Under the affordable housing law, which percentage of affordability is significant for towns?

The significance of the percentage of affordability in the context of Massachusetts affordable housing law primarily revolves around the benchmark for determining whether a community meets its housing obligations. When a town has less than 10% of its housing stock deemed affordable, it is considered to be significantly below the goal for affordable housing. This threshold is a critical point in assessing community support for affordable housing initiatives and determining eligibility for certain benefits and waivers under the law.

Towns that fall below this 10% mark may face challenges in meeting the needs of lower-income families or individuals, and it allows developers to bypass certain zoning restrictions that would otherwise apply to developments that include affordable housing. Therefore, this specific percentage is crucial for towns as it indicates their standing in relation to affordable housing requirements and responsibilities.

Higher percentages like 15% or 20% are typically set as goals or targets but do not carry the same regulatory implications as the less than 10% threshold, which serves as a definitive marker for identifying communities in need of more affordable housing options.