The affordable housing is for low and moderate income families including elderly and veterans.
State officials on Wednesday announced $105 million in state and federal subsidies and tax credits for the construction and renovation of affordable housing projects statewide including nine projects in the region.
Statewide, the funds will target 36 housing developments in 28 communities. Of the 2,196 units, 2,062 will provide affordable housing to low and moderate income working families and individuals including 279 for extremely low income.
In Western Massachusetts, the projects will range from rehabilitating several tornado-damaged buildings in the Six Corners neighborhood that were made uninhabitable by the disaster, to a project in Agawam that will increase affordable housing for formerly homeless veterans.
Aaron GorsteinIn addition, there are affordable housing projects for the elderly.
“Meaningful investments in affordable housing are critical to the Commonwealth’s economic recovery,” said Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary of the state Department of Housing and Community Development. “The Patrick-Murray administration’s continued commitment to providing quality housing opportunities for low-to-moderate income households is creating jobs and supporting hard-working families as they put down roots here in Massachusetts.”
Gov. Deval L. Patrick, in a prepared statement, said that creation of affordable housing “helps to generate jobs, grow local businesses and strengthen our communities.”
State officials estimate the projects will lead to the creation of 3,000 construction jobs across Massachusetts.
The seven projects in the region will receive a total of $13.7 million in state subsidies from the state Department of Housing and Community Development, and $3.7 million in state and federal low-income housing tax credits. The local projects are as follows:
• Agawam: Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Village, involves $2,715,000 in subsidies, and $544,657 in tax credits to renovate the former Western Massachusetts Regional Police Academy into 54 units of housing for formerly homeless veterans.
• Amherst: Olympia Oaks, HAP Inc., involves $2,715,000 in subsidies and $1.1 million in tax credits to create 42 units of affordable family housing including eight for extremely low income households.
• Easthampton: Cottage Square. Arch Street Development will use $2.5 million in subsidies and $981,271 in tax credits to create 50 units of affordable family units, including five for extremely low income.
• Ludlow: Stevens Memorial Senior Housing. HAP Inc. will use $2.7 million in subsidies to create 28 units of affordable elderly housing including seven for extremely low income.
• Orange: Dial Self Orange Teen Housing. Franklin County Dial Self, Inc. will use $1.3 million in subsidies to preserve nine units of affordable housing for Youth Aging Out of the Foster Care program.
• Springfield: Six Corners-Center City Housing. Better Homes Inc. will use $1 million in subsidies and $1.1 million in tax credits to preserve 43 units of affordable housing and five units for extremely low income residents.
• Westhampton: Woods Senior Housing Phase II: Hilltown Community Development Corp. will use $800,000 in subsidies to create eight units of affordable housing for seniors, including two units reserved for extremely low income households.