Gov. Charlie Baker has appointed Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Hometown Financial Group, to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
MHP works with communities to create policy and financing solutions that provide affordable homes for Massachusetts residents, providing assistance to more than 300 communities. Its bank funds and other capital sources have provided over $1.4 billion for the financing of 26,000 apartments, and its ONE Mortgage Program has partnered with lenders to provide $3.8 million in below-market mortgage financing to help over 21,000 low- and moderate-income buyers purchase their first home. In 2017, MHP created the Center for Housing Data, which collects, analyzes and shares information to drive better housing policies.
“[Sosik’s] insights and experience will be a valuable resource for MHP and our administration as we work to address the availability and affordability of housing across the commonwealth,” Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy said in a statement.
After working as a bank examiner for the FDIC for four years, Sosik was named president of Hometown Bank in Oxford in 1997 at the age of 27. He remained at Hometown Bank for nearly 17 years. In 2013, he was named president and CEO at bankESB. Sosik oversaw the acquisition of Hometown in 2015. Hometown Financial Group emerged soon after, becoming the parent company of the new mutual multi-bank structure.
“While our mutual bank structure has evolved to now serve customers in Eastern, Central and Western Massachusetts, and Northeast Connecticut, one of the common factors in each area is the need for affordable housing,” Sosik said in a statement. “I’m honored that Gov. Baker has named me to the board of directors of MHP, an organization that continues to do so much to help communities create affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for families.”
Hometown Financial Group is the parent company of three mutual banks: bankESB (formerly Easthampton Savings Bank), Oxford-based bankHometown and Abington Bank.
