Housing Headlines

HYANNIS --- Changes both big and small have been happening at the downtown Hyannis homeless shelter, which has been managed for the last three months by Catholic Social Services. Formerly managed by the Housing Assistance Corp. and now called St. Joseph's, changes include a fence to give residents privacy and a requirement that residents save 30 percent of their income while living at the shelter.

BOSTON --- The Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MAHA) did something special for the latest graduates of its homebuyer education program, bringing in Mayor Marty Walsh to present them with certificates and to talk about why homebuyer education is so critical to being a successful first-time buyer.

CONCORD --- The town's Finance Committee is questioning whether the town should contribute $3 million in local funds to help a developer build 83 affordable assited living units on 12 acres of town land near the MCI-Concord prison

BEVERLY --- Concerned that current zoning would allow a large tract of land called Folly Hill to be developed into over 700 units, the Planing Board has recommended a zoning change that would increase lot size, reduce the number of units to 172 and allow only single-family homes. However, the land's owner - the Reeve family - could file plans that would hold the old zoning in place for eight years.

NATICK --- The Natick Housing Authority recently celebrated the grand opening of a rehabilitated home on Plain St. that will provide two two-bedroom affordable units. The home was rehabbed with $435,000 in state and federal funds, including $125,000 in federal funds from the MetroWest HOME Consortium.

PROVINCETOWN - Voters in a Tuesday, Feb. 7 special election o again said yes to a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion that will allow the town to borrow $10.7 million to buy a bankrupt time-share complex for use as middle-income rental homes. The election means the town can now bid on buying the 26-unit Harbor Hill development. Sealed bids are due Feb. 14 and the final auction is slated for Feb. 27.