(This blog post is the first of a series that profile each of the four honorees at the 2018 Champions of Housing event on November 1.)
As the non-profit umbrella organization for affordable housing and community development activities, Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) actively engages its membership, committees, and coalitions to advocate for the amount and diverse types of housing that Massachusetts needs for people and communities to thrive.
Eric Shupin joined the Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) in 2013 and has served as its Director of Public Policy since 2016. At CHAPA, he is responsible for directing CHAPA’s state policy advocacy agenda. Prior to joining CHAPA, he worked for multiple housing and community nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC including Save the Children, Bread for the City, and AmeriCorps. Eric, a graduate of George Washington University Law School, is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Eric was instrumental in CHAPA’s efforts that resulted in the recent passing of the $1.8 Housing Bond Bill. Signed into law on May 31 by Governor Charlie Baker, the legislation – the largest housing bond bill in the state’s history- will increase the production of affordable housing, diversify the state’s housing portfolio, modernize public housing, preserve the affordability of existing housing, and invest in new, innovative solutions to address Massachusetts’ rising demand for housing.
CHAPA runs programs that connect people with affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, including the Massachusetts Accessible Housing Registry (MassAccess); the Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative; and Chapter 40B Monitoring.
CHAPA also works collaboratively with other fields (such as child care, health, workforce development, and more) to break down silos and ensure that various systems, resources, and tools support housing stability and economic mobility for families and individuals. On the federal level, CHAPA works with national partners to affect policy.
Metro Housing is very pleased to honor Eric Shupin with the 2018 Champions of Housing Rising Star Award. He will receive the award at the Champions of Housing Celebration on November 1, 2018 at John Hancock Financial in the Seaport District. For tickets and sponsorship information, go to http://bit.ly/COH111.