The economic downturn and housing bust created a nearly overwhelming need for affordable housing.
Not only have millions lost their jobs, but millions more have seen their income drop sharply and are having a harder time making ends meet.
Despite the increased need, housing developers still struggle to get approval for low-income housing units.
In Williamstown, Massachusetts, the Community Preservation Committee met late last year to talk about housing needs, potential development projects and available funding.
Among those seeking funding was the city's Affordable Housing Committee.
Most cities have a Community Preservation Committee or something similar that works to promote development, preserve historic buildings and districts, and create and oversee city-wide plans for infrastructure and green space.
In the state of Massachusetts, funding for the Committees is allocated through a real property tax levy, which varies from 1% to 3%, as determined by each city.
Of course, the rules regarding funding are different from state to state.
Near the end of last year, the Williamstown Community Preservation Committee had $53,000 available for Community Housing, another $53,000 for Historic Preservation, and $233,000 that had not been appropriated for any specific use.
Any of this funding could be used to support housing-related developments.
The surplus is unusual, especially during a time of such great need.
Generally, committees like this receive more funding requests than they have money.
Occasionally, however, some of the requests are for projects that don't meet housing or other development goals.
Or a project is simply not well-defined enough to warrant implementation.
In those rare instances, a committee can find itself with a surplus, which then allows it to fund other, shovel-ready projects that do meet community development goals.
The Williamstown's Affordable Housing Committee intends to submit a proposal seeking funding it will use to research potential development sites.
When Tropical Storm Irene hit Massachusetts in August, flooding destroyed several homes in the Spruces Mobile Home Park.
According to the Affordable Housing Committee, dozens of families are still without homes.
The Housing Committee's proposal isn't aimed at funding an actual project, but simply on determining the best location for a new "village-like" development.
Housing Committees all along the East Coast have sought funding from a variety of sources since Hurricane Irene hit.
Wind and rain caused significant damage to hundreds, if not thousands, of communities.
In Williamstown, funding applications were due mi-December and discussed at a meeting in late January.
There is no indication when the city plans to announce this most recent round of awards.
Because storm damage was so severe and extensive in 2011, the U.
S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently decided to allocate more money to disaster relief.
This unexpected injection of money is helping a number of Affordable Housing Committees like the one in Williamstown continue rebuilding and ensuring that low- and moderate-income families have a place to call home.
Not only have millions lost their jobs, but millions more have seen their income drop sharply and are having a harder time making ends meet.
Despite the increased need, housing developers still struggle to get approval for low-income housing units.
In Williamstown, Massachusetts, the Community Preservation Committee met late last year to talk about housing needs, potential development projects and available funding.
Among those seeking funding was the city's Affordable Housing Committee.
Most cities have a Community Preservation Committee or something similar that works to promote development, preserve historic buildings and districts, and create and oversee city-wide plans for infrastructure and green space.
In the state of Massachusetts, funding for the Committees is allocated through a real property tax levy, which varies from 1% to 3%, as determined by each city.
Of course, the rules regarding funding are different from state to state.
Near the end of last year, the Williamstown Community Preservation Committee had $53,000 available for Community Housing, another $53,000 for Historic Preservation, and $233,000 that had not been appropriated for any specific use.
Any of this funding could be used to support housing-related developments.
The surplus is unusual, especially during a time of such great need.
Generally, committees like this receive more funding requests than they have money.
Occasionally, however, some of the requests are for projects that don't meet housing or other development goals.
Or a project is simply not well-defined enough to warrant implementation.
In those rare instances, a committee can find itself with a surplus, which then allows it to fund other, shovel-ready projects that do meet community development goals.
The Williamstown's Affordable Housing Committee intends to submit a proposal seeking funding it will use to research potential development sites.
When Tropical Storm Irene hit Massachusetts in August, flooding destroyed several homes in the Spruces Mobile Home Park.
According to the Affordable Housing Committee, dozens of families are still without homes.
The Housing Committee's proposal isn't aimed at funding an actual project, but simply on determining the best location for a new "village-like" development.
Housing Committees all along the East Coast have sought funding from a variety of sources since Hurricane Irene hit.
Wind and rain caused significant damage to hundreds, if not thousands, of communities.
In Williamstown, funding applications were due mi-December and discussed at a meeting in late January.
There is no indication when the city plans to announce this most recent round of awards.
Because storm damage was so severe and extensive in 2011, the U.
S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently decided to allocate more money to disaster relief.
This unexpected injection of money is helping a number of Affordable Housing Committees like the one in Williamstown continue rebuilding and ensuring that low- and moderate-income families have a place to call home.
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