About the Housing Commission

The Lincoln Housing Commission (LHC) facilitates affordable housing in Lincoln in cooperation with the Lincoln Affordable Housing Trust, Lincoln Foundation, Rural Land Foundation, and the Lincoln Community Preservation Committee. Lincoln is a member of the Regional Housing Services Organization (RHSO), together with the towns of Acton, Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Maynard, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston. Information about the inventory of affordable housing in Lincoln can be found here.

Meetings

• First Thursday of the month
• 7:00  PM
• Pursuant to Governor Healey’s signing of S. 3007 extending remote meeting authorization to March 31, 2025, meetings will be conducted either remotely or as a hybrid meeting from the Donaldson Room, Lincoln Town Hall, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA  01773

Commission Members

• Rachel Drew (Co-Chair)
• Neil Feinberg (Co-Chair)
• Julie Brogan
• Terry Perlmutter
• Donald Fonseca 
• Mollye Lockwood 
• Jena Salon

Lincoln Housing Commission Enabling Legislation
Adopted ACTS, 1979 – Chapter 359, Amended 2023

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

Most Recent Agenda | View All Agendas and Minutes

How to Apply for Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is regulated by both state and federal governments. Homes are rented at prices below local market rate with a goal of attracting folks who otherwise might not be able to afford the rent, to live in our town. Eligibility is determined based on an income that is 50% - 80% or less of area median income.  Up to date area Income limits can be found here.  

Lincoln's Chapter 40B Status 

The Town of Lincoln continues to make a commitment and investment to affordable housing. Lincoln has met the State requirement under M.G.L. Chapter 40B by offering at least 10% of the year round housing units in the Town as affordable, and has met this threshold for many years (see more here at Mass.gov).  Unlike most Massachusetts towns, Lincoln has achieved the state’s 10% affordable housing goal without ever having to issue a Chapter 40B comprehensive permit. Lincoln has taken a unique approach to affordable housing by creating opportunities through its own local initiatives: by adopting zoning incentives, granting special permits, investing local revenues and Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.  The Town, through its Select Board, has supported many of these initiatives. 

What is the Subsided Housing Inventory (SHI)?

The SHI provides a standardized estimate of affordable housing available in each community in Massachusetts. It is used for determining compliance with CH 40B, the Comprehensive Permit Law. Municipalities with less than 10% of their housing eligible for inclusion on the SHI may be subject to development proposals that can circumvent local zoning if 20-25% of the units have affordability restrictions.  Lincoln has 298 units of housing, or 12.83% of total units, that are counted as ‘affordable’ by the State. Click here to see Lincoln's SHI report from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

Mission Statement

The Lincoln Housing Commission is a welcoming and inclusive group that works to fulfill the town’s mission and ensure that a range of diverse housing options are available in town to meet the current and future needs of Lincoln’s residents. We fulfill this mission by: 

• developing and promoting policies, programs, and regulations that preserve and/or increase housing that addresses such needs; 
• maintaining Lincoln’s inventory of housing affordable for low- and moderate-income households in compliance with state policy; 
• and supporting town, regional, and state housing goals.

The Housing Commission also administers Lincoln’s town-owned rental housing units.