Flood House Open to Displaced Louison House Residents
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Residents displaced by the recent fire at Louison House in Adams will be able to stay in Flood House.
The Housing Authority Board of Commissioners approved Thursday a temporary emergency lease agreement with the shelter's operator, Family Life Support Center Inc., to house the families and individuals left homeless after last weekend's fire.
"They have an issue and they need some housing so that is good," said Chairman Chris Tremblay. "It's good that they are in there."
Although the small attic fire was snuffed out quickly by the house's sprinkler system, 12 residents had to be moved to hotels because of water damage.
Housing Authority Executive Director Jennifer Hohn said with the help of Mayor Richard Alcombright, the Housing Authority was able to get the Department of Housing and Community Development to approve the temporary lease.
"It is an amazing thing, and I can't believe they turned it around that fast," Hohn said.
The historic Flood House on Church Street is one of the properties being released with the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Inc. The Louison House is already slotted to take the vacant building permanently but this transfer has yet to be approved.
In other business, Hohn said the estimated cost of the construction of the Greylock Community Center will be near $825,000 with contingency programmed in.
She said the Housing Authority is looking for a request for proposals template for the project.
Hohn added that she met with TD Bank, which offered preliminary approval for a loan if 20 percent can be put down.
Tremblay suggested soliciting local banks before making a decision.
"What if we were to reach out to some local banks .. and see if they may waive the 20 percent or do it in a community donation?" he said. "It's a good project to be involved in, and I am sure some of the local banks and even some of the big boys would be interested."
Hohn agreed, saying once they get an RFP out the banks may compete for the project.
Hohn also asked the commission to approve a new $10 late rent fee that goes into effect once a resident neglects to pay by the fifth day of the month.
"It is not really that high, it is not unaffordable and we hope it encourages people to pay on time because we have a lot of people that pay but they stroll in at the end of the month," Hohn said. "Now they can pay late and they get the letter so I am trying to cut down on administration time of writing letters to the same people that pay every month but just late."
She said there will be reasonable accommodations if a resident is unable to physically pay.
Commissioner Colton Andrews feared people might take advantage of the reasonable accommodation policy.
Tremblay said he felt the amendment may be counterintuitive to the Housing Authority's goal and could just create more of a hardship for residents.
The commission decided to table the fee until an amendment can be written for a payment policy that would allow residents to retrieve the late fee.
Tags: Flood House, Housing Authority, louison house,
