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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4444 FILED ON: 2/21/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3921
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act further defining the purposes of the affordable housing trust in the city of Somerville.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/21/2025 1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4444 FILED ON: 2/21/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3921
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3921) of
Christine P. Barber (with approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation to further
regulate the affordable housing trust in the city of Somerville. Housing. [Local Approval
Received.]
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3743 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act further defining the purposes of the affordable housing trust in the city of Somerville.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. In addition to those powers conferred by G. L. c. 44, section 55 ( C ) (a), the
2purpose of the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust is 1) to fund housing related social service
3programs, including but not limited to, landlord-tenant mediation, legal services for tenants, case
4management, homelessness prevention, and housing counseling, and 2) to fund start-up costs for
5new affordable housing production initiatives. For the purpose of this section, such social service
6programs do not need to be associated with a physical asset consisting of housing for income
7eligible households, nor do such social services programs need to add a housing unit to the
8municipality’s affordable housing stock.
9 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.