Lewis: Massachusetts needs 220,000 housing units; zoning changes and Affordable Homes Act aim to close gap
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Summary
Senator Jason Lewis told host Emmanuel Marsh Massachusetts faces an estimated shortfall of about 220,000 housing units and described recent policy tools — MBTA Communities zoning changes, the Affordable Homes Act and legalized ADUs — to spur multifamily development.
Senator Jason Lewis said Massachusetts is short roughly 220,000 housing units and outlined steps the legislature has taken or is pursuing to increase housing supply and slow price growth.
Lewis described the MBTA Communities Act as a zoning reform that encourages multifamily housing near public transit and noted the Affordable Homes Act as “the largest investment in Massachusetts' history in housing programs,” funding public housing, subsidies and tax credits to incentivize private developers to build low- and middle-income units. He said accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are now allowed "by right," a state-level change intended to increase the number of units owners can add without special municipal approvals.
Lewis said the legislature fashions policies and funding tools, while the governor’s administration and the Department of Housing and Community Development execute and distribute resources by region (for example, North Shore, Boston, western suburbs). He emphasized incentives for private developers remain central because most housing is built by the private sector. He did not provide a specific legislative timetable for reaching the 220,000-unit goal.
Lewis also acknowledged limits to state control and the need for federal support, together with local implementation decisions.
