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.
“I’m unwilling to accept the idea of anyone being priced out of the community they call home.”
Teachers, service workers, healthcare professionals, seniors, refugees, immigrants, non-English speakers, and people of color – every member of our diverse community deserves a place here. I want Manchester to be where housing constraints don't limit dreams of living, working, and thriving.
“Solving our housing crisis in Manchester is not just a policy goal for me; it’s a personal mission. ”
Day after day, I see folks struggling to find housing, forcing amazing people to move, sometimes far away, to find a home. We need a multifaceted approach that addresses the diverse needs of our community. This means creating housing opportunities across the entire price spectrum, ensuring that no one is priced out of the place they love. From teachers at MEMS to hard-working service personnel and healthcare professionals, we must prioritize those who serve our greater community's constantly growing needs. We can explore innovative solutions, such as mixed-income housing developments and revitalizing underutilized spaces, by collaborating with local stakeholders, developers, and community members. Collaborative efforts between the state and federal government, along with local and private interests, are essential for achieving meaningful progress. This requires a collective commitment to actively explore all available options and contribute wholeheartedly to the cause.
Creating a housing trust fund will help more local people become homeowners and end generational housing insecurity for many of our most vulnerable residents. Our vision should extend beyond addressing the immediate concerns to creating a sustainable housing plan that embraces inclusivity, affordability, and the unique character of Manchester.
We can and will address each of those crucial aspects when we recognize the need, hear each other, and commit together to build a community where everyone has a chance to thrive and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our town.
We must:
Maintain our natural beauty - limit sprawl.
Protect our environment, and encourage more innovative land use in the town center.
Develop housing opportunities across the price spectrum.
We need more housing for:
Hard-working service workers and tradespeople who keep our homes and businesses open, safe, and maintained.
Teachers and first responders who dedicate entire lives to future generations of residents.
Nurses, Family Doctors, Dentists, and Mental Health professionals who serve all our residents, ensuring health and well-being.
Seniors, disabled, and marginalized communities, including refugees, immigrants, non-English speaking, and people of color.
What can we do:
Create a local housing trust fund with the revenue created from the sale of the JCrew buildings. There's almost $2 million dollars headed to the town we can use to jump-start this fund.
Revisit our existing zoning ordinances to lessen their impact on our ability to move forward with more housing across the price spectrum.
Work directly with the State and Federal governments to secure funding to lessen the impact on our taxpayers.
Collaborate with local developers to create shovel-ready plans to provide the direction and clarity our community desperately needs.
No one living in Manchester or wanting to move here should be priced out of their chosen community.
No one who works in Manchester or wants to work here should be forced to live outside our community or even our state to secure housing they can afford.
With your support and VOTE on March 5th, I pledge to make this my number one priority!
