The state of Massachusetts has announced more than $60 million in new funding for affordable housing.
Springfield housing advocate Rose Webster-Smith said the funding will not solve the immediate challenges some people face.
The money will help preserve or create roughly 700 rental units across the state. Two of the projects are in Springfield's Mason Square neighborhood.
Last Friday, the state stopped accepting applications for its emergency rental assistance program, which started during the pandemic and was funded with federal money.
Webster-Smith heads Springfield No One Leaves, a community organization that helps tenants and homeowners facing eviction.
"We have a ton of homeowners post-foreclosure that are being evicted," she said. "We have tenants being displaced."
The Baker istration says tenants can still apply for assistance under another state program but Webster-Smith said it's more restrictive.
The state provides financial help to homeowners through a separate program, but Webster-Smith said it's also overly restrictive and underutilized.
