DORCHESTER, MA — On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Mayor Michelle Wu joined first-time homeowners, BIPOC-led development teams, community members, and local leaders in Dorchester to celebrate new homeownership and launch phase three of the Welcome Home, Boston initiative. The celebration took place at the home of Genesis, a new homeowner on Elmont Street, with the home built on City-owned land by Norfolk Design & Construction, a firm led by people of color and supported by the Boston Home Center and other City programs.
“Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to build generational wealth and keep neighborhoods strong,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m proud to celebrate these new homeowners alongside the local developers who have partnered with the City and the Boston Home Center to help more families afford to make Boston home.”
Launched in January 2023 during Mayor Wu’s State of the City address, the Welcome Home, Boston initiative aims to close Boston’s racial wealth gap by increasing homeownership opportunities and supporting BIPOC developers. Phases one and two have already resulted in the redevelopment of 28 City-owned parcels into 144 new homes, many of which are either under construction or preparing to break ground later in 2025.
“Welcome Home, Boston exemplifies the modern approach we need for the future of housing in our city,” said City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune. “Combining community-driven development with intentional investment in our Black and Brown neighborhoods.”
The new third phase of the program, Welcome Home, Boston III, will make 12 additional City-owned parcels available for redevelopment, with the goal of creating over 30 new homes for first-time, middle-income homebuyers in neighborhoods including Hyde Park, Roslindale, Dorchester, and Roxbury. The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board is scheduled to vote on releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) this Thursday.
“Today is about more than just new keys and new doors — it’s about new beginnings,” said Tito Jackson, Chair of the Black Men and Boys Commission. “The Black Men and Boys Commission is proud to support efforts like Welcome Home, Boston that provide opportunities for emerging developers of color to build on City-owned land while also ensuring that Black families have equitable access to affordable homeownership opportunities. This is how we close the racial wealth gap — one home, one family, one neighborhood at a time.”
Developers submitting proposals for WHB III are encouraged to implement innovative construction strategies that reduce costs and timelines, minimize disruption to surrounding communities, and align with Boston’s sustainability and carbon neutrality goals. Proposals that embrace inclusive and resilient approaches to affordable housing delivery will be given preference.
“The short-term benefits of more housing from Welcome Home, Boston are desperately needed, but it’s the intentionality of this program that is going to deliver for generations of Bostonians,” said City Councilor Brian Worrell. “We’re giving BIPOC-led development teams a chance to grow their business, and we’re helping dozens of Bostonians buy their first-home, creating long-term stability for them in their neighborhood.”
The City continues to provide substantial support for both developers and homebuyers. Through the Boston Home Center and a network of nonprofit partners, the City offers homebuyer education classes, financial assistance with down payments and closing costs, and access to affordable mortgage products, including the One+ Boston program. These efforts are designed to help families build financial stability and strengthen communities across Boston.
Under Mayor Wu’s administration, the City has seen unprecedented progress in expanding affordable homeownership. In the first three and a half years of her tenure, 836 income-restricted homes have been completed or moved into construction — the most during any comparable period in the last 25 years. More than 1,000 Bostonians have become first-time homeowners during this time through City programs, and over 65% of those supported have been BIPOC residents.
The Welcome Home, Boston program continues to play a central role in Mayor Wu’s broader housing and equity strategy, aiming to make homeownership more accessible and inclusive for all Boston residents.