Housing and Community Development

Housing Production Plans

A Housing Production Plan is a five-year plan aimed at supporting the production and preservation of affordable housing within a community.

SRPEDD has a long and proven track record of working with communities to develop or update Housing Production Plans (HPPs).

HPPs are a community's proactive strategy for planning and developing affordable housing for its residents under M.G.L. Chapter 40B. These important plans are developed in partnership with local officials and community members. By taking a proactive approach to housing production, towns are much more likely to achieve both their housing and community planning goals, while also gaining more control over the 40B process.

A Housing Production Plan consists of a comprehensive housing needs assessment, a set of affordable housing goals, and accompanying implementation strategies. The comprehensive housing needs assessment is an analysis of the community’s demographics and housing stock, the community’s future population and housing needs, as well as identification of development constraints (barriers) and limitations that may hinder the development of affordable housing. This analysis, in conjunction with community conversation and guidance, informs the creation of a set of affordable housing goals.

Affordable housing goals address the housing needs of the community and provide for a range of housing types, including rental and homeownership for families, individuals, persons with special needs, and seniors.

Lastly, a set of implementation strategies describe how the community will achieve its housing production goals, as well as provide a timeframe/schedule for achieving the goals identified.

Why Complete a Housing Production Plan?

There are numerous reasons to complete a Housing Production Plan; most importantly, HPPs assist in ensuring housing equity and planning for a future where all community members have safe, healthy, stable, and livable homes to return to. The Stanford Social Review elaborates on some of these reasons, saying, “High-quality, stable housing is central to the health and wellbeing of all families. It helps foster relationships and opportunities in communities, limits chronic stress, and allows families to support positive child development.

Additionally, there are other important State-level benefits, which include:

Create More Local Control over Chapter 40B Proposals

Having a certified Housing Production Plan gives a community more control over Comprehensive Permits under Chapter 40B. A plan may be certified by DHCD if, within a 12-month period, a community permits SHI-eligible affordable housing units equal to at least 0.5% to 1.0% of its year-round housing stock. Certification means that the community’s Housing Production Plan has met its regional need for affordable housing for one year (by meeting at least the 0.5% threshold) or two years (by meeting the 1% threshold). During its certification period, a community’s Zoning Board of Appeals has the right to deny a Comprehensive Permit. All requirements for HPPs are described in state regulations 760 CMR 56.00: Comprehensive permit; low- or moderate-income housing.

Support the Commonwealth's Commitment to Housing

The Commonwealth's Housing Choice Initiative (HCI) provides incentives, technical assistance, and targeted legislative reform to encourage municipalities to plan and build diverse housing stock. Importantly, it supports the administration's commitment to produce 135,000 new housing units statewide by 2025. Benefits of participation in the HCI include:

  1. The Housing Choice Community Grant Program, which funds infrastructure improvements in those communities that have shown commitment to advancing sustainable housing production.
  2. Other Technical Assistance programs offered by regional and state agencies to assist with planning for housing such as the District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) Program the Community Compact Cabinet.

HPP Status by Community

HPP Status August 2023

Ongoing Housing Production Plans

Carver Housing Production Plan

Town Contact:

Tom Bott, Interim Town Planner

Current Phase:

Goals and Strategies

Approximate Project End Date:

Winter 2024

Dartmouth Housing Production Plan

Town Contact:

Chris Vitale, Assistant Town Administrator

Current Phase:

Project Kick-off

Approximate Project End Date:

Winter 2025

Dighton Housing Production Plan

Town Contact:

TBD

Current Phase:

Project Kick-off

Approximate Project End Date:

Winter 2025

Middleborough Housing Production Plan

Town Contact:

Leeann Bradley, Director of Planning and Community Development

Current Phase:

Final Report

Approximate Project End Date:

Winter 2023-2024

Westport Housing Production Plan

Town Contact:

Michael Burris AICP, Town Planner

Current Phase:

Goals and Strategies

Approximate Project End Date:

Summer 2024

Town of Lakeville: 2024 Housing Production Plan

Housing in Mansfield:
2023 Housing Production Plan