The Housing Plan Working Group will host a community workshop Thursday, March 24th from 7 pm - 9 pm via Zoom. This workshop is part of the Housing Plan Working Group’s continued conversation with the community about the future of housing in Needham, which began with an initial public forum in January to hear local perspectives on housing needs and priorities. Registration is required for purposes of breakout sessions and follow-up.
The workshop will begin with a presentation of the key takeaways from a recently prepared Housing Needs Assessment, a major component of the Housing Plan. The Needs Assessment provides information on affordable housing in Needham, updated demographic and housing characteristics and trends, as well as indicators and other considerations regarding unmet housing needs in the community.
The presentation will be followed by small breakout group discussions. While the Housing Needs Assessment focuses on current housing conditions and priority housing needs, participants in these small groups will provide important input on future Town priorities with respect to housing goals and strategies to address identified needs.
Those interested in participating in the workshop must register by 6:45 pm Thursday, March 24th. Participants are asked to provide their email addresses so that the Housing Plan Working Group may follow up with a survey post-workshop to better identify the housing priorities that emerge from the small group discussions. Individuals who wish to offer comments but cannot attend the workshop can send an email to planning@needhamma.gov with the subject line “Housing Plan Working Group.”
The Housing Plan Working Group hosted a public forum in January to begin a conversation with the community about the future of housing in Needham.
The last housing plan for Needham was released in 2007. Since then, the makeup of the community has changed significantly, with an expanding population and an accompanying increase in housing costs. The Town has made important progress in addressing affordable housing needs during that time, adding nearly 900 units of housing to the Town’s state-defined Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) and surpassing the state’s 10 percent affordability goal. However, the Town acknowledges that numerous unmet housing needs remain. The Working Group will develop a plan that attempts to meet those needs and will present the plan to the community later this year.
For more information on the Housing Plan Working Group and housing in Needham, visit the Working Group’s web page.
Workshop Information
When: Thursday, March 24th at 7 pm
Where: Zoom
Please register by 6:45 pm on Thursday, March 24th to ensure your participation. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Register here.