the Boston Foundation

When the Boston Foundation presented its 2024 annual Greater Boston housing report card at an event Nov. 12, the results weren’t particularly positive.

The Boston Foundation is on a mission to better the community through equity. Chief Program Officer Orlando Watkins has been in the role for eight years, and talked about how organizations, like the Foundation, have a unique platform and position to support the community at many levels.

Despite AAPI businesses being the fastest-growing sector in Massachusetts, these businesses often encounter significant obstacles, ranging from exclusionary policies to hate-based violence.

Within the city of Boston, competition for affordable housing units is fierce, with long waiting lists for the 20% of units in the city that are designated affordable for people with incomes ranging from $0 to 120% of the federally designated area median income, which is currently $98,150.

Disparities in family wealth and discriminatory lending patterns are major contributors to Black and Latino entrepreneurs accessing capital and loans to start and grow businesses in Massachusetts, according to a study released by the Boston Foundation last week.