Much of the Commonwealth's stock of affordable housing units was built in the 1960, 1970s and 1980’s. These projects now face the elimination of restrictions that they serve low-income residents due to the potential for owners to prepay their federally-subsidized mortgages, or opt out of their existing Section 8 rental subsidy contracts. To preserve these units requires a combination of resident and community initiative, public and private investment, and technical expertise.

CEDAC works with federal and state agencies to coordinate housing policies that promote the preservation of these existing affordable housing communities.  CEDAC helps community organizations and municipalities leverage the resources they need to prevent these valuable housing units from being lost by helping negotiate the extension of current affordability restrictions or the sale of such projects to non-profit owners; securing new capital investment to meet deferred maintenance or systems replacement needs; and advocating for public policy which supports such outcomes. Given the high costs of new production, preventing the loss of existing affordable housing is a high priority for CEDAC.

In 2009, Massachusetts was selected by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a grantee in the State and Local Housing Preservation Leaders program with CEDAC as the lead agency.  Click here for more information.