Conference committee agrees on housing bond

Associated Press, 07/30/98

BOSTON - Hundreds of millions of dollars will flow to affordable housing around the state under a $296 million housing bond bill that has been agreed to by a House-Senate conference committee.

Aaron Gornstein, executive director of the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association, says the compromise announced Thursday will help renovate existing public housing and make it more affordable to buy homes and rental opportunities for low- and moderate-income people.

''It really, I think, shows a renewed commitment on the part of the Legislature to address the lack of affordable housing in Massachusetts,'' Gornstein said today.

''We've seen housing prices skyrocket over the last few years amid a booming economy. Many low-income people are struggling to stay in their homes or to improve their housing situation,'' he said. he $296 million figure is between the House proposal of $202 million and the Senate proposal of $375 million.

''I think the Senate certainly wanted to fund the accounts higher than the House. And we achieved those higher levels while also recognizing the House's view towards the bottom line. So I think it's a good balance,'' said Sen. John O'Brien, D-Andover, a conference committee member.

A vote on the conference report was scheduled in the House Thursday, said Maria Walsh, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Thomas Finneran, D-Boston.