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Research Bulletin Highlights University's Commitment to Intellectual Inquiry |
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Chancellor Presents Report on Local Housing Crisis |
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Mergers and Takeovers Topic of Recent Forum for 21st Century |
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As Chair of the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC), Chancellor Sherry Penney cited the work of Public Policy Professor Michael Stone and delivered the coalition's preliminary housing recommendations report on December 9th to a crowd of over 300 people at the Boston Citizens Seminar "A Housing Crisis: Competing in the 21st Century." Commentators included Bernard Cardinal Law; Jane Wallis Gumbel, director of the Commonwealth's Department of Housing and Community Development; Charlotte Golar Richie, Boston housing secretary; Mary Lou K. Crane, secretary's representative for New England, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Stephen Coyle, CEO of the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. Moderating the discussion was Deborah C. Jackson, vice president for programs, the Boston Foundation, and welcome and closing remarks were given by J. Donald Monan, S.J., chair of the Boston Citizen Seminars and chancellor, Boston College.
Established in November of 1998, the MAC is the successor of the Challenge to Leadership, which was created by Cardinal Law to address issues of regional importance and chaired in its final four years by Chancellor Penney. During the spring of 1999, the MAC was asked by Cardinal Law to focus on the housing issue. Members of the MAC, including builders, real estate professionals, individuals from universities, trade, housing, and business groups, organized labor, faith-based organizations, and representatives from all levels of government then met regularly and developed their preliminary recommendations.
Explaining his interest in the issue, Cardinal Law stated, "I do not pretend to be a housing expert. I am a pastor. And my pastor's heart tells me people are suffering unjustly due to the economy."
There is reason for concern. Drawing from the work of many housing experts, Chancellor Penney put the Coalition's recommendations into sharp relief by documenting the serious impact of Massachusetts' current lack of affordable housing. Citing recent reports by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, University of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Institute for a New Commonwealth, Chancellor Penney noted a serious gap between median home values and median household incomes in Massachusetts; and to the alarming exodus from the Commonwealth of workers with advanced degrees.
The Chancellor referred to the work of UMass Boston Professor Alan Clayton Matthews of the Ph.D. Program in Public Policy who has noted that labor shortages are slowing the state's economic growth. The Coalition's preliminary recommendations call for increased resources, the urgent development of a strategic housing plan, and a sustained commitment to both an increase in housing stock and the maintenance of affordable housing prices in Massachusetts.
"The MAC has gathered and sustained a coalition effort and reached consensus with regard to its preliminary recommendations," Chancellor Penney declared. "Today's meeting is a call to action. Metropolitan-area stakeholders from all groups must take part."
In her address, Chancellor Penney also highlighted the work of Public Policy Professor Michael Stone, who has called for a re-definition of housing affordability. Professor Stone's 1998 study A Profile of Housing in Massachusetts reports that nearly 600,000 Massachusetts households&emdash;about a quarter of the state's population-are paying more than they can afford for housing. Professor Stone's research suggests that 35% of all renters in the state are paying more than they can afford for housing and nearly 17% of homeowners households are what he terms "shelter poor."
Following the conference, Professor Stone thanked Chancellor Penney and Cardinal Law. He added, "I want to supplement what the Chancellor said by pointing out two particular facets of the crisis. First of all, shelter poverty is disproportionately being borne by people of color." Professor Stone added, "Furthermore, households headed by women have much higher rates of shelter poverty than do other households. Appropriate housing policies," he asserted, "need to recognize and respond to these disparities in affirmative ways."
Emphasizing the importance of UMass Boston's involvement in this event, John Ciccarelli, assistant to the chancellor for economic development commented, "As an urban public university it is important that we contribute to the well-being of our region. Our outreach efforts allow us to do this as well as to enhance the educational experiences of students, increase research, and&emdash;as the Chancellor did with Michael Stone's research&emdash;call attention to the work of our faculty."