Sen. Gomez Participates in Roundtable Discussion on Housing Crisis, Public Health

BOSTON — State Sen. Adam Gomez joined Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus and a variety of leaders from local healthcare organizations in Springfield on July 16 for a roundtable discussion convened by Revitalize CDC. In attendance were representatives from the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Community Care Cooperative, Trinity Health Of New England, Holyoke Medical Center, and Baystate Health.

“I am proud to serve in the Massachusetts Senate alongside an administration that recognizes housing, or lack thereof, as a pivotal social determinant for public health,” Gomez said. “Residents in gateway cities along the Hampden County corridor and across the state are facing housing shortages. I look forward to continuing working with my colleagues in the Legislature to offer our Commonwealth viable solutions to combat the housing crisis that integrate a focus on sustainability.”

Founded in 1992, Revitalize CDC performs critical repairs on homes of low-income families with children, the elderly, military veterans, and people with special needs. Recently, its #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild revitalized 191 homes within the Old Hill community of Springfield with the support of 7,800 volunteers and 122 sponsors.

Gomez has been a staunch supporter of the organization since his election to the Legislature in 2021, sponsoring a number of bills this session that target its mission. Among them is one to establish a Zero Carbon Renovation Fund aimed at jumpstarting the market for zero-carbon renovations, including maximizing energy efficiency through building-envelope upgrades, electrification of building systems, maximizing usage of on-site renewable energy wherever possible, and use of building-retrofit materials that are low-embodied carbon. The fund would prioritize affordable housing, public housing, low- and moderate-income homes, schools, BIPOC- and women-owned businesses, and buildings located in environmental-justice communities.