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Committees: Hingham Affordable Housing Trust

Affordable Housing Trust

The Hingham Affordable Housing Trust Fund aims to further the following goals:

• The Trust seeks to preserve affordable housing through a variety of means which will benefit both current homeowners and potential new residents.
• The Trust will propose, support and develop affordable housing that contributes positively to the character of the town, considering both Hingham’s history and its future.
• The Trust will engage in education and advocacy with the goal of promoting the diversity of Hingham’s population.

Please see Article 39 of the Hingham Town By-Laws for information about the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust.

2007 Annual Report

The Hingham Affordable Housing Trust was created by a Town Warrant Article in 2007. Among other things, the Trust takes over the functions of the former Housing Partnership Committee. The Trust is one of several state-authorized affordable housing trusts that work with Massachusetts and Town agencies to preserve existing housing opportunities and increase future housing for low and moderate income persons. Increasing the stock of affordable housing benefits many different constituencies, including Town employees without the resources to live in the Town they serve, older Hingham residents on fixed incomes, former residents seeking to return to Town, young adults raised in Hingham but unable to afford a Hingham residence, and other persons with a stake in the community and a desire to live in it.

The Trustees are appointed by the Board of Selectmen and include one member of that Board. The Trust has a wide range of powers, including the power to receive money and property and to undertake projects to improve affordable housing opportunities in Hingham. The Trust’s responsibilities include evaluating Hingham’s housing needs, formulating appropriate housing goals, reviewing Local Initiative Projects, identifying opportunities to enhance Hingham’s affordable housing inventory, and implementing and overseeing affordable housing projects.

In particular, the Housing Trust has taken over the former Housing Partnership Committee’s responsibilities with regard to planning and overseeing development of affordable housing on the “Selectmen’s Parcel” in the old Naval Ammunition Depot off Beal Street. An article authorizing a plan to develop this parcel was approved at the 2005 Town Meeting, and the Board of Selectmen released an RFP for this project in the fall of 2006. A developer was selected in 2007. The Trust is now seeking to make this a 40R project, which will benefit the Town, and is also involved in assisting and guiding the developer through the planning process. Besides the Selectmen’s Parcel, the Trust is exploring other affordable housing opportunities and taking additional steps to facilitate its objectives.

The Trust appreciates the cooperation of the Board of Selectmen, the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, as well as other Town boards and officials. The Trust also appreciates input and assistance from Town citizens, all of whom are welcome to attend its meetings.