News for April 2021
HRA Notice of Public Hearing Annual Plan Review Meeting
‘Housing is out of control’
By ANITA FRITZ
Staff Writer for the Greenfield Recorder
Greening Greenfield and Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR) continued to emphasize that too many people can’t find high-quality, affordable housing locally during sessions two and three of their nine-session virtual series, “Housing is a Human Right: We Can Make It Happen.”
On Wednesday and Thursday, the groups invited people to speak about topics like incarceration, homelessness, addiction and affordable housing versus public housing.
Gina Govoni, executive director of Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority, said while there are housing units throughout the county, and there are federal and state housing vouchers available to prevent homelessness, there aren’t enough.
“Housing is out of control,” she said. “We are doing all that we can, but some properties need an overhaul. We need more housing, but developments take time to build. We need to keep finding creative solutions to affordable housing.”
Govoni said, at this point, Franklin County needs about 1,200 units to satisfy demand.
“It’s even worse in other counties,” she said. “I see a 2,300 housing deficit over the next two to three years.”
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Affordable housing series begins
More than 100 residents from across the county came together virtually on Saturday [March 27, 2021] for the first of nine forums aimed at addressing the issue of affordable housing and development in Franklin County.
“A team of Greening Greenfield and Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR) members have been working to develop this program for over two years,” Forum Organizing Committee Chair Susan Worgaftik said. “It’s been a journey.”
The program, a nine-session virtual forum on the issues of affordable housing and development, kicked off Saturday morning with “Housing is a Human Right: We Can Make It Happen,” which included presentations from three key-note speakers: Brian Sargent, assistant professor of public policy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; Gina Govoni, executive director of Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and state Sen. Jo Comerford, D Northampton. . .
This is the opening of an article from the Greenfield Recorder: “Groups team up for series on housing” by Mary Byrne, Staff Writer
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Image is courtesy of the Greenfield Recorder.
