The fines are one of the state's main tools to push local housing agencies to fill empty units, but they were largely meaningless for years because the state failed to enforce them. 

Mass. fined local housing authorities $4 million for leaving units empty. But most were forgiven, or forgotten

Todd Wallack

Correspondent, Investigations

The Archdale Villlage housing complex in Roslindale. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

An empty two-bedroom family unit in Waltham that is being prepared for new tenants. (Todd Wallack/WBUR)

Investigations

Local content from WBUR's Morning Edition broadcasts

WBUR's Morning Edition

WBUR has partnered with El Planeta to translate certain stories into Spanish. Below is our complete list of WBUR stories that El Planeta Media has translated. To read these Spanish translations, click the link atop each story to El Planeta Media. WBUR ha establecido una alianza con El Planeta para traducir historias clave al español. Aquí podrá encontrar la lista completa de historias de WBUR que El Planeta ha traducido. Para leer estas traducciones al español, haga click en el link al principio de cada historia y será llevado a El Planeta.

Spanish Translations

Public Housing Vacancies

Stories of an investigative nature from WBUR's national and local newsrooms as well as podcast team.

Boston

Deb Libby applied for a place to live in the state's public housing system, which has many empty apartments, according to a WBUR and ProPublica investigation. The state has since pledged to fill the vacancies, but Libby is still waiting for a permanent ho

Without a home, a cancer patient on the waitlist for public housing puts off surgery

Patrick Madden

Senior Investigative Reporter

Deb Libby loads her belongings into her pick-up truck as she is evicted from her apartment in Worcester. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

1023_deb-lilly-eviction03

Local content from WBUR's All Things Considered broadcasts

WBUR's All Things Considered

Economy

News

Gov. Healey pitches $4.1 billion plan to deal with affordable housing crisis

A four-unit building in Fall River that is part of the state-run public housing stock. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Politics

Mass. launches '90-day push' to fill vacancies in state public housing

Maple Gardens, a state public housing development on Miller Street in Fall River. There were 48 units vacant at the end of July in the Maple Gardens development, a 25% vacancy rate. The vast majority of the apartments had been empty longer than 60 days. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

0717_fallriver-03

7 takeaways from WBUR and ProPublica’s investigation of vacancies in state public housing

There were 48 units vacant at the end of July in Fall River's Maple Gardens development, a 25% vacancy rate. The vast majority of the apartments had been empty longer than 60 days. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

The state public housing development Maple Gardens in Fall River, Massachusetts. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Christine Willmsen

Managing Editor, Investigations

Mass. has a huge waitlist for state-funded housing. So why are 2,300 units vacant?

An empty apartment at Brady Village in Agawam. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Public Housing Vacancies

Mass. fined local housing authorities $4 million for leaving units empty. But most were forgiven, or forgotten

Investigations

Without a home, a cancer patient on the waitlist for public housing puts off surgery

Investigations

Gov. Healey pitches $4.1 billion plan to deal with affordable housing crisis

Local Coverage

Mass. launches '90-day push' to fill vacancies in state public housing

Investigations

7 takeaways from WBUR and ProPublica’s investigation of vacancies in state public housing

Local Coverage

Mass. has a huge waitlist for state-funded housing. So why are 2,300 units vacant?

Investigations