OSPCD: Housing

City of Somerville FY22 Budget

Mission Statement

The Housing Division is responsible for delivering safe, affordable, and sustainable housing for Somerville residents. In serving this mission, it administers programs and/or funding for Affordable Rental and Homeownership Opportunities (known as Inclusionary Housing), Heat System Replacement and Housing Rehab, Lead Paint Abatement, and Residential Energy Efficiency efforts. The Division’s staff also support three boards and commissions and serve as a liaison to the Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC), which provides services and housing for homeless individuals and families.

Personal Services Changes

Personal Services are projected up 60% for FY22.


This budget proposes two new positions to begin the Mayor's 2,000 Homes initiative:

  • 2,000 Homes Program Manager
  • Paralegal

Multiple positions in the Housing division have been reclassified and/or retitled for FY22:

  • Two Program Specialists have been reclassified
  • A Housing Coordinator has been reclassified and retitled to Affordable Housing Coordinator
  • The Sustainable Neighborhoods Program Coordinator has been reclassified and retitled to Housing Policy Coordinator
  • The Assistant Housing Director/Housing Counsel has been reclassified
  • The Director of Housing position has been reclassified

Changes in salaries are due to adjustments to CDBG grant allocations, negotiated collective bargaining agreements and merit increases based on annual performance reviews.

Ordinary Maintenance Changes

Ordinary Maintenance costs are projected up 73% for FY22.


This change is driven by a $40,000 increase to Professional & Technical Services to fund a program evaluation study for the 2,000 Homes program.

FY22 Goals & Measures of Progress

GOAL 1: Preserve and expand an integrated, balanced mix of safe, affordable and environmentally sound rental and homeownership units for households of all sizes and types from diverse social and economic groups.

  • Expand preservation through acquisition efforts: 100 Homes program has averaged roughly 10 units per year over the past 5 years. Increase that average by 5 percent, to at least 15 units to be acquired in FY22.
  • Identify and address lead hazards in 30 housing units through the Lead Paint Safe Somerville program and HUD-funded Healthy Home grant; this is an increase of 5 units compared to FY21 totals.
  • Reach 20 housing units through the Heat System Replacement and Rehab program.
  • Support implementation of the Rental Building and Energy Efficient Standards Initiative (RBEES) ordinance.


GOAL 2: Promote mixed-use, mixed-income transit-oriented development (TOD) to provide new housing and employment options.

  • Fund at least one new mixed use, mixed-income construction project to generate an estimated 30 to 35 housing units.
  • Support work by the Somerville Community Land Trust to address racial disparities in home mortgages, including programs like Boston's One+ program to increase assistance for first-time and low-income home buyers.


GOAL 3: Mitigate displacement of low and moderate income residents by retaining existing affordable stock and by policies that allow residents to remain in Somerville.

  • Complete Phases 2: Community Engagement and Phase 3: Implementation, of the consolidated waitlist for affordable rental housing.
  • Complete implementation of changes to zoning brought about by the December 2019 zoning overhaul; remaining measures include posting the 3rd unit-in-NR districts policy and posting rent, homeownership, and fractional payment calculations.

FY22 Budget

Personnel Listing