Affordable Housing Trust issues RFP

The town of Canton’s Affordable Housing Trust announces that it is seeking proposals from qualified developers and project proponents to create new affordable housing units in Canton, consistent with the scale, character and diversity of Canton’s vibrant neighborhoods.

Affordable units can be included in market-rate projects beyond the number of affordable units already required by an agreement, special permit or variance previously issued by the town or state, or they could be stand-alone projects.

The Canton Affordable Housing Production Fund was created by the Housing Trust to provide financial incentives to experienced developers and property owners to create and preserve affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in Canton. The fund currently has a balance of $450,000, which includes funding from the Housing Trust and a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant.

“Affordable” is a legal term of art which typically refers to homes that are sold or rented to qualifying households below the market-rate sales or rents of essentially the same units in the same development. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sets the standards for what are qualifying households based on area median income, which is the income threshold for an area’s housing market. These qualifying households that submit required applications and supporting documentation are entered into a lottery. Current Canton residents or employees may receive priority as part of the lottery process for newly constructed “affordable units.”

The town’s Housing Production Plan, which was recently approved by the Mass. Office of Housing and Livable Communities, documents the fact that many Canton residents are unable to keep up with the rising cost of housing. This is especially true for households of different socio-economic levels and those individuals at different points in their lives.

According to Lisa Lopez, chair of the Housing Trust, “The Housing Production Fund was created to provide new housing opportunities, especially for older adults looking to downsize, people with disabilities, veterans, municipal and school employees, employees of Canton’s business community, and young adults looking to either move to or remain in the town of Canton. Even adding just a few more affordable units every year through this fund will add up over time.”

Only projects with dwelling units that are deed restricted in perpetuity and are eligible for inclusion in the town’s Subsidized Housing Inventory will be considered for funding, which will be provided in the form of a loan and forgiven once the affordable deed restriction has been recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds.

Applications for the Housing Production Fund will be received and reviewed by the Housing Trust on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted. Projects sought through the request for proposals (RFP) process will be selected by the trust based on predetermined evaluation criteria, such as experience, financial capacity, level of affordability, site control, and building design.

Copies of the Housing Production RFP may be obtained at the Office of the Finance Director, online at town.canton.ma.us/Bids.aspx, or via email at rscollins@town.canton.ma.us.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Sep 25 2025. Filed under Featured Content. Both comments and pings are currently closed.