Bill would create Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives and $100M reserve, sponsors say

Rep. Carmen Gentile and cooperative advocates told the Joint Committee on Housing that a state‑level center and fund could expand resident‑owned cooperatives and preserve affordability in manufactured home communities and multifamily buildings.

Why it matters: Housing cooperatives give residents a path to collective ownership and local control that advocates say can reduce displacement and improve maintenance and affordability for low‑ and moderate‑income households. Witnesses argued that high real estate costs and investor interest in manufactured home communities make public support urgent.

What’s proposed: Rep. Carmen Gentile (Thirteenth Middlesex) testified in support of H1509/S983 to establish the Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives in the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and to create a $100,000,000 reserve for cooperative promotion and assistance. Jason Brady of the Cooperative Development Institute described the fund’s intended uses — acquisition assistance, technical assistance, and financial products tailored to cooperatives. Brady noted the bill would help resident groups meet strict statutory timelines such as manufactured home communities’ right of first refusal when trying to secure financing rapidly after a sale.

Model and rationale: Rep. Gentile said the proposal is modeled in part on the Mass Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO), which was revived with a $150,000 appropriation and later moved into the Mass Office of Business Development. The bill would place cooperative technical assistance within EOHLC, enabling the center to retain and deploy funding to support conversions to cooperative ownership and long‑term affordability.

Next steps: Sponsors asked for a favorable report. The committee accepted written testimony and did not take a formal vote during the hearing.