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Department of Housing outlines pipeline, supportive housing plans and homelessness strategy
Summary
The Department of Housing told the Finance, Revenue and Bonding subcommittee it has completed about 3,000 units using bond proceeds since 2023, has 6,400 units under construction, and is focusing new investments on deeper-affordability units (30''''''' 50% AMI), senior housing and supportive studios for people experiencing homelessness.
The Department of Housing briefed the Finance, Revenue and Bonding subcommittee on the governor's capital requests and the agency's implementation plans, highlighting a large development pipeline and targeted supportive-housing efforts.
What the agency reported
The commissioner said the department completed "a little over 3,000 units" since 2023 using about $179 million in bond proceeds and leveraged roughly $660 million in other capital for a total of $839 million in development activity. The department reported about 6,400 units are under construction, representing a state investment of about $346 million and leveraging roughly $1.9 billion for a total of $2.3 billion in activity.
Targeting deeper affordability and supportive housing
The Department of Housing described a shift toward creating more units serving households at 30'' to 50% of area median income and said it plans to increase production of senior housing with deeper affordability. On homelessness, the commissioner told the panel the department is working with service providers to design 250'''' to 300 studios with embedded health and social services intended for people who are chronically homeless or need intensive supports.
Programs and pipeline details
- Incentive Housing Zone (IHZ): Staff said they are trying to "reinvigorate" IHZ by offering planning grants and technical assistance to about a dozen towns, and noted that municipal initiative is necessary for IHZ funding to proceed.
- Support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD): The department said about 45 units for IDD populations are in advanced financing stages and that it will provide the subcommittee with a location list.
- Crumbling foundations: Asked about the governor's request, staff said a $25 million appropriation would advance work but is not sufficient to eliminate the statewide problem; a department official told members that the governor recommends $100 million over time, and staff called the issue a long-term program that will require continued allocations.
Interagency coordination and local assistance
The department said it provides technical assistance to about a dozen towns on local affordable-housing plans and is coordinating with DECD, CHFA and the Office of Workforce Strategy on programs for workforce housing, senior units, and transit-oriented development. The department also described the I-DASH program (operating supports for supportive housing) and said some operating funds are timed to follow construction activity.
Quotations
"We have 6,400 units under construction right now, which represents $346,000,000 investment from the state, leveraging $1,900,000,000 for a total of $2,300,000,000 in activities," the commissioner said. On crumbling foundations, a department official said, "$25,000,000 ... will address immediate needs but is not sufficient to eliminate the crumbling foundation issue; we need a continued allocation over time." (attributed to Mike Santoro during Q&A).
Follow-ups requested
Legislators asked the department to provide lists of where targeted units (IDD, TTO counties/towns, and senior projects) are located, and the department agreed to supply the requested town-level breakdowns and program details in writing.
Ending
The department emphasized the need to coordinate funding and technical assistance, accelerate planning grants so projects become shovel-ready, and maintain steady bonding cycles so projects do not face funding gaps that slow construction.
