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HD 815

An Act to promote housing cooperatives

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 3 co-sponsors

Establishes the Mass. Center for Housing Cooperatives and a $100 million FY26 fund to acquire, preserve, and support resident-owned co-ops for low- to moderate-income households.

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Bill Summary · HD 815

Summary: An Act to Promote Housing Cooperatives (HD 815)

Overview

HD 815 proposes the creation of a new state entity, the Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives, housed within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The bill aims to expand and support cooperative homeownership as a means to increase affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income residents. It establishes a dedicated fund, directs a substantial state appropriation for start-up and preservation activities, and requires ongoing reporting and coordination with existing housing agencies.

What the bill would do

  • Establish the Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

    • Purpose: educate, conduct outreach, and promote an environment favorable to cooperative ownership; expand and preserve cooperatively owned properties; publicize benefits; coordinate sharing of information; fund grants; and focus efforts on low- to moderate-income residents.
    • Activities: outreach and education, outreach collaboration, research and evaluation, showcasing initiatives, and grant administration.
    • Emphasis: prioritize low- to moderate-income households seeking or adopting cooperative ownership.

  • Governance and operations

    • A director would lead the center (full-time) and report to the Secretary of the EOHHLC.
    • Powers include hiring staff, creating committees or task forces, and contracting with consultants or advisors as needed.
    • The director may accept gifts or grants; funds would be deposited into a dedicated Massachusetts Center for Housing Cooperatives Fund, not reverting to the General Fund, and available for expenditure per the gift/grant terms.
    • The director would issue rules and procedures for applying for and delivering services.
    • An annual report to the House and Senate clerks would include an inventory of housing cooperatives statewide and the center’s activities to promote transitions to cooperative ownership.

Funding and fiscal provisions

  • Appropriation: $100,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 to establish a reserve to promote housing cooperatives for low- to moderate-income residents.
  • Uses of funds may include:
    • Acquiring real estate to establish new cooperatives.
    • Preserving and rehabilitating existing properties.
    • Addressing capital needs of existing cooperatives.
    • Implementation through DHCD directly or via partner organizations:
    • Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA)
    • Massachusetts Housing Partnership
    • Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC)
    • ROC USA Capital
  • Timing requirement: within 180 days of the act’s effective date, DHCD must submit recommendations to the House and Senate Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies on creating and preserving housing cooperatives.

Who would be affected

  • Low- to moderate-income individuals seeking cooperative housing options.
  • Existing housing cooperatives and their residents.
  • State agencies and financing partners (DHCD, MHFA, MassHousing Partnership, CEDAC, ROC USA Capital) involved in housing development, preservation, and financing.
  • Policymakers and advocates seeking to expand affordable, resident-owned housing models.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Establishment of the center with ongoing duties and annual reporting.
  • 180-day requirement for DHCD to deliver a feasibility/implementation report on cooperative creation and preservation.
  • A significant FY2026 appropriation to seed and support the program, with implementation through multiple financing partners.

Notes

  • The bill as introduced envisions a centralized state-supported effort to promote housing cooperatives, including a dedicated fund, governance structure, and substantial start-up funding to accelerate acquisition, preservation, and capital support for cooperative housing.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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