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.

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

Affordable Housing; Spaghetti Supper; Emergency Preparedness

HARVEST FEST — On Saturday, Sept. 24, volunteers of the Friendship Center manned an informational table at the second annual Harvest Fest at Heritage State Park, accepting food and monetary donations. Here, Rich Davis, Cynthia Davis, and Pat Cumberbatch speak to a visitor. Thanks to all who participated! (Below the text: Williams students visit and support the Friendship Center Food Pantry)

Affordable Housing meeting Oct. 21

I have observed as “webmaster” that since Tropical Storm Irene and the flooding debacle at the Spruces mobile home park in Williamstown, many people have come to this blog site, searching on the topic “Affordable Housing.”

The reason people can find the topic affordable housing on our blog is that for our May Interfaith meeting we had planned and publicized a visit from the Citizens Housing and Planning Association from Boston. Unfortunately, the visit from CHAPA had to be cancelled at the very last minute (a day and a half before) due to unforseen circumstances.

The good news is that this meetinig has been rescheduled to 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 in 2011 and beyond.

Spaghetti Supper on Thursday

We urge everyone to attend a major fundraiser for Food and Fuel on Thursday:

A Spaghetti Supper at The Elks Lodge at 100 Eagle St, to benefit the Friendship Center Food Pantry and the Berkshire Community Action Emergency Fuel Fund, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m.

There will be a 50-50 Raffle and a Silent Auction. The menu will be spaghetti and meatballs, salad, dessert, and coffee. Tickets are $7. Seniors and children under 12 are $6. Tickets will be available at the door, or call BCAC at 663-3014.

By the way, the need to support fuel assistance locally hasn’t been getting as much press as it probably should. (At least on this site). So I’m glad we are partnering with BCAC to help raise funds for this necessity.

Interfaith Community Preparedness

On the topic of emergency preparedness, I have repeated several times over the past few weeks that in August the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative discussed emergency preparedness with Vivian Orlowski of the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association.

Little did we know at the time that just two weeks later we would have major flooding in the area of the type not seen locally for several decades. It was flooding of the sort that my parents and grandparents lived through in North Adams in the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s, and which led to the installation of the flood control chutes during the Eisenhower administration.

I’m afraid that like the enormous amount of snow we received this past winter, or the tornado that struck Springfield earlier this year, the flooding indicates that our weather is growing more extreme as the climate changes.

Vivian Orlowski’s specific topic at our August meeting was the Faith Community Partnering for Emergency Preparedness project. Obviously, faith communities are only one piece of the puzzle, but they were a piece that played a big role in Northern Berkshire as soon as it became apparent that the Spruces had undergone devastatiing flooding.

A big role was played in initial relief efforts by the emergency voucher system which, though pre-existing, the NBIAI is working on preserving and expanding throughout Northern Berkshire. The money we had in our account for it was soon all used up, and faith communities just made more copies of the vouchers and sent out more moeny to back them up.

How his emergency use will affect the voucher system over time is something the NBIAI voucher team will need to explore. For the originial and ongoing intention of the voucher system has been one-time assistance of people traveling through the area who need a hand.

Anyway, Vivian is currently setting up meetings with Clergy Associations in Western Mass., including Northern Berkshire. In January or early Feburary, there will be a regional Faith Community Partnering for Emergency Preparedness Conference. We will let everyone know where and when this will be held, as we will no doubt be sending a significant contingent to it.

And I imagine the NBIAI will be revisiting this topic at an upcoming monthly meeting — and sooner rather than later.

WILLIAMS STUDENTS HELP — On Saturday, Sept. 17, Williams College students taking part in the first-year orientation program “Where Am I?!” brought the results of their two-week campus food drive to the Friendship Center. In the second photo, senior leaders Sugi Min and Alexandra Carr (standing) help supervise as Stuart Crampton, treasurer of the Friendship Center Food Pantry, prepares to roll the food into the Center. Once inside, the students put the food up on our shelves. Two weeks earlier, Stuart, Gail Obrest, Tony Pisano, and Mark Rondeau spoke to the students about the Frienship Center and about their background in the local community.

May Meeting: We Discuss Affordable Housing

NOTE: THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FINDING THIS POST IN A SEARCH FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY SHOULD LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT POST ON THIS BLOG FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION AT THE OCT. 21, 2011 MEETING OF THE NORTHERN BERKSHIRE INTERFAITH ACTION INITIATIVE.

Friends,

I have to say I am pleased that the Interfaith Action Initiative is holding a joint meeting with our friends at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition to discuss affordable housing with a group of advocates from Boston.

The Friday, May 20, meeting of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative will feature a discussion on affordable housing with representatives of the Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), from Boston. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of North Adams.

Check out CHAPA at www.chapa.org. This is one of 14 meetings CHAPA has been holding throughout the state. CHAPA’s “mission is to encourage the production and preservation of housing that is affordable to low and moderate income families and individuals and to foster diverse and sustainable communities through planning and community development.”

I’m also pleased that the Interfaith Action Initiative is discussing housing. It is a critical need. Just one consideration in running a food pantry as we do — the Friendship Center food pantry — is that many people today, even those with jobs, cannot afford both decent housing and food.

At a Communnity Coalition meeting earlier this year discussing homelessness, someone brought in a sheet of very interesting statistics. Here are some:

• 66 percent of people living in poverty in Berkshire County are “rent burdened”

• In Berkshire County, the income/wage needed to afford a one-bedroom apartment on an annual basis is $24,720 or an hourly wage of $13.35.

• The number of hours a household making minimum wage in Berkshire County needs to afford a one-bedroom apartment is 67, a two-bedroom apartment is 77.

• Berkshire County’s per capita income is 16 percent below the state average and Berkshire County’s median household income is 23 percent below the state average.

These statistics indicate what so many of our fellow citizens are up against.

So please come to the meeting and share your ideas on how affordable housing and community development should proceed in 2011 and beyond. Discussion points will include: What is happening in your community and your region? How can we advance affordable housing initiatives at the local level? How can we advance affordable housing policy at the state level?

As regulars know, our meetings begin with introductions, a time of silent prayer and faith sharing, followed by announcements. The housing discussion will take most of the meeting. However, one other major issue we may take a few minutes to dicuss afterward is formation of a planning committee for the food pantry.

Thanks and God Bless,

Mark

***

The meeting agenda will be as follows:

Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative

Meeting: May 20, 2011, 10 a.m. to Noon

First Baptist Church of North Adams

1). Welcome/introductions.

2). Moment of silent prayer.

3). Faith sharing.

4). Discussion on affordable housing with Aaron Gornstein, executive director, and Carol Marine, program manager, of the Citizens Housing and Planning Association.

5). Brief discussion of creating a planning committee to plan for the future of the food pantry. Topic 1: committee membership.

6). Next meeting: Friday, June 17, topic: emergency voucher program for Northern Berkshire.

7). Adjourn.

Next Interfaith Meeting topic: Affordable Housing

To Affordable Housing Supporters: Please join Citizens Housing and Planning Association
(CHAPA) and the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative to discuss the next
steps in advancing various affordable housing initiatives. Add your voice to the
discussion at our meeting on Friday May 20th at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church
of North Adams on Eagle Street in North Adams. 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 ...For any questions, and to RSVP
contact Carol Marine at CHAPA at Cmarine@chapa.org or at 617-742-0820 or Mark Rondeau
at Markrondeau@earthlink.net.