Front view of the Minglun social housing development in Taipei. Credit: Solomon203 via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writers.
Cambridge residents have what look like a plethora of affordable housing options. There are vouchers, whether state, federal or the new municipal offerings. Inclusionary Zoning requires affordable units. We offer income-restricted housing provided by the Cambridge Housing Authority and the city’s non-profit developers. But we still have over 20,000 families on the waitlist to receive affordable housing. We need more options and new models. We think this is where social housing comes in.
Social housing is a publicly owned model of developing housing that is, distinctly, controlled and governed by the residents, somewhat analogous to a board for a co-op association. It’s also mixed income, with a portion of the units permanently reserved for low-income residents. Because the housing is publicly owned, the income from higher-rent units does not yield investor profits, but instead is used to do things like expand the number of affordable units in the building, create more social housing developments, and maintain high quality green spaces and community rooms in the building.
This model is powerful, as we see in many places where social housing has long been a core part of the housing ecosystem. Housing advocates often cite Vienna where a plurality of units (about 40%) are in social housing developments. This has huge implications for the private rental market, which in Vienna historically was seen as a lower quality housing option, but more recently have been renovated to be on par with government-owned social housing. Rents in Vienna, too, are significantly lower than in other European cities, in part due to the percentage of social housing units, and in part due to strong tenant protections in place in Vienna and Austria.
Closer to home, housing experts have applauded Montgomery County, Maryland’s $100 million revolving social housing fund, which requires residential developments to reserve at least 30% of units as affordable for low-income tenants. This fund makes it simpler and more cost effective for non-profit developers and the County to build housing. Instead of being forced to piece together funding from bank loans, grants, private donations, corporate sponsorships and other sources, housing developers can leverage the revolving fund to finish stalled housing developments or start fresh ones.
Social housing is now on the table for Cambridge because in 2023, State Rep. Mike Connolly introduced legislation to establish a social housing program in Massachusetts. He worked with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and House leadership to include funding authorization for a social housing pilot program as part of the $275 million green and sustainable housing line item in 2024’s $5 billion Affordable Homes Act.
Cambridge is well-positioned to seize this opportunity. The City owns land that could be developed into social housing, and the moment to act is now. Building on the Council’s passage of a September 2025 Policy Order on social housing, the December2025 Housing Committee meeting, and the April 2026 Finance Committee meeting (where five councillors voted to make social housing a budget priority for long term scoping and planning) the Mayor and City Manager have established a Social Housing Task Force composed of elected officials (including the authors of this column), city staff, and community housing advocates and experts. This group starts work next month to evaluate whether social housing is feasible in Cambridge and make recommendations.
Communities around the country are struggling with an affordability crisis. Cambridge has a chance to help lead the way by establishing a social housing approach to bring to the United States what has been proven over decades in other countries. We have the opportunity to create vibrant housing for residents that is publicly owned, permanently affordable and directed by the people who live there. We’re looking forward to starting the work.
The writers are Cambridge city councillors; Siddiqui is also the city’s mayor.
Like this:
LikeLoading…
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Why Cambridge needs social housing
Share this:
Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writers.
Cambridge residents have what look like a plethora of affordable housing options. There are vouchers, whether state, federal or the new municipal offerings. Inclusionary Zoning requires affordable units. We offer income-restricted housing provided by the Cambridge Housing Authority and the city’s non-profit developers. But we still have over 20,000 families on the waitlist to receive affordable housing. We need more options and new models. We think this is where social housing comes in.
Social housing is a publicly owned model of developing housing that is, distinctly, controlled and governed by the residents, somewhat analogous to a board for a co-op association. It’s also mixed income, with a portion of the units permanently reserved for low-income residents. Because the housing is publicly owned, the income from higher-rent units does not yield investor profits, but instead is used to do things like expand the number of affordable units in the building, create more social housing developments, and maintain high quality green spaces and community rooms in the building.
This model is powerful, as we see in many places where social housing has long been a core part of the housing ecosystem. Housing advocates often cite Vienna where a plurality of units (about 40%) are in social housing developments. This has huge implications for the private rental market, which in Vienna historically was seen as a lower quality housing option, but more recently have been renovated to be on par with government-owned social housing. Rents in Vienna, too, are significantly lower than in other European cities, in part due to the percentage of social housing units, and in part due to strong tenant protections in place in Vienna and Austria.
Closer to home, housing experts have applauded Montgomery County, Maryland’s $100 million revolving social housing fund, which requires residential developments to reserve at least 30% of units as affordable for low-income tenants. This fund makes it simpler and more cost effective for non-profit developers and the County to build housing. Instead of being forced to piece together funding from bank loans, grants, private donations, corporate sponsorships and other sources, housing developers can leverage the revolving fund to finish stalled housing developments or start fresh ones.
Social housing is now on the table for Cambridge because in 2023, State Rep. Mike Connolly introduced legislation to establish a social housing program in Massachusetts. He worked with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and House leadership to include funding authorization for a social housing pilot program as part of the $275 million green and sustainable housing line item in 2024’s $5 billion Affordable Homes Act.
Cambridge is well-positioned to seize this opportunity. The City owns land that could be developed into social housing, and the moment to act is now. Building on the Council’s passage of a September 2025 Policy Order on social housing, the December2025 Housing Committee meeting, and the April 2026 Finance Committee meeting (where five councillors voted to make social housing a budget priority for long term scoping and planning) the Mayor and City Manager have established a Social Housing Task Force composed of elected officials (including the authors of this column), city staff, and community housing advocates and experts. This group starts work next month to evaluate whether social housing is feasible in Cambridge and make recommendations.
Communities around the country are struggling with an affordability crisis. Cambridge has a chance to help lead the way by establishing a social housing approach to bring to the United States what has been proven over decades in other countries. We have the opportunity to create vibrant housing for residents that is publicly owned, permanently affordable and directed by the people who live there. We’re looking forward to starting the work.
The writers are Cambridge city councillors; Siddiqui is also the city’s mayor.
Like this:
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.