Housing and Community Development on September 29, 2026

The Boston City Council Committee on Housing and Community Development held a hearing on September 29, 2026, docket 0695, focused on the city’s implementation of its Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH), fair-housing enforcement, displacement, and housing access. Community advocates urged the city to resume the AFH equity audit, strengthen coordination among departments, fill leadership and policy vacancies in the Office of Fair Housing and Equity, and improve public reporting and enforcement, including around discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders. City staff said the audit remains paused amid a federal HUD investigation, but the city is preparing to resume it; they also described current programs and progress reporting. No votes or contract awards occurred during the hearing.

Procurement-related items included a planned three-year RFP for an external organization or institution to conduct fair-housing testing. Staff said the City Council’s FY27 budget included $100,000 for the testing program and the administration expected to add about $200,000; the RFP was to be released after the city completed preparatory work. Staff also reported that seven development teams had been selected for phase three of Welcome Home Boston and were conducting due diligence, with project closing anticipated in fall 2027. The BPDA had hired a consultant for an AFH-related audit, which was paused. Councilors requested follow-up information on program outcomes, budgets, staffing, and enforcement. Discussion also covered inclusionary zoning, affordable housing funding, and proposed tenant protections, but no new procurement or policy action was approved at this meeting.