a goal to support creation of at least 100 new affordable units over the coming period through a combination of Affordable Housing Trust Fund investments, Community Preservation Act resources, inclusionary zoning oversight and partnerships with private developers and non‑profits. He also described workforce development activity, noting partnerships with MassHire and community organizations and a forthcoming workforce development action plan to align training and employer demand.
Councilors asked about sustainability of grant‑funded positions; Kears said most grant positions are secured through specific programs with timelines (Barr Foundation, CDBG and CPA) and that the department is working to shift staff off one‑time funds where feasible and to pursue renewals. No council vote was taken during the presentation; the HCD budget will be decided as part of the FY26 adoption process.
