Affordable Housing is a Human Right

As a renter herself, Christine understands firsthand how expensive it can be to live in our district. She has helped to increase funding for subsidies and for affordable housing projects in Medford & Somerville. As a member of the Housing Committee, Christine has moved forward legislation to incentivize building affordable and multifamily housing, as well as to improve availability of accessible housing for seniors and people with disabilities.

Accessory Dwelling Units

Issue
Affordable and accessible housing for the elderly or those with a disability continues to be a significant challenge. Accessory units allow individuals to stay in their community and with friends and family nearby, who can offer physical and emotional support.

Christine’s Plan
H.1250 would allow for the creation of an accessory apartment (similar to an in-law apartment) that could be added to a single family home to benefit a person with disability or an elderly person. This will help individuals continue to live independently and have the support of their loved ones, all while reducing the waiting lists for existing accessible and affordable units.

Supported by
The ARC of Massachusetts, Autism Housing Pathways.  

Multifamily Housing Production

Issue: We need a regional approach to ensuring enough housing is available for all types of families.  Towns and cities that are well-served by public transit have an opportunity to be build affordable and multi-family housing through smart growth principles.  

Christine’s Plan
H.1251 will help produce more housing by requiring multi-family zoning in cities and towns served by public transit. This is especially important in creating housing for families with children, seniors, and people with lower incomes. This is a common-sense approach to help ease the affordability crisis. By building smart, in places with transit access, we will be able to house more people and families.

Supported by
CHAPA (Citizen's Housing and Planning Association), and other housing advocacy groups.

Preventing Discrimination Against Affordability

Issue
Some communities face opposition to building affordable housing, for fear of negatively impacting neighborhood character, scale, or density. I strongly believe that the inclusion of affordable housing developments not only helps to alleviate our housing crisis, but also makes communities stronger and more diverse.

Christine’s Plan
H.1080 would update the Massachusetts Fair Housing Act by prohibiting the exclusion of housing development solely because it would include affordable units. Every community in the state needs to be doing its part to help build affordable housing, and I believe that this will take a large step to encourage that type of development. 

Supported by
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute,CHAPA (Citizen’s Housing and Planning Association), and other housing advocacy groups. 

Ensuring Access to Housing for People with Disabilities 

Issue
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) includes the right to equal access. However, there exists a discrepancy between the ADA and the Massachusetts building code, creating barriers to access for those with disabilities in housing and employment. People with disabilities are twice as likely to be homeless and twice as likely to be unemployed.

Christine’s Plan
H.2029 will align Massachusetts building code with the ADA by updating the Architectural Access Board rules. Doing so will create more job opportunities and housing options for people with disabilities and will simplify the code-book, giving architects and developers more freedom to create accessible designs.  

Supported by
The Disability Policy Consortium, and the Massachusetts Association of Independent Living Centers.

Rent Control

Issue
Despite the severity of the current housing crisis, rent continues to skyrocket in our communities. We should reinstate the ability to create limitations on how much a landlord can raise rent in these perilous economic conditions.

Christine’s Plan
I am a co-sponsor on legislation to reinstate Rent Control in Massachusetts. H.3924 would repeal the statewide ban on local rent control ordinances by striking all of the text of M.G.L. Ch. 40P, the Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act of 1994, and replacing it with a new law called the Tenant Protection Act.

Real Estate Transfer Fee

Issue
Raising progressive revenue to meet our current housing need in Medford & Somerville

Christine’s Plan
I am a co-sponsor on legislation to enable municipalities to levy fees on the transfer of real estate to fund local affordable housing projects.