March 4, 2021, Submitted by Hingham Unity Council
Hingham Unity Council continues to explore the many aspects of affordable housing with the third installment in its Let’s Talk Housing series, which features South Shore Habitat for Humanity. All are welcome to join this online event, which is co-sponsored by the Hingham Congregational Church and the Hingham Women’s Club, on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. South Shore Habitat for Humanity will be discussing its plans for two new homes on Whiting Street and how that initiative fits into a larger effort to increase housing supply and diversity in our community.
Speakers from South Shore Habitat for Humanity, executive director Beth Lyons and senior development officer Jill Tompkins, will provide information about the organization’s process and plans, including permitting, the resident application process, and the ways community members can get involved.
Data confirms that affordability is an issue in the Hingham community. According to a 2019 presentation by the Hingham Affordable Housing Trust, 30 percent of Hingham residents (2,493 households) experienced cost burdens from spending too much for their housing, including 17 percent (1,415 households) with severe cost burdens. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines cost-burdened families as those who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing, and severe cost-burdened families as those who pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing.
“With affordable housing being limited and our homes becoming more expensive, Habitat for Humanity houses are one way to help meet the demand and desire to live in our town with its many attractive resources, like open spaces and good schools,” says Pam Harty of the Hingham Unity Council steering committee. “We are pleased to continue this series about the many ways our town can enhance both affordability and diversity.”
Let’s Talk Housing 3.0 follows two previous discussions in the series, which featured State Representative Joan Meschino, and Hingham Housing Authority (HHA) Chair Janine Suchecki and Quincy Housing Authority’s Executive Director James Marathas. These events highlighted the need for affordable housing as well as various initiatives in motion. Replays of these events may be viewed at hinghamunity.org/video-library.
Let’s Talk Housing 3.0 is open to the public and will be presented via Zoom. Meeting information is available at https://hinghamunity.org/event/lets-talk-housing-3.