When Housing is Not Affordable...What Can We Do?

Incomes have not kept pace with the big jumps in housing costs in our area, across Massachusetts, and the nation. This lack of affordable housing, especially rental housing, hurts our long-time residents, discourages people drawn here for work, and threatens the social, civic and economic vitality of our area. 

So what can we do? How are other communities moving forward to address this problem? Gain insight into the programs and tools that can help communities retain and make better use of existing housing and make smart decisions about development of additional housing.

Pennies has invited experts in municipal planning and development of affordable housing to describe ways other communities have balanced the interests of wary neighbors, applied sources of financing, and adapted zoning to promote affordable housing goals.

Help our local communities shift from a sense of complaint about affordable housing to a civic interest in finding solutions that will better support our families, neighborhoods, and the community as a whole.

Speakers: 

• Whitney Demetrius, Municipal Engagement Associate, Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
• Madeline Nash, Senior Project Manager, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC) and Member, Newburyport Affordable Housing Trust.
• Rick Taintor, Former Planning Director in Framingham, MA and Portsmouth, NH and consultant to municipalities and state and federal agencies.