Housing discrimination has tremendous economic and quality-of-life repercussions for the entire region and must be addressed to advance regional equity and prosperity.
Some zoning restrictions can have discriminatory effects and contribute to racial segregation in the region. Connections between certain zoning restrictions and the lack of housing affordability have been well documented nationally, and Metropolitan Boston presents a particularly egregious case.  Even though housing prices and the demand for homes are among the highest in the country, new construction (especially multifamily housing construction) has fallen dramatically over the past few decades.  Large lot zoning, single family mandates, and other development regulations, rather than a lack of land, are largely responsible for this weak supply response to rising prices.  Particularly concerning are zoning restrictions that limit housing needed by families with children, who are disproportionately people of color.  Project-by-project decisions made by local zoning boards regularly limit development to studio, one and two bedroom units, thus limiting housing choice for families with children.

18.a    The Regional Housing Advisory Committee should develop a Fair Housing Impact Review process

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