THURSDAY, November 10, 2022
In person, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Orleans Senior Center
150 Rock Harbor Road, Orleans
Masks are encouraged
Orleans Housing: How extensive is the housing crisis in Orleans? What do we mean by ‘affordable housing’? Which housing needs should we address? Do we have viable solutions?
The Orleans Citizens Forum will host a forum digging deeper into the ‘housing problem’. Everyone agrees we need ‘affordable housing’, but everyone is not talking about the same thing. There are multiple housing needs, each with its own challenges. If we are going to tackle the housing problem in Orleans we need to understand the problem thoroughly. Who are the housing-stressed people in Orleans and how do we prioritize their needs? Who we want to provide housing for: Low-income or missing middle-income families? Young professionals or hourly wage earners? Municipal employees or labor force for area businesses? Grown children of our neighbors or people commuting to work in Orleans? All of the above? Lastly, we need to look at the resources needed and obstacles faced to provide the different types of housing needed to allow people to live and work here.
Fran McClennen, of the Affordable Housing Committee, will explain the types of housing needs facing Orleans, and help us understand the terminology used to define these needs.
Lisa Simundson, Executive Director, Orleans Chamber of Commerce, will illustrate the effect lack of affordable housing has on local businesses. In turn, we will see how all of us are affected by the lack of services driven by the housing shortage.
Hadley Luddy, Chief Executive Officer, Orleans Homeless Prevention Council (HPC), will put a face on the housing and financially stressed residents of the Lower and Outer Cape.
Marsha Allgeier, Affordable Housing Coordinator for the Town of Orleans, will speak to the challenges we face providing affordable and attainable housing, including available government subsidies, other possible incentives and strategies, and ongoing planning and efforts needed.
Following the presentations there will discussion with the audience.
Please attend to discuss these issues of vital importance to Orleans
The Orleans Citizens Forum is an unbiased, public service organization dedicated to keeping the residents of Orleans knowledgeable about the issues confronting our town