News
July 22, 2009
Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership New Member Search
The Housing Partnership is looking for new members. If you are interested in joining, please come to our next meeting (always open to the public) or contact Tim Harrigan, Community Housing Planner.
August 18, 2008
Fall Schedule Beginning Sept. 25
The Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership will return from Summer Break on Thursday, September 25 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Mary Connolly Room in the Town Offices, 136 Elm Street. All are welcome to attend.
March 26, 2008
The Housing Partnership is *Now* the Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership!
At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen on March 24, 2008, the merger of the Fair Housing Committee and the Housing Partnership was uninamously approved. The Fair and Affordable Housing Partnership's mission is:
- To develop, preserve, and advocate for housing opportunities for a broad range of income levels
- To promote housing choice in Easton
- To eliminate discrimination in housing and increase awareness of Fair Housing laws
- To exercise a leadership position in affordable housing development and planning for fair and affordable housing
The first meeting of the Fair & Affordable Housing Partnership will be April 3 at 6 p.m. in the Mary Connolly Meeting Room of the Town Offices. All are welcome to attend.
December 18, 2007
Using CPA Money for Affordable Housing
Staff Planner Alice Savage recently attended the Massachusetts Housing Partnership's workshop on using CPA money for affordable housing. The Town of Easton adopted the Community Preservation Act in 2001, and has since then received upwards of $2.7 million in state matching grants. Ten percent (10%) of CPA funds must be used to support, preserve, develop, or restore low- and moderate-income housing. So far, funds have been used to hire a consultant for the 2005 Affordable Housing Production Plan, and to support the May Institute Project. As last reported in the 2006 Annual Report, the Town of Easton has accumulated $607,784 in reserves for affordable housing. The Community Preservation Committee, the Housing Partnership, and staff are actively looking for new ways to support community housing in Easton.
Over 40 community leaders attended the December 13 half-day session on how to use CPA funds for affordable housing, co-sponsored by the Citizens' Housing and Planning Association. The Westford workshop featured a presentation by MHP's Connie Kruger and Viviana Lopez and consultant Karen Sunnarborg on ways in which communities have used CPA funds for affordable housing. The presentation featured a power point, which can be downloaded here.
CPA funds are eligible for:
- Completing a housing plan
- Paying for pre-development tasks to determine a site’s feasibility
- Buying land for affordable housing
- Leveraging other public and private resources to construct new housing
- Funding a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust
- Funding down payment assistance to first time homebuyers
- Combining historic preservation or open space with affordable housing
- Hiring a full- or part-time staff person or consultant to work on housing issues.
For more information about the CPA and housing, visit MHP.net.