Committee Report - Housing - 8-24-11 — File 191833

August 24, 2011 Housing and Community Development Committee Page 1 of 1 Printed 8/24/2011 REPORT OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Sean T. O’Donovan Chair Present Dennis M. Sullivan Vice Chair Present Rebekah Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Absent Omar Boukili Administrative Assistant Present Dana LeWinter OSPCD - Housing Present Meridith Levy SCC Present • Housing Symposium Ms. LeWinter apprised the members of the upcoming Housing Symposium to be held on September 27th at the Highland Avenue Armory, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. There will be a wide range of topics discussed to educate the community about housing issues in Somerville. Notifications will be made using ResiStat, Facebook, the city’s website and print media. • Community Challenge Grant and Land Bank Ms. LeWinter spoke about these sources of funding and told the members that 6 initiatives could come about because of them, including land acquisition for affordable housing. The funds would be flexible, allowing the city to either use them itself or give non-profit agencies the ability to use them for affordable housing. • Senior Working Group and Senior Survey Ms. LeWinter referenced a recent survey of Somerville residents, aged 50 and older, that indicates that the senior population in Somerville is changing. As the report points out “This shift in the senior population, to a group of more educated individuals with greater purchasing power, could have a variety of implications in the way the City markets it services, programs, and engages this population.” The complete report is available on the city’s website in the OSPCD - HOUSING section. Chairman O'Donovan suggested that the survey be conducted every year.