Saturday, October 29, 2011

IAI meeting explores paths to affordable housing




Higher Ground plans to work in Northern Berkshire

for affodable housing


Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association to launch

Welcome Home Massachusetts to boost housing throughout state


(First article by Mark Rondeau, co-organizer of NBIAI. Second article consists of notes from the meeting complied by Carol Marine of CHAPA)


A heightened local awareness of the importance of affordable housing dominated the Oct. 21 monthly meeting of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative (NBIAI).


The NBIAI and Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (NBCC) hosted representatives of the non-profit Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) from Boston.


Aaron Gornstein, CHAPA executive director, said the group promotes affordable housing throughout Massachusetts. “We pride ourselves in really taking into account urban, suburban and rural communities,” he said. “We are active in all areas of the state.”


The flooding of the Spruces mobile home park in Williamstown by Tropical Storm Irene on Aug. 28 left more than 200 people, mostly elderly and on fixed incomes, without homes. Only a handful have moved back into the park since; many others have not yet found permanent, affordable housing.


Several of the 23 people who attended the Oct. 21 meeting were from Higher Ground, the group of mostly Williamstown residents who are working to help resettle the people left homeless by the flooding and who will seek longer-term solutions for affordable housing.


“The main issue for us is that all of the affordable housing, or housing that’s based on income, that could be supported by federal or state contract, is full within a 100-mile radius,” said Robin Lenz, who has led the efforts to directly aid Spruces residents.


Al Bashevkin, executive director of the NBCC, noted that the 220 units of housing in the Spruces park — where people who owned their trailers paid just $250 per month rent — is a lot of affordable housing to replace: “To take that off the market creates a huge affordable housing issue for this area.”


Bilal Ansari, a chaplain at Williams College and a member of Higher Ground, who worked on affordable housing in New Haven, Conn., said a huge problem in this area is that there is no real data on the need for affordable housing and no strategic plan to meet the need.


“Another great need is for a local affordable housing non-profit to be located in the Northern Berkshire area that is native, that has the best interests of this area at heart,” he said. “Everybody is reaching across the state for that. There needs to be one raised up so that it employs the local residents here in construction, it creates jobs.”


Mark Rondeau, co-organizer of the NBIAI, said one of his concerns is that in a year, when everyone displaced from the Spruces has been settled, the affordable housing issue will be dropped.


Margaret Johnson Ware, a member of Higher Ground, said the flooding has pointed out that there isn’t enough affordable housing in the whole area. The days when plentiful apartments are available in North Adams at a low price are long over. Others noted that rents in the city are now about $600 per month.


“I think the Spruces opened our eyes,” said Aleta Moncecchi, who works in Northern Berkshire for the Berkshire Community Action Council. “It’s always been an issue. It’s just the first time I thank that everybody’s stopped and realized it.”


Even for affordable housing organizations in the Berkshires, Northern Berkshire is not their focus. “What I’ve learned over the years, is if we’re going to pay attention to North Berkshire County, we need to have things located here,” Bashevkin said.


Asked who else needs to be at the table as the local affordable housing effort moves forward, those present mentioned the business community — especially developers; municipal and other elected officials; and those in need of affordable housing themselves.


Gornstein said a large coalition formed in 2010 in opposition to the November ballot quesiton to repeal the state’s affordable housing law. The referendum was defeated by a 58 to 42 percent vote.



Welcome Home Massachusetts


Some 2,500-3,000 people around the state were active on the campaign to save the affordable housing law. After the vote, they wanted to keep the momentum going. To that end, CHAPA has held meetings around the state and formulated a plan to begin early in 2012 called Welcome Home Massachusetts.


Over the course of three years, this initiative aims to increase the amount of affordable housing in urban, suburban and rural communities, and provide support to local groups. This will be done through a statewide messaging and media campaign highlighting the need for affordable housing. A second component will be education and information, particularly through a new website featuring an extensive online guide to implementing local housing strategies. Third will be in-depth assistance for five communities per year, 15 over three years, to achieve their affordable housing goals.


Gornstein explained that the Massachusetts affordable housing law, saved by the 2010 vote, is a zoning law that allows non-profits and for-profits developing affordable housing to expedite the permitting, including overriding local zoning barriers, though a developer still has to get all local approvals.


“It’s the primary way that whether you’re a housing authority, a non-profit or for-profit...that affordable housing is getting built today in suburban and rural communities,” he said. “Zoning does not typically allow for the kiind of housing that is being proposed.”

For instance, zoning may permit one home every one or two acres: “You can’t do affordable housing that way.”


———


Summary of North Adams Affordable Housing Meeting

October 21, 2011


1). Current Local Challenges

Tropical Storm Irene


Devastating loss for Spruces – mobile home community that housed elderly/disabled residents in 220 homes Many residents still do not have permanent housing and loss is taking severe emotional toll


Market rents are about $500 more than mobile home rents Despite 18 month rental assistance, there are no vacancies

Looming issue of landlord passing on removal costs to tenants of

Spruces, with costs estimated at $5000 per home


Poverty/Transitional Services


In addition to victims of TS Irene and families, college kids and

young adults are using local food pantries 600-800 membership of food pantries in North Adams and Adams, respectively, significant increase over prior years


Some college students may be forced to withdraw from school because of lack of funds to cover rent Average rent in North Berkshire County is estimated to be $600/month not including utilities


Need for transitional services and housing for families Median age in transitional housing has dropped by 10 years due to

economic disadvantage and no jobs, poor education and lack of GED


Suggestion of folks so desperate that they will commit petty crimes to get into prison system for food, shelter and medicine


Higher Ground


Non profit formed in response to TS Irene to address immediate and permanent shelter, food and other needs of those displaced

Poised to have a longer and broader role in highlighting the lack of

affordable housing in the area and create solutions


Possibility of new CDC entering North Berkshire with structure and

capacity to increase affordable housing stock


2). Underserved Populations


Near elderly


Young adults (18 to 24 years)


Families (many are doubling up to share housing)


Rental housing tenants, particularly college students growing

pressure on rental market


Some rentals available but private landlords will not rent because of code issues and /or tenant issues


Many affordable apartments have been converted to condominiums


Couples separating


3). Other Community Leaders that Need to be Involved


Private developers: need to “marry non profits and private

developers” to tap funding and know how


Elected officials – state and local – some BOS are supportive but

need more


Cool Committee (green)


LISC, Higher Ground and others can pull in officials


Employers such as colleges and hospitals – Williams already involved


Contractors


Home owners/landlords of vacant units


Habitat for Humanity and other such groups


4). Collaboration and Regionalization


Berkshire County Regional Housing Corp and Western Massachusetts Coalition to End Homelessness are good models for collaboration


Regional Planning Commission of Berkshire County should be stakeholder Has a repository of data Strategic plans around land use In the process of completing three year plans


Recognition that collaboration of multiple communities may open up

more funding opportunities


Need to direct funds not only to permanent housing but to

transitional housing as well to avoid residents regressing


5). Solutions/Campaign Ideas


Collaboration with colleges such as involving students in data

collection UMass graduate school – host competition to build “exciting, green communities with affordable housing,” possibility with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as well and other schools; involve high schools, college alumni and community development corporations


With regard to technological resources, many in western MA do not have access to internet


Provide community room with internet Community effort to link people in need through internet, get them connected and use networking to increase access to housing options; then turn to education; essentially help people “restart” their lives through housing and internet housing resources


Cable TV is available to many who do not have internet so consider adapting resources to local cable TV


Also provide community space in houses of worship Focus on low cost NOT low income


Moveon.org model- and links to elected officials.






Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Agenda for Friday's Meeting

Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative

Meeting: Oct. 21, 2011, 10 a.m. to Noon

First Baptist Church of North Adams


1). Welcome/introductions.


2). Moment of prayer: Particularly this month for our Colleagues/Friends.


3). Faith sharing.


4). Brief Announcements (Please keep short as possible).


10:15 - 11:45:


5). Affordable housing discussion with representatives of the Citizens and Housing Planning Association.


10:45 to noon or beyond:


6). Discussion about implications of and adjustments to cuts in BCAC staff.


7). CROP Walk update.


8). Other business.


9). Adjourn.


Upcoming NBIAI meeting topic:

Friday, Nov. 18: NB Systems of Care Committee



Thursday, October 13, 2011

Oct. 21 Interfaith meeting topic: Affordable Housing


Friends,


Since devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Irene hit the Spruces mobile home park in Williamstown, the topic of affordable housing has come to the forefront in our area.

The Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative (NBIAI) will host a forum on this topic with the Citizens Housing and Planning Association from Boston. It willl be held on Friday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of North Adams (use Eagle Street entrance). All are welcome to come and discuss the next steps in advancing various affordable housing initiatives. Share your ideas on how affordable housing and community development should be shaped for the rest of 2011 and beyond.

This meeting was originally planned to be held in May but had to be cancelled due to unforseen circumstances.


Here is information that Carol Marine, of CHAPA, has sent out to us about the discussion:


Affordable Housing In Your Community: 2011 and Beyond


Dear Affordable Housing Supporter:

The No on 2 Campaign resulted in a decisive “win” for affordable housing at the ballot last November, and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) is building on that momentum and grassroots support throughout the Commonwealth. Many of you have asked us to convene a series of meetings to discuss next steps in advancing various affordable housing initiatives; we are confident our efforts to create affordable housing can continue in new and exciting ways!


Please join us to add your voice to the discussion. Vision starts with citizens in each and every community. Come share your ideas on how affordable housing and community development should be shaped in 2011 and beyond…


The agenda will include:


a.What is happening in your community and your region?

b.How can we advance affordable housing initiatives at the local level?

c.How can we advance affordable housing policy at the state level?


To date, we have held 13 meetings across the Commonwealth. We are delighted that the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative and the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition are hosting our next (and final) regional meeting on Friday October 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church at 131 Main Street on the corner of Church and Main Streets in North Adams. We hope you will attend and contribute your views on furthering affordable housing in Berkshire County.


For any questions, contact Mark Rondeau at the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative at markrondeau@earthlink.net. No need to call ahead, just come to the meeting!


So please come join us discuss an issue that will continue to loom large even after the immediate crisis faced by so many of the residents of the Spruces in Williamstown is met.


God Bless,


Mark Rondeau

Co-Organizer

Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative