HARWICH – The cost of housing in Harwich continues to grow to the detriment of its workforce and the town is working to fix the problem with its latest housing production plan.
The plan was presented to selectmen this month by Housing Consultant Karan Sunnarborg.
The town currently has 5.4 percent of its units as affordable with a goal of 10 percent.
Sunnarborg recommended focusing on open space residential projects to create more affordable housing.
Sunnarborg said that average income earners can’t afford to borrow enough money to afford homes in town, which have a median value of $350,000.
She stressed the importance of having more affordable year-round rental housing.
“Median rents have increased from $393 in 1980 to $708 in 2000 and $1,161 in 2014,” Sunnarborg said.
The poverty level in town also continues to increase. In 2014, more than 17 percent of households in Harwich had incomes below $25,000.
“Eight-hundred and ninety-one residents and 123 families lived in poverty and that is up from 668 individuals and 103 families in 200,” Sunnarborg said.
Through the housing plan updates will be provided to the community on the status of housing and how market conditions effect local residents.
“We did a lot of work on updating not just the demographic, economic and housing information but really looking at housing market conditions and what their effects are on affordability of rental and ownership housing for residents along different ranges of income,” Sunnarborg said.
The plan also provides information to non-profit and for profit developers on housing needs and priorities what types of projects the town would like to see submitted.
It also promotes more compatibility with other town endeavors.
“It serves as a comprehensive housing resource which can be regularly updated,” she said. “In fact, these plans have a term of five years.”
Selectmen unanimously approved the plan.
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