Dennis Looking at Ways To Make Housing More Affordable

AFFORDABLE HOUSINGDENNIS – The Town of Dennis is hoping that a three-phase plan will help solve its affordable housing problem.

The plan was presented to selectmen this week by the Dennis Municipal Affordable Housing Trust.

Chairman of the Trust, Ralph Cox, said it’s very expensive to rent a home on Cape Cod.

“National studies have shown that a person living in Barnstable County and renting, needs an income of at least $47,000 a year to be able to afford a two-bedroom rental here in Barnstable County,” said Cox.

The first phase of the plan includes a publicity campaign in town to inform residents of available affordable housing options.

The second phase would ask voters to petition the state legislature for a tax break for some owners of affordable units.

Town officials say that the tax break would not be a decrease in the amount the town takes in for property tax, but a shift of the burden.

The third phase of the plan would be to allow the town to use money from the Community Development Block grant to fund a homeowners rehab loan program.

That would allow homeowners participating in the initiative to renovate their homes as an affordable unit.

After the presentation, selectmen decided against voting on the third phase until they had more information.



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy