Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trusts Looks to Solidify Mission
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city's Affordable Housing Trust has been established; now it needs a mission statement and an action plan.
In its second meeting, the board voted to hear from organizations that offer housing services, entities that create housing, and other affordable housing trusts over the next few meetings.
With insight from the local housing authority, housing developers such as Mill Town Captial and Habitat for Humanity, and other trusts in the county and beyond, the panel hopes to solidify its path forward.
Member Kamaar Taliaferro also sees resident feedback as an important part of the equation.
"One of the things that I think we need to do as a board is articulate, with as much detail as we can, exactly what the existing conditions in our city are," he said.
Taliaferro said that when he looked at the city's master plan, which was approved by the Community Development Board in 2009, there wasn't recognition of challenges that are pertinent today such as energy justice, socioeconomic factors, and racial inequality.
"Maintaining affordable housing is crucial as Pittsfield revitalizes; these are places that will house our workforce. Many gentrifying communities find that their teachers, police officers, firefighters, sales clerks, and other people vital to economic development and quality of life cannot afford a place to live," the over ten-year-old master plan reads.
"Keeping these people in Pittsfield is crucial to the city's future viability. The question every community must explore is whether the cost of housing is a major factor in keeping people out. As discussed below, Pittsfield is not yet at a stage in its revitalization that affordability is a major issue. However, planning ahead prepares the city for the time when affordable housing becomes a major challenge."
The seven-member board aims to help the city address housing needs that disproportionately affect under-resourced residents. It will help to provide rental assistance programs, first-time homebuyer programs, and workforce housing programs for those who need them.
It was approved by the City Council in June and had its first meeting earlier this month.
Finance Director Matthew Kerwood, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi, and City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta were present at the meeting to provide facts about the trust and conditions within the city.
Cambi reported that there have not been many investments made in properties in the last few years and there are a number of landlords that live out of town. A majority of properties are only receiving cosmetic upgrades such as painting.
"The challenge that we have seen is that when tenants are not happy with their home because of the conditions and the conditions that are not being repaired as fast as they could be, they don't have another option to say ‘I'm going to look for another apartment right now,'" he said.
"That's what we're being told. That's what we hear all the time."
If a tenant makes a complaint, the health department sends out an official order, then will start issuing fines for non-compliance. That will escalate to a court threat letter and then will go to housing court.
Cambi reported that these types of complaints have been "fairly regular" and are not an escalating issue.
Member Michael McCarthy asked if there are funds available for landlords to make repairs and such as low-interest or forgivable loans.
Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported that the city has had a housing rehab program for over 40 years that lends funds to property owners who meet income guidelines or rent to people who do. The city also provides financing for code enforcement and offers the At Home in Pittsfield Program for exterior repairs.
Member George Whaling, who owns Teton Management, said that some of the rents in the city are "incredible" to him and he does not know how families afford them.
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