Marion Affordable Housing Trust member Sue Miller spoke from the heart during the committee’s meeting on January 9, discussing Habitat for Humanity and the “Homes for Troops” program.
“Oftentimes veterans, they never ask for anything, so when this came open, I thought, ‘let me exhaust whatever I can exhaust,’” said Miller, who called national organizations and learned that “they want the veteran himself make some sort of contact because – it seems a common thread – they say that if that a veteran makes a contact and has some sort of vested interest in it, they will stay. They will feel part of it and they will stay.”
Miller explained that veterans are required to fill out multiple applications that put them on a list.
“But then that made me think we should have those applications on our website at some point because, if we did have a veteran in the area, they might not even know that something like this exists, that they could be – it could be something in the future for them,” she said.
Miller has collected applications and once Marion’s website is more built up, she would like to get the documentation up on the site.
She said the Gary Sinise Foundation will fund items such as handicap-accessible ramps, but there was no specific local need. She said she also reached out to Tunnels to Tower, which assists police and fire personnel unable to maintain their own homes.
“We didn’t really fit with the model that they have,” said Miller. She said the results were similar with a marine-based program. The priority among the agencies is to identify veterans committed to their programs.
Between site visits and a methodical gathering of information, Miller said Habitat for Humanity sounds like a very organized program.
Associate Affordable Housing Trust member Eileen Marum said another positive aspect of Habitat for Humanity is that any recipient of a home project is required to put in 300 hours of labor toward the work.
Chairperson Terri Santos asked if the Affordable Housing Trust would like to schedule a special meeting ahead of the Community Preservation Committee’s February 5 deadline for applications.
Habitat for Humanity is reportedly interested to conduct a site visit with Marion, and among the upsides of the organization’s involvement is the Affordable Housing Trust will not need to pursue Community Preservation Act funding (via Marion’s Community Preservation Committee) because Habitat for Humanity has volunteer help with wetland delineation, wetlands consultants and a construction project manager.
Affordable Housing Trust member Toby Ast still thinks it is worth applying for CPA funding to purchase property or at least seek a ballpark of available funds for when the Affordable Housing Trust is ready to access funding.
Miller thought perhaps Habitat for Humanity would better realize its needs that would apply to an application with the CPC.
Ast noted that Andrew Daniel, a member of the CPC, suggested the Affordable Housing Trust apply for funding.
The address in question, 185 Wareham Street (a Habitat for Humanity home) was once conservation land, and some of the parcel is meant to be parking. Santos walked the lot with Randy Parker, Select Board member, and Doug Guey-Lee, town planner.
“You could put a few spaces in, and it’s not unusual when you have a build like this to do that sort of thing,” said Santos.
Habitat for Humanity will send people to the Affordable Housing Trust’s February 13 meeting to further discuss the Habitat for Humanity program.
The subject of Accessory Dwelling Units and a potential bylaw revision is being considered with help from the Codification Committee, which Marum described as well-rounded.
Santos said Ast and former member Norm Hills, a member of the Select Board, created a draft but that other members of the Affordable Housing Trust can still give their input. She said it’s important that members of the Affordable Housing Trust get on the same page.
Miller volunteered to write the trust’s annual report.
The next meeting of the Marion Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, at 6:00 pm at the Police Station.
Marion Affordable Housing Trust
By Mick Colageo