Forum highlights need for cheaper, smaller housing

By Mike Berger

Canton’s senior population is increasing and there is a definite need for affordable housing options in the town as well as housing for smaller households.

These were some of the key takeaways from last week’s virtual public forum hosted by the Board of Trustees for the town’s Municipal Affordable Housing Trust.

Having recently begun the process of developing a Housing Production Plan (HPP), the trustees scheduled the forum in order to familiarize residents with the HPP process and to solicit their feedback regarding Canton’s housing needs and priorities.

The purpose of an HPP, according to the trustees, is to help the community find the best ways to meet its housing needs and shape the location, type, and design of development. The HPP will consider best practices to help promote diverse housing options that are sensitive to the community context and capacity. When completed, the plan will include various recommendations for the town, such as zoning improvements, potential redevelopment and reuse opportunities, and housing programs.

This project was launched in January with an analysis of community needs and existing housing conditions. During Monday’s Zoom forum, consultant Jenn Goldson presented several of her research findings to the board. Notably, Goldson said the town’s population — currently at 24,370 — is projected to continue growing steadily through 2040, while the proportion of residents over 65 is forecast to rise from 19 percent to 27 percent during that period.

Goldson also noted that Canton, like many towns and cities across Massachusetts, is becoming more diverse, with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) residents now making up over a quarter of the town’s population. Additionally, roughly a quarter of Canton’s households earn less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income and about 2,465 households could potentially qualify for affordable housing.

With 12.6 percent of its housing stock designated as affordable, Canton has managed to exceed the state goal of 10 percent. However, Goldson emphasized that many of the affordability restrictions currently in place will be expiring over the next decade, leading to a potential loss of many affordable units in the town.

Already, said Goldson, there is a widening gap between housing costs in Canton and what residents can afford …

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