HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-18-FHHR-min.pdf Fair Housing and Human Relations Committee
Minutes
10/18/00
Present: Tom Montanan,Florence Baturin,Jean Hibino,Jeff Collins,Beverly Goodridge,Peg Cole,
Pat Taylor,Cathy Abbott
Absent: Michelle Ekanem
Guests: C.S.Ting, Sheila Herbeck and Steve Kutny Community Service Network
Sheila Herbeck,Community Service Network
Pat Taylor,member,who suggested that the accomplishments of Community Service Network would
be a good agenda item,referred Ms.Herbeck to the committee.Peg Cole,co-chair,agreed and asked
Steve Baran to schedule.
Ms.Herbeck founded a non-profit agency to do advocacy work for the homeless.This led to a
program of transitional housing for the homeless in Malden. At present, she was director of
Community Service Network featuring the following:
First Time Homebuyer—established in a number of communities in the area.Initiated with funding
from the Mass.Housing Finance Agency Purchases may also be for condos or in multifamily
Get the Lead Out-homeowner pays back loan after sale.
Homeowner Improvement-e.g. helping with cost of connecting with water and sewer.
Purchase and Rehabilitation-homeowner pays 3%.
Housing counseling—HUD certified;approved by Homebuyers Collaborative.Free classes on how to
purchased a home as well as for people who also own homes.75%of students have found housing in
the past;at present,market not good,but students can still prepare themselves to buy in the future.
Also budgeting,how to be a good tenant.Every student is furnished with a manual.The course is a
prerequisite for homebuyer certificate.
Fresh rate—with cooperation of local banks.
American Dream—for state and municipal employees.
Soft second mortgage—eligibility for affordable level buyers;first mortgage at 75%of purchase price:
Mass.pays 20%(soft second);homebuyer pays 5%.Mass,pays interest for first ten years.
Participating communities must have certain number of affordable units in first year.Lexington not
yet participating.
Section 8—for homebuyers,through federal government,with payments made to bank rather than
landlord. Elderly and disabled are not required to be employed.
Landlord-tenant mediation—a number of tenants have been referred from Lexington.
Testing—next year;the public needs to be educated.
Further notes:FHA has 19 programs.HUD has a web site.
Mass.ranks 14th highest in the cost of housing in the country Least expensive housing is in Syracuse,
New York where the median price of housing is$45,000.The median in Nashville is$130,000.
Reasonable communities in Massachusetts are Pepperell,Littleton, Gardner and Bradford.People
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move on the average every seven years.Ms.Herbeck saw Lexington's immediate affordable housing
opportunities as centering on Met State and LexHab purchase of Katandin Woods units.
Minutes,October 21'd meeting
'To determine if he was interested. (7)
Misuse of Michelle's name(7)
Otherwise correct.
Selectmen approval of committee's sponsorship
The committee had asked Cathy Abbott to request their approval of committee acting as a co-sponsor
of a forthcoming affordable housing forum.The Selectmen wanted more particulars before giving
their approval which Florence Baturin proceeded to provide re date, other sponsoring organizations,
and funding.
Membership
One more member is needed for the committee to have a full complement of members.
Forthcoming agenda
The committee would like to meet with Glen Garber who is seeking the support of the committee
around the town's Met State initiative.
Atmosphere in recent Selectmen's meeting
Cathy Abbott commented on the homophobic and personalized remarks of certain presenters at a
recent meeting of the Board of Selectmen. She said that the law requires safe schools, and it is not
legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians.There needs to be a climate of tolerance and civility
A beginning discussion of what might be a response from the committee ensued.