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From YouTube: Commissioners Corner: Maureen Flynn, Boston Home Center
Description
On this episode of Commissioners Corner, Host, Lois Leonard, sits down with Boston Home Center Director Maureen Flynn to discuss the challenges faced by many Boston residents who are looking for an affordable place to live. The Center's work helps make Boston the most livable city in the nation. Visit homecenter.boston.gov for information on upcoming homebuying classes, one-on-one counseling sessions, and more ways to help you save money.
A
Welcome
to
commissioner's
corner
I'm,
your
host
Louis
Leonard,
and
thank
you
for
joining
us
for
many
home
ownership
is
part
of
our
American
Dream,
but
the
process
at
the
very
least,
can
be
difficult
and
perhaps
feel
impossible
to
achieve.
Today,
we're
going
to
discuss
the
challenges.
Boston
faces
the
challenges
you
face
and
how
the
city
is
providing
some
answers
with
us
today
in
the
studio
the
director
of
the
Boston
home
center
Maureen
Flynn.
Thank
you
so
much
for
joining
us.
A
B
A
C
Right,
yes,
that's
big,
it's
a
big
mission
and
we
have
a
good
coverage
of
pretty
much
every
aspect
of
community
development
and
affordable
housing
that
you
could
think
of.
So
we
have
division
that
works
with
and
provides
assistance
to,
homeless
families
and
individuals
through
partners
and
through.
We
write
a
lot
of
grants
and
try
to
get
as
much
money
as
we
can
for
our
partners.
C
Then
we
have
an
office
of
the
office
of
housing,
stability
that
serves
folks
that
are
at
risk
for
homelessness
and
might
be
being
evicted
or
losing
their
home
for
whatever
reason
so
that
they
provide
a
whole
host
of
services.
Our
division
deals
with
homeowners,
both
homeowners
and
homebuyers,
so
we
have
two
different
units
within
our
division,
so
we're
consider
the
home
ownership
and
home
buying
unit
division.
Excuse
me
and
then
we
have
Neighborhood
Housing
Development,
which
does
a
lot
of
preservation
of
affordable
housing
that
might
be.
C
You
know
edits.
We
need
to
preserve
it
because
it
has
a
long
term,
affordability
on
it.
We
want
to
present,
make
sure
it's
preserved
and
also
we
do
new
construction.
So
we
assist
both
nonprofits
and
for-profits
that
one
build
affordable
housing
and
then
we
have
a
smaller
neighborhood
homes,
initiative
that
builds
housing
on
city-owned
property
and
vacant
lots.
So
we've
got
it
covered
so.
A
B
B
The
data
shows
our
strategy's
working
rents
and
home
prices
are
stabilizing,
but
they're
still
too
high
for
too
many
people
there's
much
more
work
to
be
done
so
tonight,
I'm
announcing
an
unprecedented
investment,
five
hundred
million
dollars
over
five
years
to
create
thousands
of
homes
all
across
our
city,
affordable
to
a
range
of
incomes
from
our
most
vulnerable
to
the
middle
class.
We'll
start
with
a
hundred
million
of
city
resources
that
along
doubles.
B
Our
current
investment
will
generate
additional
revenue
by
working
with
the
city
council
to
solve
a
lafayette
garage,
downtown
and
working
with
the
state
legislature
to
approve
of
the
transfer
tax
we
passed
last
month.
That's
a
feet
up
to
2%.
Only
on
sales
above
two
million
dollars
in
Boston
will
renovate
and
build
thousands
of
affordable
homes,
for
our
seniors
will
preserve
public
housing
in
our
city,
from
Whittier
Street
in
Roxbury
to
Mildred,
Haley
and
Jamaica
Plain,
and
for
the
first
time
in
Boston's
history
we
will
issue
city
funded
rental
vouchers,
so
more
low-income
families.
B
B
A
C
That
so
we
help
in
a
bunch
of
different
ways.
First
of
all,
we
offer
classes,
so
we
have
three
nonprofits
that
have
classes
around
the
city
pretty
much
every
night
of
the
week
and
on
the
weekends.
So
that's
your
first
step.
If
you're
looking
for
a
home
to
buy
in
Boston,
you
want
to
go
and
take
a
class
to
get
educated
about
what
you
should
be
looking
for.
Who
should
be
your
team?
How
you
get
started,
what
banks
are
out
there
that
participate
with
us?
C
We
have
a
bunch
of
participating
lenders
and
that's
your
first
step
go
take
a
class.
We
also
do
counseling
one-on-one
counseling
on
Tuesday
nights
down
downtown
at
26,
Court
Street,
where
we're
located
and
you
can
come
in
and
ask
specific
questions
about.
Maybe
your
specific
situation
and
then
we
also
run
the
affordable
housing
lottery.
So
anytime,
affordable,
homeownership
opportunities
become
available,
we
accept
applications
and
then
we
hold
the
lotteries
for
folks
that
might
be
eligible
to
purchase
those
homes
and
then
forth.
C
A
C
Sure
so
the
first
thing
that
a
homebuyer
would
do
after
taking
a
class
is
go
and
talk
to
one
of
our
participating
lenders.
We
have
the
lenders
on
our
website.
There
are
about
30
and
you
want
to
go
in
and
sit
down
and
figure
out
what
you
could
afford
in
terms
of
a
house.
So
what
what
kind
of
mortgage
could
you
afford
and
then
that
will
set
you
up
for
going
to
shop?
You
should
not
go
and
shop
for
a
house
until
you
know
what
you
can
afford.
That's
a
very.
C
C
That
sounds
very
creative.
It
is
very
creative.
We
have
a
number
of
city
vacant
owned
lots
and
we
are
trying
to
put
them
to
the
best
use
possible.
So
we
go
out
and
talk
to
the
neighborhood's
about
what
they
want
to
see
on
those
lots
and
we
then
partner
with
small
private
developers
to
build
new
construction
on
those
on
those
Lots.
We
have
right
now
advertised
on
our
website:
New
England
heritage
homes,
the
lottery
deadline,
application
I,
think
is
March,
30th
and
folks
can
enter
the
lottery
if
their
income
qualified.
C
Not
a
good
place
to
start.
Yes,
it's
absolutely
a
good
place
to
start.
We
have
any
time
we
have
a
lottery
and
you
only
have
to
enter
fill
out
your
lottery
application
once
so
you
go
on
look
online
at
our
website,
find
out
what's
available
and
then
you
can.
We
have
our
lottery
application
online,
fill
it
out,
bring
it
in
and
or
mail
it
and
we
you
can
be
entered
into
the
lottery
and
start
the
process
and
attend
classes.
Absolutely.
C
Yes,
if
someone
buys
a
lottery
home,
they
are
also
eligible
to
still
get
downpayment
assistance
from
us.
So
that's
that's
key,
sometimes
to
putting
the
whole
deal
together,
because,
even
though
our
homes
are
affordable
homes
that
we
produce
through
the
NH,
I
and
and
our
regular
larger
developments,
there's
there
below
market
prices
folks
can
still
need
a
little
help
to
get
into
those
units,
so
that's
still
available
to
them.
Okay,.
C
A
C
We
have
a
number
of
great
programs
on
our
homeownership
side.
We
have
a
program
called
home
works
or
slash
help.
That's
what
we
call
it
that's
available
for
folks
that
anyone
can
apply.
But
it's
specifically,
we
have
programs
specifically
for
seniors
so
that
anyone
can
apply
to
this.
But
we
offer
up
to
$20,000
for
home
improvements
for
life
and
safety
issues
or
code
repairs,
something
that
you
maybe
you've
moved
in
and
you've,
and
you
think,
oh,
my
gosh,
that
that
furnace
is
about
to
go.
C
C
Like
you
need
a
new
kitchen,
it's
really
hard,
it's
really
for
those
life
and
safety
issues.
It's
a
home
repair
program.
So
that's
20
thousand
dollars
up
to
twenty
thousand
dollars
that
you
can
apply
for.
If
you
live
in
a
traditional
three
family
triple-decker,
it
goes
up
to
30
thirty
thousand
dollars.
So
that's
a
great
program,
then
for
our
seniors
we
have
a
senior
minor
repair
program
that
we
will
do
like
if
a
might
have
something
like
a
leaky,
faucet
or
their
toilet.
C
Doesn't
work
we'll
come
in
through
one
of
our
contracted
agencies
and
do
the
repairs
for
the
senior
at
no
charge
to
them,
but
those
have
to
be
small,
and
then
we
have
what
we
call
our
senior
mod
repair
program,
which
is
a
combination
of
loan
and
grant
homeworks
help
is
also
a
loan
program,
but
the
loans
that
we
provide
our
0%.
They
just
sit
on
the
house
and
you
don't
ever
have
to
pay
them
back
until
you
sell
or
refinance
so.
A
C
We
want
our
seniors
and
our
homeowners,
particularly
our
low
and
moderate
income
homeowners,
to
be
able
to
stay
in
their
homes.
We
don't
want
displacement
and
it's
really
important.
These
programs
are
really
important,
particularly
to
seniors
who
sometimes,
if
they're
low
income
are
putting
an
enormous
amount
of
their
their
budget
towards
heating,
and
we
don't
want
that.
So
we
offer
a
senior's
save
program
that
will
replace
their
heating
system
if
it's
more
than
twelve
years
old.
C
A
C
Do
we
have
a
foreclosure
prevention
program
we
contract
out
with
agencies
to
do
that
that
work
that
counseling
work?
We
also
do
some
in-house
as
well
some
of
the
more
complicated
cases
so--that's
foreclosure
prevention,
not
just
if
you're
behind
on
your
mortgage
and
you
thinking,
I,
don't
think
things
are
gonna
might
work
out
or
I've
just
lost
my
job
and
I
really
don't
think
I
can
make
that
next
payment.
We
want
you
to
call
us
when
you
think
you're
at
the
verge
of
being
on
trouble
in
trouble.
We
want
you
to
call
us
not.
C
We,
of
course,
we'll
take
calls
any
time,
but
it's
there's
no
point
in
waiting.
If
you're
in
trouble
call
us
there's
no
problem
with
it,
we
will
help
you
right
away.
Also,
if
you,
if
you're
in
tax
foreclosure
or
about
to
you,
can't
pay
your
taxes,
call
us
we'll
help.
You
work
something
out
with
the
city.
That's
really
important,
especially
for
seniors
to
be
able
to
work
something
out
and
to
stay
in
their
homes.
C
They're
held
out
in
the
neighborhood,
so
we
have
classes
held
in
Dorchester,
Alston
Brighton,
there's
some
in
East
Boston
there
and
some
in
central
to
there
so
they're
located
all
over
the
city
and
there
they.
You
can
register
right
on
our
website.
So
you
can
find
a
calendar
of
those
classes.
The
classes
are
really
in-depth.
I
took
one
years
before
I
bought
so
I,
so
I
thought
it
was
ready
and
I
wasn't
quite
ready.
A
C
Great
yeah,
so
mass
Housing
Partnership
has
a
product
called
the
one
product
and
it's
a
great
mortgage
folks
don't
have
to
pay
PMI,
which
is
private
mortgage
insurance
and
it's
available
to
anyone.
That's
about
a
hundred
percent
ami
or
lower
mass
housing
also
has
a
has
great
mortgage
products
too,
for
first-time
homebuyers.
We
love
those
two
products
and
those
are
sold
or
retailed
by
our
participating
lenders.
So.
C
A
C
And
we
have
a
new
program
coming
out
too,
and
I
want
to
go
back
to
the
credit
issue
as
well.
So
we
have
a
product
called
the
oneplus
Boston
product
and
it's
a
actual
program.
It's
brand-new
and
we're
going
to
roll
it
out
on
March
16th
we're
going
to
be
talking
about
it
on
March
14th,
on
Saturday
and
I
know
we're
going
to
talk
later
about
what
event
is
happening.
Then
this
is
going
to.
This
is
a
game
changer!
C
C
Of
three
right
now:
that's
about
ninety
seven
thousand
dollars.
Okay,
it's
around
there!
So
it's
available
to
current
city
of
Boston
residents,
because
we,
the
mayor,
is
absolutely
excited
and
firm
about
the
fact
that
he
wants
the
the
rate
of
home
ownership
to
increase
among
Bostonians,
and
this
is
one
way
to
do
that.
We
think
it's
a
pretty
powerful
tool,
this'll
give
folks
more
buying
power
in
the
market
and
we're
really
excited
that
we're
rolling
it
out
and
that
that
it's
available
now
so
with
our
partners
at
MHP.
So.
A
C
C
Know
at
dinner
or
whatever,
but
you
know
what
do
you
know
what
your
credit
score
people
say.
No
and
I
said
it's
the
most
one
of
the
most
important
numbers
you'll
know
in
your
life
other
than
maybe
your
blood
pressure,
your
pulse
rate.
So
it's
really
important
to
know.
It
affects
everything
that
you
buy
now
most
things
that
you
buy.
It
can
affect
interest
rate
on
that
you
get
on
your
credit
card.
It
can
affect
whether
you
can
rent
believe
it
or
not.
C
Some
some
landlords
are
pulling
credit
reports
now
and
it
definitely
affects
what
kind
of
loan
you
can
get
we're
kind
of
to
buy
your
home.
So
the
first.
The
very
first
thing
is
no
one
figure
out
what
it
is
know
what
it
is
and
then,
if
you're
not
happy
with
it
or
you
think,
oh
gee,
it's
a
little
lower
than
I
want
work
on
it
and
we
have
credit
counseling
classes
available
to
folks
urban
edge
has
a
great.
C
They
have
like
a
credit
boot
camp
that
someone
can
go
to
and
we
also
have
the
city.
He
has
the
office
of
financial
empowerment.
You
can
go
there
and
learn
about
your
credit
and
figure
out
ways
to
get
it
up.
It
does
its.
It
doesn't
take
that
long
to
make
small
improvements
right
and
once
you're
there
you're
there
and
some
of
the.
C
C
Exactly
and
and
folks
think
well,
I
I
don't
even
want
to
bother
trying,
because
it's
not
gonna
make
a
difference.
It
absolutely
makes
a
difference
and
and
we're
here
to
help
you
figure
out
ways
that
you
can
improve
your
credit
score
and
get
that
good
loan,
because
we
want
folks
in
good
loans
that
are
low
cost
and
will
help
them
keep
in
their
homes
for
30
years.
A
C
On
Tuesday
nights,
I
think
it's
the
second
or
third
Tuesday
it's
on
our
website.
They
can
drop
in
for
one-on-one
counseling
after
they
take
the
the
basic
class
and
talk
about
their
situation
and
really
get
some
information
on
whatever
is
going
on
for
them,
maybe
they're
having
a
problem
finding
a
home,
maybe
they're,
thinking
I,
don't
know
if
I
want
to
fixer-upper
you
know,
maybe
I
should
go
to
a
condo
I'm,
not
really
sure.
How
does
that
work?
We'll
answer
all
your
questions,
so
we're
we're
here
to
help
so.
A
C
Our
office
of
housing
stability
runs
housing
search
for
both
tenants
and,
if
folks
want
to
buy
too,
but
mostly
focused
on
folks
that
are
looking
for
another
place
to
live
to
rent.
So
they
do
housing
search
workshops
at
night
and
on
the
weekends
they
have
a
few
coming
up
at
the
libraries.
They
don't
have
it
listed
right
now,
but
it
should
be
on
our
website
pretty
soon
as
to
where
and
when
those
are.
They
will
also
come
out
and
do
a
housing
search
workshop.
A
C
For
renters
that
are
in
financial
trouble,
we
again
the
office
of
housing
stability
does
offer
a
crisis
hotline
and
counseling.
So
if
you
call
six
one,
seven,
six,
three
five
4,200
there
are
folks
that
are
there
that
are,
will
answer
the
phone
and
talk
to
you.
You
can
come
in
and
get
some
help
that
way
they
have
available
some
emergency
rental
assistance.
C
If
you
talk,
if
someone
was
in
trouble,
they
would
talk
to
a
counselor
at
our
at
office
of
housing,
stability
and
just
figure
out,
what's
the
best
route
to
get
a
situation
taken
care
of.
So
we
also
have
some
help
for
landlords
and
figuring
out
for
landlords
to
figure
out
how
to
manage
tenants
and
what
are
good
ways
to
maintain
their
home.
You
know
the
rental
housing,
so
so
we
have
resources
for
landlords
to.
C
A
B
The
growth
of
our
city
is
also
the
economic
strength
of
our
city,
which
allows
us
to
invest
in
in
projects
and
create
this.
This
number
today,
if
we
didn't
have
what
was
going
on
in
the
city
of
Boston
with
growth,
we
don't
have
the
celebration
of
the
eleven
hundred
units.
Whether
growth
was
happening
or
not,
the
need
is
going
to
be
there
still.
So,
when
you
think
about
how
do
you
capitalize
in
that
growth?
This
is
how
we're
capitalizing
on
this.
B
On
that
growth,
the
funding
is
going
to
go
to
affordable
housing
projects
all
across
the
city
from
high
park
east
ii
to
Charlestown
or
Brighton
right
here
in
JP,
it's
gonna
bring
home
ownership
and
rental
opportunities.
It's
gonna.
Obviously
we
know
this
gonna
help
working
families.
It's
gonna
help
young
people
aging
out
of
foster
care.
It's
gonna
help
for
most
form,
formerly
homeless,
individuals
seniors
who
want
to
stay
in
their
community
and
people
who
want
to
call
Boston
their
home.
So.
C
This
new
funding
is
wonderful.
It's
I
think
the
highest
amount
of
funding
that
we've
received
at
one
time.
It
comes
from
from
three
sources:
some
city
and
state
funding
from
the
Neighborhood
Housing
Trust
Fund
and
then
wonderfully
the
Community
Preservation
Act
funding,
which
is
new
as
of
last
year.
We're
so
excited
about
that.
So
all
combined
this
funding
will
create
about
eleven
hundred
units
of
housing,
most
of
which
will
be
affordable
to
folks
that
are
below
sixty
percent
area
median
income.
C
So
that's
really
reaching
lower
to
lower
income
to
help
lower-income
folks,
it's
a
combination
of
rental
and
homeownership
opportunities,
and
we
are
so
excited
that
the
mayor
was
able
to
put
this
together,
put
it
out
and
we
were
gonna
get
going
on
I'm
on
the
on
building
housing.
The
the
announcement
was
made
on
Friday
the
awards
for
the
for
the
funding.
C
A
C
We
are
very
excited
the
mayor
puts
on
at
least
two
big
Expos
per
year.
We
had
one
in
the
fall
that
was
very
successful
and
we're
having
one
on
March
14th
at
the
Reggie
Lewis
Center
from
9:00
to
1:00,
both
home
buyers
and
home
owners
and
tenants.
Are
we
welcome
everyone
at
that
debt?
For
the
on
that
day,
we
will
be
having
workshops
on
the
new
one
program
on
how
to
age
in
place,
so
things
that
you
can
do
if
you
want
to
stay
in
your
home
and
you
you're
getting
a
little
older.
C
Maybe
your
mobility
is
a
little
getting
decreasing
a
little
bit.
It's
also
how
to
make
your
home
more
accessible,
so
things
like
grab
bars,
putting
lights
at
a
lower
level
thing
light
switches
at
a
lower
level,
just
simple
things
that
you
can
do
to
be
able
to
age
in
place,
something
I
think
about,
and
and
so
we'll
have
a
workshop
on-
that
we're
gonna
have
a
workshop
on
how
to
green
of
8
your
home.
C
So
if
you're
thinking
of
rehabbing-
and
you
want
to
use
green
products,
what
are
some
of
those
products
that
are
out
there
and
ways
to
really
green
of
8,
your
home,
the
things
that
maybe
people
didn't
think
about,
and
then
we
also
have
how
to
put
your
home
buying
team
together,
because
you
need
a
team
to
buy
a
house,
you
need
your
realtor,
your
lender,
an
insurance
broker.
So
how
do
you
put
your
team
together?
C
So
we're
gonna
have
between
I
think
six
and
eight
workshops
a
lot
and
then
there'll
be
all
of
our
participating
lenders.
Are
there?
So
you
can
talk
to
them
about
what
their
products
are.
It's
a
great
day
so
and
well
I
think
we're
going
to
have
a
housing
search
session
there
as
well.
So
it's
a
great
day.
We
usually
have
hundreds
of
folks
there
and
there's
good
giveaways.
We
have.
We
have
shopping
bags,
lace.
A
C
We
have
shopping
bags
that
are
insulated.
There's
really
great
giveaways
that
day
great
it's
something
for
everybody.
There
is
something
for
everyone,
and
we
really
love
that
the
mayor
does
this
so
we're
we're
excited
about
it.
Is
it
helpful
to
pre-register?
It
is
absolutely
helpful
to
pre-register,
so
you
can
go
on
our
website
again
and
register
for
the
day
and
then
an
individual
regression
of
the
workshops
fill
up
actually
pretty
quickly
and
what's
the
price,
the
price
is
zero.
Zero.
C
A
C
A
And
in
case
you're
joining
us
after
March
14th,
please
visit
the
website
to
learn
more
about
what
the
Boston
Home
Center
has
to
offer,
and
today's
message:
you're
not
alone
the
American
dream,
your
Boston
dream
may
be
more
realistic
than
you
think.
Take
advantage
of
all
the
city
has
to
offer
in
information
support
and
tangible
assistance.
When
you
succeed,
the
city
also
flourishes
I,
hope.
You
found
today's
conversation
helpful
and
we'll
look
forward
to
seeing
you
next
time.
I'm
Lois
Leonard,
with
commissioner's
corner.