Boston Mayor Walsh announced the creation of the City of Boston's new Office of Housing Stability during his State of the City address. This new office's focus is to help residents retain stable housing, avoid displacement such as evictions and assist citizens relocate to new homes in times of emergencies.
The new office will be headed up by as of yet hired deputy director and be inside the Department of Neighborhood Development.
This new office will offer numerous services to Boston residents such as improved case management, eviction prevention and emergency housing search help. Trained housing advocates will assist residents in danger of losing their homes with advice, access to legal assistance, resources and work with landlords, management companies, housing authorities and tenants.
It will also research, create recommendations and implement new and improved policies and programs to help residents retain their homes. It will also work to draft and review new legislation solutions to mitigate displacements.
The office will also create new programs such as one program being developed that would seek funding to help residents avoid eviction and another program to explore city acquisition of rental properties in order to place deed restrictions on them and preserve their affordability.