Friday, January 30, 2026

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce housing law — and why it’s personal for me

Andrea Campbell is attorney general of Massachusetts.

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce housing law — and why it’s personal for me
Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce
housing law — and why it’s personal for me
"Massachusetts has a housing crisis. People across the state are struggling to pay rent and find an affordable place to live. Seniors are struggling to keep their homes, and good luck to anyone attempting to buy one. Young people want to stay in the communities where they grew up, but they can’t make the math work. Rents and home prices are rising faster than wages. Employers can’t fill jobs because workers can’t afford to live anywhere near them.

Every elected official has a responsibility to use the tools at their disposal to address the crisis head on. That’s why I filed a lawsuit Thursday to enforce the MBTA Communities law, which requires communities served by public transit to allow multifamily housing to be built as of right. It’s not the only solution, but it helps to get more housing built in the Commonwealth.

I understand what having a home means and the stability it creates for families. Stable housing is not a luxury — it’s an essential need."