Mass Housing (officially the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) was created by Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1966 as a self-supporting, independent public authority charged with increasing affordable rental and for-sale housing in Massachusetts. Mass Housing made its first loan in 1970, and has since invested more than $9.9 billion to finance more than 88,000 apartments and 55,000 loans for homeowners and homebuyers throughout the state. The New England Affordable Housing Management Association was formed in 1989 to facilitate communication between management agents and local HUD and state housing finance agencies. Monthly membership meetings include a period devoted to training and education on current regulatory topics as well as current housing updates provided by agency representatives. Members have an ongoing opportunity to attend NEAHMA-sponsored educational sessions relevant to affordable housing. The purpose of this Operating Guide is to assist staff who work in federally and state-subsidized housing in understanding the legal requirements that you can’t discriminate against someone because of their race, the color of their skin, what country they or their ancestors are originally from, their religion, if they are male or female, if they have children or foster children under the age of 18 or are pregnant, if they have a disability, or any other reason prohibited by state or local law such as marital status, sexual orientation, and veteran status or membership in the armed forces.