Feb 19, 2026 - News

Mass. Housing chief bails; Healey taps former Biden administrator

Woman with glasses, pearl earrings, and necklace speaking at a podium labeled "MATIAS," wearing a black blazer and blue top, with a dark blue curtain background. — Juana Matias will replace Secretary Ed Augustus. Photo: Keith Bedford/Boston Globe via Getty Images

The state official charged by Gov. Maura Healey to get more housing built in Massachusetts is departing her cabinet to lead a Central Massachusetts bank.

Why it matters: Housing has been Healey's top priority.

The leadership change comes as the administration is gaining some momentum on production and affordability goals in the Legislature — and as Healey runs for reelection.

State of play: Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus departs Feb. 27.

He'll take over UniBank, the largest bank based in Central Massachusetts with 14 locations that serve more than 22,000 households.
Juana Matias, a former Lawrence state representative and Biden-era housing official, steps in at the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in April.

Between the lines: Augustus is the eighth Cabinet secretary to leave the Healey administration in roughly three years.

Only five original members of her cabinet are still in their roles.

Catch up quick: Matias was the Housing and Urban Development New England regional administrator under President Biden and represented Lawrence in the House from 2017 to 2018.

She left her seat for an unsuccessful run for Congress.
As HUD regional administrator, Matias oversaw an $8.47 billion annual budget covering federal housing vouchers and nearly 60,000 public housing units across six states.

Add Axios on Google

Mass. Housing chief bails; Healey taps former Biden administrator

More Boston stories