Our Work at the Mayor's Office of Housing

This office creates our annual budget, which is about $100 million. They also oversee more than 4,700 loan accounts totaling more than $300 million.

Helpful documents are included below.

A detailed document of our policies.

The application includes a checklist of policies and procedures.

You may need to get this signed by Inspectional Services if you want to subordinate a loan.

Some of our loans are partially forgivable. To qualify for forgiveness, you'll need to sign and notarize this form.

Some of our loans require annual cash flow payments. This form must be filled out and returned with the borrower's annual financials.

Administration and Finance is led by Rick Wilson. Email Loans.DND@cityofboston.gov or call 617-635-5626 for more information.

The Boston Home Center helps Boston residents buy, improve, and keep their homes.

The Boston Home Center is led by Karen Rebaza.  Email homecenter@boston.gov or call 617-635-4663 to contact the Home Center.

The Housing Compliance and Asset Management (HCAM) division of the Mayor's Office of Housing ensures that City-involved income-restricted housing is provided in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

The HCAM webpage includes Frequently Asked Questions for those looking for affordable housing options, whether renting or buying income-restricted units. There is also information about the resale of these units, as well as extensive information on housing lotteries. Property managers will also find answers to their frequently asked questions on this page. 

The Director of HCAM is Michelle McCarthy (michelle.mccarthy@boston.gov).

The Housing Innovation Lab is working to increase housing affordability. The lab tests innovative housing models and accelerates the pace of innovation in the housing sector.

The Housing Innovation Lab puts people at the center of their work. They engage both internal and external partners to move the work forward. The Lab also experiments early and often, taking a prototype-driven approach to policy making.

• Additional Dwelling Units
• Future Deckers
• Housing with Public Assets
• Intergenerational Homeshare

The Neighborhood Housing Development Division ensures that public funding is wisely invested in strong affordable housing developments. These developments serve both their local neighborhoods and the citizens of Boston.

Christine O'Keefe is the Director of Neighborhood Housing Development. 

Affordable Housing Preservation is part of Housing Development. They fund loans for developers who want to buy and fix up old housing. Developers can also buy land through a Request for Proposal process. Learn more about how we sell our land to developers.

• keep affordable housing options on the market
• create open spaces in the City
• fix up abandoned properties, and
• offer housing services to low-income and homeless residents.

The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) helps residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.

OHS helps tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. They also offer financial assistance programs. Their goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability.

• Financial Assistance Programs
• Help for Tenants Who Are Facing Eviction
• Emergency Fire Resources
• Legal Help 

The Office of Housing Stability is led by Danielle Johnson. Email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200 to contact the Office.

Policy Development and Research (PDR) oversees the citizen participation process for the City of Boston’s annual grant allocations from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and prepares HUD required plans and reports. 

PDR also supports the word of MOH through: program and policy development, grant-writing assistance, research and policy analysis, and mapping and data services.

• HUD required plans and reports
• HUD income limits
• Hearings and Public Comments
• Affirmatively furthering Fair Housing and addressing racial equity
• Research and data
• Program outcomes
• Policies

• Information on the former Lewis Chemical Corporation
• Environmental and project information form

Karina Oliver-Milchman is the Director of Policy Development and Research.

Real Estate Management and Sales (REMS) is responsible for the maintenance, site assessment, and disposition of the City’s tax foreclosed and surplus property.

These properties can include vacant parcels, as well as residential, commercial, and industrial properties. REMS manages the process through which land and buildings are disposed. That often involves:

• community meetings
• crafting and issuing Requests for Proposals, and
• overseeing the review selection process of bidders.

In addition, REMS is responsible for the care and custody of the Strand Theatre.

Rosemary Chung-Dell is the Interim Director of Real Estate Management and Sales. 

The Supportive Housing Division provides funding for housing and supportive services for homeless populations, those at risk of homelessness, and housing for people with HIV/AIDS.

Katie Cahill-Holloway is the Interim Director of the Supportive Housing Division. 

The Supportive Housing Division manages over $30 million in federal grants. The division funds nonprofits to provide services for households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living with HIV/AIDS.

• Annual Homeless Census
• Boston's Way Home
• Continuum of Care Program
• Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS 
• Plan to End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness