Community Housing Partnership Celebrates Successes at Town Meetings

EASTHAM – Early this spring, the Community Development Partnership’s Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership (LCCHP) wrapped up its second year in which 59 municipal officials participated in the Housing Institute and 53 local residents were trained as housing advocates. 

As both groups prepared for town meetings across the Lower Cape, the LCCHP amplified the need for housing through its “We Can’t Afford to Lose the People Who Can’t Afford to Live Here” public education campaign.

Lower Cape select boards demonstrated their commitment to housing production at this spring’s town meetings by recommending 48 housing articles which included proposed zoning changes, funding for Affordable Housing Trusts, developing or acquiring land and increasing capacity to advance housing production goals. 

Over $8.5 million in funding was committed to a variety of housing initiatives.

“We are proud of the progress made by each of the Lower Cape Towns in addressing our region’s affordable housing crisis,” said Jay Coburn, CEO of the Community Development Partnership. 

“It has been incredibly rewarding to see such concrete efforts move forward and be supported by our efforts.”

Among the notable wins for housing:

Eastham, Orleans, Harwich and Chatham all approved changes to their Accessory Dwelling Unit by-laws.

Provincetown approved a changes to their inclusionary zoning by-law to require more affordable housing in privately created developments.

Provincetown, Wellfleet, Brewster and Chatham each approved funding for a Housing coordinator/consultant.

Truro purchased 70 acres and Eastham purchased 10 acres for uses including housing.

Truro also extended the homeowners’ tax exemption to those who rent their second home year-round.

Advocates trained through the Lower CCHP’s Advocacy Training Program attended committee meetings, asked questions, posted flyers in their communities, made phone calls, spread the word and showed up to fight for articles that supported housing in each of the eight towns of the Lower Cape.

 

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