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About the Affordable Housing Trust Fund
The Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund (SAHTF) was created in 1989 by a City ordinance to preserve and create affordable rental and homeownership units in Somerville, and to carry out programs to directly assist homeowners and renters. All of its activities must benefit low-to-moderate-income households (with incomes at or below 110% of area median income). In 2023, the Trust completed a Strategic Visioning process to produce a new Strategic Plan and updated guidelines, which are available to view by clicking the link below:
Linkage Fees and Revenue All linkage fees from commercial development in Somerville go to the Trust, as do fractional payments made pursuant to the City's Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. The Trust also receives revenues from the repayment of Trust-funded loans to affordable housing developers, first-time homebuyers, or other loans.
Contact Information
Monday - Wednesday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
50 Evergreen Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
United States
Employee Directory
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Funding & Opportunities
SAHT Seeks New Non-Profit Member
The Somerville Affordable Housing Trust currently has a vacancy for a non-profit representative. Please see the notice below for more information on the open seat and instructions on how to apply.
Homeownership Stabilization Program
The City of Somerville, through an allocation from the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, is beginning a Homeownership Stabilization Program Pilot. The Program will provide financial assistance to income eligible first-time homebuyers who have experienced an unanticipated increase in monthly housing payments. Information on the Program and an application are available for download below:
- Homeownership Stabilization Program Policies & Procedures
- Homeownership Stabilization Program Application
FY26 Housing Assistance RFP
The Trust has allocated $400,000 of CPA funds for housing assistance programs, including rental assistance programs. Applications are due by 12 pm on December 31, 2025. For questions, applicants may contact staff liaison Sheniqua Roper (sroper@somervillema.gov).
- FY26 CPA Housing Program RFP Rental Assistance Application
- FY26 CPA Housing Program RFP Common Application
Early Action Funding Guidelines
The Early Action Acquisition Fund (the Fund) is a newly established funding source for the Trust. The Fund will provide loans for the acquisition of properties and sites for the purpose of developing affordable housing. For additional information, please contact staff liaison Sheniqua Roper (sroper@somervillema.gov).
Past Funding Decisions
The SAHTF issues CPA funding RFPs annually. All past funding decisions are documented in the SAHTF's CPA Progress Reports which can be found on the forms and information tab.
For more information about the Community Preservation Act, visit www.somervillema.gov/CPA.
- Andrea Shapiro, Managing Trustee
- Cassie Walston, Assistant Managing Trustee
- Diane Cohen
- Mary Cassesso
- Wilfred N. Mbah, Councilor
- Lisa Davidson
- Alba Solis
- Nick Pittman
- Vacant
Andrea Shapiro
A Trustee since 2004, Andrea serves as the Managing Trustee and as a housing and real estate specialist.
As founder and principal of Andrea Shapiro Consulting, Andrea consults with nonprofit and government clients on management and operational issues as well as affordable housing and community development strategies. Prior to founding Andrea Shapiro Consulting, Andrea served in senior level housing positions in both city and state government, following seven years at Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association. Andrea has an MBA from Boston University with a finance and real estate focus and an AB cum laude from Smith College. Andrea is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Second Chances, a nonprofit organization that provides free clothing to homeless and very low-income people in Cambridge and Somerville. She has lived in Somerville since 1994 and the Boston area her entire life.
Cassie Walston
A Trustee since 2023, Cassie serves as a representative who is a tenant in Somerville and whose household qualifies for federal or state housing programs.
Diane Cohen
A Trustee since 2024, Diane serves in the seat reserved for the Executive Director of the Somerville Housing Authority.
Mary Cassesso
A Trustee since 1989, Mary serves as a Somerville resident representative.
Mary Cassesso is the Chief Community Officer and President of the CHA (Cambridge Health Alliance) Foundation, which works to address the critical social determinants of health, including housing. She previously served as an Assistant Secretary of Administration and Finance in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Other roles in which Mary has served include working in senior roles in the Commonwealth’s Housing division and for the Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership and as Dean of Administration and Finance at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She has an M.A. in Public Administration and a B.A. from Northeastern University, and is a lifelong Somerville resident.
Wilfred N. Mbah
A Trustee since 2024, Councilor Mbah serves as the designee of the President of the City Council.
Lisa Davidson
A Trustee since 2025, Lisa serves as the Mayor's designee.
Lisa Davidson is the Housing Director of the City of Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. Lisa's career has centered on expanding housing access and stability. Lisa has worked with the Somerville Homeless Coalition, where she has worked to find housing solutions for the unhoused population. As Director of the Housing Division, Lisa collaborates with city departments, local non-profit partners, and state and federal agencies to develop and implement housing solutions that promote affordability.
Alba Solis
Alba Solis is a Real Estate Project Manager at Somerville Community Corporation, where she oversees the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. A Honduran immigrant, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, with a strong commitment to creating equitable housing opportunities.
Nick Pittman
Nick Pittman works as the Senior Program Officer for Affordable Housing Lending at LISC Massachusetts, the local office of a national community development financial institution. Previously he worked as a real estate project manager for Fenway Community Development Corporation in Boston. A native of Cambridge, Nick has lived in Somerville with his family since 2018. He holds a BA from Reed College, an MA in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University, and a certificate of commercial real estate from Boston University.
Meetings, Agendas, and Minutes
The Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund generally meets the second Thursday of each month at 5:15 PM. Meetings are conducted via Zoom Webinar. Information on joining the meeting, including how to register for the Webinar, is included on each meeting agenda. Please check the City Calendar for changes in regular meeting time or location.
Project Mitigation Payments (Housing Linkage)
Somerville established and codified a housing linkage policy in 1990, amended it in 2013, 2017, 2019 and 2023. Linkage payments are made to the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the purpose of the creation of affordable rental and homeownership units in the City. As of May 10, 2023 linkage payments are generally applicable to all non-residential development in excess of 15,000 sq. ft. Projects with square footage between 15,000 sq. ft. and 30,000 sq. ft. pay half the rate listed below, any square footage in excess of 30,000 sq. ft. pays the full amount.
Date Range | Rate Per Square Foot |
| 1990-11/25/2013 | $3.91 |
| 11/26/2013-12/11/2017 | $5.15 |
| 12/12/2017-2/28/2019 | $10.00 |
| 3/1/2019-2/28/2020 | $10.31 |
| 3/1/2020-2/28/2021 | $10.53 |
| 3/1/2021-2/28/2022 | $10.57 |
| 3/1/2022-2/28/2023 | $11.23 |
| 3/1/2023-5/9/2023 | $11.95 |
| 5/10/2023-2/29/2024 | $22.46 |
| 3/1/2024- 2/28/2025 | $22.91 |
| 3/1/2025-2/28/26 | $23.79 |
If you have questions about this policy, please contact:
Sheniqua Roper
Housing Programs Coordinator
617-625-6600 ext. 2587
sroper@somervillema.gov
Click here to learn about the Jobs Linkage fee.
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