BOSTON–With Massachusetts facing an estimated shortage of 222,000 homes by 2035, the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) has launched a new initiative aimed at empowering local officials to take action.
The nonprofit opened applications this week for the Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy, a six-month fellowship program designed to equip municipal leaders with the knowledge, skills, and network to help solve the Commonwealth’s growing housing crisis.
The free fellowship, which will run from January through June 2026, invites mayors, city and town councilors, planning and select board members, finance committee members, and other local officials involved in housing decisions to apply. Participants will engage in monthly workshops with housing experts, peer-to-peer cohort meetings, and training on best practices for increasing housing supply at the local level.
“When we work towards creating more housing in every city and town, teachers, nurses, and firefighters can afford to live near their workplace. People can downsize in the communities they love. College graduates can come home,” said Rachel Heller, Chief Executive Officer of CHAPA. “The Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy will prepare local leaders to meet the housing needs of all members of their communities so everyone can thrive.”
Building Local Capacity for Statewide Impact
CHAPA emphasizes that municipal-level decision-making is one of the most important factors in addressing Massachusetts’ housing shortage. Local zoning, permitting, and planning boards often determine what kinds of homes can be built — and where. The new academy seeks to strengthen pro-housing leadership at the community level, ensuring that local officials have the data, tools, and strategies needed to guide sustainable growth.
The Academy builds on CHAPA’s Municipal Engagement Initiative, which since 2018 has helped organize pro-housing coalitions in 45 communities across the state, from Newton’s Engine 6 group to the Greater Newburyport Housing Choice Coalition. The organization has also played a major role in helping municipalities comply with the MBTA Communities Act, providing free technical assistance and engagement support. According to CHAPA, 97% of the 85 communities it worked with have achieved compliance.
“Proactive, inclusive, and informed community engagement can move the needle on creating more housing opportunities,” said Lily Linke, CHAPA’s Director of Municipal Engagement. “From the Cape to the Berkshires, there are countless elected and appointed officials who want to solve their communities’ housing challenges — this Academy will give them the tools they need to succeed.”
A Practical Curriculum for Pro-Housing Leadership
Participants in the Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy will study the history and causes of the state’s housing shortage, explore municipal-level solutions, and learn how to turn those solutions into action. The program is structured to support collaboration across communities, giving local leaders a chance to share strategies, challenges, and success stories.
CHAPA officials say the Academy will help strengthen a network of housing champions capable of advancing more equitable and effective housing policies across the Commonwealth — one community at a time.
Applications for the first cohort are open now through December 15, 2025. Interested officials or nominators can learn more and apply at bit.ly/MAHousingLeadershipAcademy
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