The Housing and Environment Revenue Opportunities (HERO) Coalition is a diverse coalition of environmental and housing advocacy organizations that have joined forces to advocate for major new state investments to protect our families, neighbors and communities from the affordable housing crisis and climate change.

TAKE ACTION

HERO urges the Massachusetts State Legislature to enact legislation filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and Rep Montano (S.1799 & H.2894) that would double the current Deeds Excise Tax (from $4.56 per $1,000 to $9.12 per $1,000), upon the sale of real property in Massachusetts, to generate approximately $300 million in new revenue each year.

The HERO Act would split funding between affordable housing and climate: 

• Allocate 50% of increased fee to Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Housing Preservation Stabilization Fund. 

• Allocate 50% of increased fee to Global Warming Solutions Trust Fund to carry out climate mitigation and adaptation action steps in line with the MA Clean Energy Climate Plan, prioritizing investments in environmental justice communities. 

The HERO Act would: 

• Generate at least $300 million in new revenue annually for housing and climate investments. 

• Support 3,500-6,500 new housing vouchers, construct or preserve 18,000 housing units over 10 years, & provide flexibility to cover emergency assistance needs. 

• Support large scale climate mitigation & adaptation projects, such as decarbonization of low- and moderate- income housing and protection of low- income and coastal communities. 

We urge Legislators to co-sponsor this important legislation by contacting the sponsors.