Boston Affordable Housing Developments too Recieve $20.5 Million for Green Energy Upgrades
A notable investment in climate resilience is coming to Boston, with seven affordable housing developments set to receive funding for deep energy retrofits and electrification projects. The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the 2025 recipients of the Climate Ready Housing (CRH) grant program today, allocating a key share of the $20.5 million awarded statewide this year.
The program, administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and MassHousing, aims to reduce energy use, improve resilience, and contribute to the Commonwealth’s net-zero emissions goals across affordable housing properties.
“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our state partners for recognizing Boston’s commitment to climate-ready housing,” stated a senior official from the city’s housing department. “By embedding energy efficiency and decarbonization into affordable housing growth, we’re protecting residents from rising costs, enhancing quality of life, and building a more lasting future for all.”
The CRH program focuses on a range of improvements, from insulation and electrification to advanced heating and cooling systems, ultimately delivering cleaner air, reliable systems, and more predictable costs for residents.
the impact of this investment extends beyond individual units. One analyst noted that the program supports more than 1,000 units of housing serving low-income individuals and families across the state. “This $20 million investment supports those outcomes,” said a representative from MHP. “We celebrate thes innovative projects and the commitment of thier collective teams to realizing climate-ready housing.”
Project Highlights Across Boston
Several projects exemplify the transformative potential of the CRH program:
- Seaver Street Apartments (Roxbury): Commonwealth Land Trust will receive funding for a deep energy retrofit of a 16-unit property, projecting a 58% reduction in energy use through full insulation upgrades, electrification, and resilience measures.
- Our Lady’s Guild House (Fenway): The Planning Office for Urban Affairs and Fenway Community Development Corporation will redevelop a historic lodging house into 86 affordable rental units, preserving neighborhood history while adding community space and supportive services.
- McDevitt Senior Homes (south Boston): The South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation will transform a former convent into 35 affordable apartments for seniors, delivering a highly efficient, all-electric building while preserving historic features.
- Brian J. Honan Apartments (Allston-Brighton): Allston-Brighton CDC will undertake a deep energy retrofit of a 50-unit complex, anticipating a 62% energy reduction and 51% cut in carbon emissions, alongside full electrification and on-site solar power generation.
- Franklin Field apartments (Dorchester): The Boston Housing Authority will fully electrify seven buildings serving 129 households, replacing a centralized gas plant with a networked geothermal heating system in partnership with National Grid. This project is anticipated to reduce Energy Use intensity by 68% and greenhouse gas emissions by 79%.
- Theroch Apartments (Dorchester): Urban Edge will rehabilitate 15 buildings serving low-income residents, incorporating decarbonization measures into the project based on a comprehensive energy assessment.
- Forbes Building (Jamaica Plain): The Jamaica Plain Company will revitalize a 147-unit senior housing complex to meet rigorous passive House standards, minimizing energy use through advanced insulation and an all-electric heating and cooling system, and enhancing resilience with a community food forest and gardens.
“Achieving long-term energy affordability means retrofitting the affordable homes that we have today,” explained the CEO of MassHousing. “These awards are an important component of our larger work to preserve and modernize the state’s affordable housing stock.”
LISC Massachusetts echoed this sentiment, stating that the investment is “critical to achieving our state’s housing and energy goals.” The collaborative efforts of MHP, MassHousing, and LISC are ensuring that boston’s affordable housing portfolio remains both equitable and sustainable for generations to come.
