LDS stands apart from our competitors in our breadth of knowledge in analyzing supply and demand along with our keen understanding of affordable housing finance. This expertise means we can not only determine a municipality’s affordable housing needs but also create plans that are economically viable and implementable for the municipality as well as prospective developers.

LDS educates municipal employees, local boards and committees about the complexities of affordable housing as they begin the sometimes daunting affordable housing planning process. We also work with municipalities to identify avenues of funding for housing studies and creation. For example, LDS provides:

• Community Preservation Act Guidance
  
• Affordable Housing Needs Assessments
• Affordable Housing Production Plans
  
• Affordable Housing Trust Creation
  
• Chapter 40B and 40R Technical Assistance
  
• Zoning By Law Review and Creation
  
• Grant Applications
• Preparing and facilitating RFP’s for land disposition and housing development

Designations

• SOMWBA (“State of Massachusetts Minority and Women Business Association”) Certified
• Certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Women’s Business Enterprise (“WBE”).
• LDS has been approved to provide market research consulting services through the Department of Housing and Community Development and Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s Planning Grant Program for Local Housing Authorities.
  
• LDS is on the list of Technical Assistants for Massachusetts Housing Partnerships program to assist municipalities with Chapter 40B applications.
  
• LDS is on the list of qualified consultants to provide technical assistance to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Developments Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Program.
• LDS has been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development for inclusion on the list of pre-qualified Planning and Community Development Organizations created to assist communities in planning for neighborhood revitalization (Gateway Action Grant Plus Program). 
• LDS is EO 418 Certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide services in accordance with the state’s Master Plan regulations.