On the subject of affordable housing, could someone educate me about the 11 vacant, seemingly abandoned-in-the-middle-of-the-night, single-family, ranch-style houses on Launcher Way and Oxbow? I’ve driven by this deserted neighborhood for six years now on my way to LSRHS, and wondered how such waste of would-be affordable housing stock is possible. Why isn’t it being used? Heather Anderson
Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 28, 2022, at 9:47 AM, Victoria Benalfew <abelan...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Hi Patrick, > > You raised many good points that I agree with. I do want to point out though > that having a full time "good-paying" job isn't enough anymore (or maybe the > wages of what one can consider a "good paying" job has changed considerably). > > Take the job that pays $20. At 40 hours per week, that is $800. Monthly pay > before taxes will be $3200. Now assume this person is a single parent of one > child or the caretaker of elderly parents with meager Social Security > incomes. > > A 2 bedroom apartment costs roughly $2000. Already over 50 percent of their > pre-tax income has been taken for rent. Utilities are additional, as are > food, childcare, et cetera. > > This is why in addition to the need for physical housing in accessible > areas, there is a need for truly affordable housing, which I would consider > as income-driven rents, where families can afford to live and make ends meet. > > Thank you for reading, > > Victoria Benalfew > >> On Fri, Jan 28, 2022, 9:05 AM Patrick B <patricksvoi...@gmail.com> wrote: >> Hi Lincoln, >> >> To understand the housing situation, we must understand what is happening in >> Boston and the region: >> When housing costs go up in Boston, it goes up everywhere. >> Affordability of housing is not just about cost, it's about access to public >> transportation and jobs. >> Builders have been building fewer houses since 2008. They are building >> houses and apartments mainly in high income areas (along 128). >> Another factor is that people who used to retire and move south are now >> staying because of the quality of our healthcare system here in Mass. >> I think the solution is real full time jobs that pay well (at least $20). >> Another positive thing that I see happening in the next 5 years is >> conversion of many office and commercial spaces into apartments. >> I hope this helps. >> >> Thank you, >> >> P >> >>> On Fri, Jan 28, 2022 at 7:04 AM Christine Damon <christinehda...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> I am so happy Housing is being discussed here! >>> >>> I love the proposal for more units close to the train station and I love >>> the proposals for more accessory apartments as residents recognize that >>> they can comfortably live in much smaller spaces and help reduce their >>> ecological footprint. >>> >>> Like Susan, I have looked in vain for affordable units in eastern Ma when I >>> was the director of a migrant educational program and my students faced >>> eviction during the pandemic. >>> >>> Now I teach at HAB and hear students talking about how their parents plan >>> to retire from the military but struggle to find housing in the region. >>> >>> A small group of us here in Lincoln have been looking for two years for an >>> affordable apartment in town for a single mother of 3 who is a social >>> worker in her country of origin but who works as a cleaning person at an >>> elder care facility while she learns English. Her monthly income is less >>> than the cost of a 2-bedroom rental. >>> >>> I feel hopeful both that environmental awareness is speeding up downsizing >>> and that awareness is growing about the damage of systemic racism in >>> housing realities and about how that works to maintain America’s caste >>> system. >>> >>> I love this town but struggled to sustain the love, especially during the >>> large house building boom of the 1990s. Currently my love is strengthening >>> as I see the pendulum shifting in a healthier direction on so many fronts >>> and on so many issues. >>> >>> Thank you all for all you do and for choosing to live in this special place. >>> >>> Chris Damon >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. >> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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