The Housing Choice Initiative (HCI) seeks to enhance housing production in Massachusetts by recognizing municipalities that meet specific criteria for new housing units and adopt pro-housing best practices. The initiative includes a Housing Choice Community Designation (Designation) that allows eligible municipalities to access the Housing Choice Grant Program (HCGP) and other state programs. Since its launch in 2017, 112 communities have received this designation, with 98 communities designated in 2024 alone. The HCGP has allocated over $32 million in grants, resulting in the creation of approximately 1,423 housing units and support for an additional 7,318 units.

The bill outlines the criteria for municipalities to qualify for the Designation, including a five-year lookback period for housing production and the adoption of pro-housing best practices. It streamlines the application process by extending the designation period from two to five years. Additionally, the bill introduces new legal language specifying the types of projects eligible for funding through the Housing Choice Grants, such as roadway and water/sewer infrastructure, and community planning. It also provides a summary of new housing units created across various municipalities, highlighting the significant contribution of Housing Choice Communities (HCCs) to overall housing development, with HCCs accounting for 78% of the total new units created in 2024.