These questions concern the mission to provide affordable rental housing, and affordable daycare, in Groveland.
It is located on a parcel of land at the corner of Washington St. and Salem St. in South Groveland. The address is 740 Salem Street.
This parcel abuts the property of St. James Episcopal Church; it is the former Richdale store.
These affordable rental units will be available to families whose income is 80% of the area median income. HUD computed this (in 2010) to be $64K to $70K, depending upon the size of the family.
We hope to serve the local community (Groveland) first.
This will not be a shelter for the homeless, or for victims of domestic violence, or for persons in rehabilitation. This will not be shelter for transients. All of these persons deserve our support, but this project is planned for other purposes.
This started some years ago when St James developed its strategic plan to serve the community. Reliable government data showed that two major needs of Groveland were affordable housing and affordable daycare.
St James (Groveland), Trinity (Haverhill), and Episcopal City Mission (ECM) (an agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts) agreed to be partners in this mission.
Coming Home Inc (CHI) was formed, as a not-for-profit corporation, to carry out this project. The directors of CHI are drawn from the members of St James, from Trinity, and from the community.
St James has been a member of this neighborhood for 140 years, and is an abutter to the new housing / day care center. Trinity has been in the next town for over 150 years. ECM has supported affordable housing for decades. We look forward to being a positive force in the community.
Lots of people:
We want to improve the safety and the appearance of the corner of Washington and Salem Street. Because the number of accidents at that corner, 4-way stop signs were recently erected.
In sum, members of St James (Groveland), and Trinity (Haverhill), who serve on the board of CHI, have agreed to promote the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the community not only by providing affordable rental housing and daycare, but also by advocating for related infrastructure such as transportation and social networking.
This is an effort for Groveland, not for Lawrence, Haverhill, Lowell, or other neighboring communities.
We have rehabbed the Point Property to provide quality 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom units that we ourselves could live in.
It will not be a "project", or a "ghetto".
Currently, the Groveland Housing Authority has a waiting list for affordable housing. Most of the affordable housing is for the elderly. It takes many months to advance to the head of the line.
This will add 2 units to the inventory of the town's affordable rental housing stock. Currently, only 3.5% of the housing in Groveland is affordable. (The stated goal is to have 10% affordable.)
This project will have a positive economic impact on the local community.
The operation and maintenance of the completed facility will provide full-time and part-time jobs.
Also, affordable daycare in the neighborhood will allow more families to hold jobs, and to keep more of the money they earn.
Lastly, the Center for Housing Policy has published a review that shows that usually there is no great effect on local housing values.
the Center for Housing Policy has published a review that shows that the effect on children is complex.
Copyright © 2008- Coming Home Inc
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