Housing Task Force - Inaugural Meeting
The newest iteration of Manchester’s Housing Task Force hosted their inaugural meeting on Thursday, Aug. 15 where they elected officers, identified initial steps in service of their mission, and reviewed existing housing projects as well as properties with potential.
Housing Task Force
By including members from key municipal bodies along with broad community input, this task force aims to enhance communication and efficiency to bring solutions to the housing crisis in Manchester. We need to move as one with all the resources available to us as a community. With dedicated members to this task force from our boards and commissions, our commitment to working together on this very difficult issue has never been stronger.
A Call to Action for Manchester's Housing Crisis
Every 30 days, another family faces the harrowing reality of losing their home. This isn't a distant issue; it's happening right here, right now, in our backyard. Yet, amidst this crisis, there's a glimmer of hope. Our work as a Selectboard has the power to unite our community in acknowledging the devastating impact of the housing crisis. Manchester stands at a critical juncture. The severe shortage of housing options threatens to unravel the very fabric of our thriving community in Vermont. We need more voices willing to stand up and declare, "Yes, we can, and we must do more to protect the most vulnerable in our town." I'm asking you to help me do just that.
Housing & Community Development Committee
I understand that some in our community are hesitant about building workforce housing and concerned about potential impacts on property values, traffic, and the overall character of our neighborhoods. However, I propose that a Housing and Community Development Committee is the ideal solution to address these concerns while promoting the benefits of workforce housing. Let me explain why this is a critical step for our community's future and share the draft proposal I have submitted to the Selectboard for consideration at our next meeting on May 7th.
Statement: Housing Task Force Reorganization
I think this is a step in the right direction, and community involvement in a lot of places could really create momentum and buy-in to the opportunities we need to create for hard-working families right here in Manchester.
I want to be clear, though, that we still need to organize a public hearing in Manchester where everyone with the power to act on this crisis can hear the same stories I heard firsthand while walking door to door for my campaign.
Solving Our Housing Crisis
We are in crisis mode. If you work in Manchester, you should be able to live in Manchester. Far too many of our friends and family are forced to live outside their hometown, or worse, just over the border in New York state. There are simple solutions to these complex problems. I'm confident we can move the needle further every single day if we're willing to work more closely together.