Not an easy thing to do. From stereotypes to misunderstandings, many people fight, or are apathetic toward, one of the key things that would add vibrancy to their community: diverse housing options.

Thank goodness for communities like Medway in the Metrowest area who are pushing back on the resistance to build support for affordable housing. By reinvigorating their Affordable Housing Committee and establishing a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Medway has identified key stakeholders who are developing a smart road map to guide the creation of new affordable units in town.

Several residents, with the support of Medway’s Coordinator of Planning and Economic Development, have given an extraordinary amount of time to develop a Housing Planned Production Plan, update the town’s affordable housing section in the Master Plan, as well as create a five-year plan for the Housing Trust. This past spring, they succeeded in receiving $433,000 from Town Meeting to fund the first year of their Affordable Housing Trust!

On December 8, MAHA participated with Alison Slack, chair of Medway’s Affordable Housing Committee, in the Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s (MHP) workshop in Sturbridge to tell the Medway story. Given that the theme of the day was “Strategies for Building Support for Affordable Housing,” Medway’s methodical way of creating a foundation of support was a perfect fit.

Now the rubber meets the road. Will Medway be able to add affordable units in the next few years?