Public Invited to Respond to Survey on Housing in Amherst

Source: amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst invites the community to participate in a survey to help shape the future of housing in Amherst. Feedback from this anonymous survey will inform the town’s Housing Production Plan by helping to understand current housing needs and preferences in order to develop strategies to address them. Responses are welcome from year-round residents, students, and residents of other communities in the region, especially those who work, have lived, or would like to live in Amherst. 

Take the Survey Here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/AmherstHPP

The survey will close at 5:00 pm on Saturday, November 30. 
Paper copies are available at Town Hall (4 Boltwood Ave, Amherst, MA 01002).

The Town is updating its Housing Production Plan (HPP) to chart a path toward addressing the affordable housing needs of low- and moderate-income people in Amherst. The HPP, last updated in 2013, will include data about who needs housing and what options currently exist, identify goals for different housing types, and name strategies Amherst might pursue to strengthen affordable housing opportunities. 

The first town-wide HPP Community Meeting was hosted on Tuesday, October 1 by the Town and Barrett Planning Group where attendees learned about the HPP process and had an opportunity to share their hopes and vision for the future of housing in Amherst. In addition to this public survey, future opportunities for public participation include community forums, interviews, and meetings of public bodies.

The purpose of a Housing Production Plan (HPP) is to facilitate the development and preservation of affordable homes, including housing that meets the requirements of the state’s affordable housing law, commonly known as Chapter 40B. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) regulates HPPs, which are required to receive local adoption by the Planning Board and Council before submission to EOHLC for approval. HPPs have three essential elements including: 1) Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment, 2) Affordable Housing Goals, and 3) Implementation Strategies. 

Learn more about Chapter 40B Housing Production Plans.
Learn more about the Amherst Housing Production Plan 2024.

For questions or more information, please contact Associate Planner/Housing Coordinator Greg Richane at richaneg@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3048.  

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