GBIO Launches Housing Justice Campaign on steps of Statehouse

Leah C-S Photography

​“This is not just a housing crisis, it’s a human crisis.”
300 GBIO leaders demanded Housing Justice at a rally March 15 outside the State House. This rally marked the launch of an ambitious, multi-pronged Housing Justice campaign, calling for:
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1)    Safe and Dignified State Public Housing
GBIO seeks to dramatically increase funding for operations, sustainable upkeep, and deferred maintenance in public housing.
 
2)    Access to Quality Housing for Returning Citizens
GBIO will focus on creating a priority for Returning Citizens in Dept. of Housing and Community Development programs, and expanding rental vouchers for returning citizens. Since housing entirely depends on the possession of a state ID or driver’s license, GBIO also seeks a mandate to ensure that a state ID accompanies every Returning Citizen leaving incarceration.
 
3)   More Funding for Affordable Housing and Homeownership
GBIO seeks to bring new funds into local communities to be used for affordable rental housing and homeownership through passage by the legislature of bills allowing cities and towns to set a Real Estate Transfer Fee.
 
4)    Increasing Housing Supply
GBIO will focus here on the implementation of the MBTA Communities Zoning Act which will create powerful new possibilities for more multi-family zoning in local communities where GBIO has presence.