2026-09-18T19:12:28Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/request

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/1621152025-07-30T03:06:53Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023

Levine, Jeffrey Moss, Emily Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning 2025-07-29T17:18:42Z 2025-07-29T17:18:42Z 2025-05 2025-06-05T13:43:23.088Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/162115 https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9734-4524 The need for affordable housing in Massachusetts is immense, with fragmented housing application processes further compounding barriers for low-income residents to access stable housing. To address these challenges, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) initiated the development of a digital common application (Common App) in 2024 to streamline tenant application and selection processes for privately owned publicly subsidized housing opportunities throughout the state. This client-based thesis offers an implementation roadmap for EOHLC to successfully operationalize the Common App within the agency. The roadmap is structured around three topics as requested by EOHLC: (1) organizational design considerations as the Common App scales, including internal staffing models, external vendor relationship management, and budget planning; (2) long-term technical integration opportunities, including identifying relevant data systems likely to interact with the Common App and potential areas for alignment; and (3) compliance mechanisms to ensure housing providers’ participation in the Common App, including a review of Massachusetts fair housing regulations as one possible strategy to require or incentivize providers to use the platform. Each topic draws from a review of state policies as well as academic literature in organization studies, information systems, and public administration; stakeholder interviews; and case study research on digital affordable housing search and application platforms in Massachusetts, Detroit, San Francisco, and the Bay Area—culminating in a series of recommendations for EOHLC to effectively administer the Common App over the long term. M.B.A. M.C.P. Massachusetts Institute of Technology In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ Implementing a Digital Common Application for Affordable Housing in Massachusetts Thesis application/pdf Master Master of Business Administration Master in City Planning Publication unknown unknown <Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="88a7b7df-72c4-44bf-8190-32d408575c51"> <Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type> <Title>Implementing a Digital Common Application for Affordable Housing in Massachusetts</Title> <PublishedIn> <Publication> </Publication> </PublishedIn> <PublicationDate>2025-05</PublicationDate> <Authors> <Author> <DisplayName>Moss, Emily</DisplayName> <Affiliation> <OrgUnit> </OrgUnit> </Affiliation> </Author> </Authors> <Editors> </Editors> <Publishers> <Publisher> <DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName> <OrgUnit /> </Publisher> </Publishers> <License>https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/</License> <Abstract>The need for affordable housing in Massachusetts is immense, with fragmented housing application processes further compounding barriers for low-income residents to access stable housing. To address these challenges, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) initiated the development of a digital common application (Common App) in 2024 to streamline tenant application and selection processes for privately owned publicly subsidized housing opportunities throughout the state. This client-based thesis offers an implementation roadmap for EOHLC to successfully operationalize the Common App within the agency. The roadmap is structured around three topics as requested by EOHLC: (1) organizational design considerations as the Common App scales, including internal staffing models, external vendor relationship management, and budget planning; (2) long-term technical integration opportunities, including identifying relevant data systems likely to interact with the Common App and potential areas for alignment; and (3) compliance mechanisms to ensure housing providers’ participation in the Common App, including a review of Massachusetts fair housing regulations as one possible strategy to require or incentivize providers to use the platform. Each topic draws from a review of state policies as well as academic literature in organization studies, information systems, and public administration; stakeholder interviews; and case study research on digital affordable housing search and application platforms in Massachusetts, Detroit, San Francisco, and the Bay Area—culminating in a series of recommendations for EOHLC to effectively administer the Common App over the long term.</Abstract> <Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right" > </Access> </Publication>