Susan Weinstein (incumbent)
ADDRESS: 279 Concord Rd
OCCUPATION AND/OR PREVIOUS SERVICE TO THE TOWN: Currently Executive Director, Families for Depression Awareness (www.familyaware.org); Elected and/or appointed offices in Wayland since 1992 (partial list): Housing Authority, Community Preservation Committee, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Board of Selectmen (previous), Growth Policy Committee (previous)
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE AND/OR SOCIAL MEDIA, IF ANY: None
The Wayland Housing Authority is federally funded. Are there concerns about budget cuts? If that were to happen, what options does the Housing Authority have?
In the current period of indiscriminate slashing of funding and government staff, of course we have concerns about funding reductions. For the time being, our public housing and housing voucher programs are maintaining funding levels. We also have completed a variety of capital improvements that will help preserve our housing structures.
Should we need to overcome a shortfall, the Housing Authority has reserve funds that could serve as a stopgap measure. Should the funding be further reduced, HUD would need to issue or waive regulations regarding tenancies and rent levels, and we would need to evaluate our position then. I believe the WHA will continue serving our elderly, disabled, and family residents for as long as possible in the most compassionate and fair way possible.
What are the needs for additional affordable housing?
Wayland’s housing stock is primarily owner-occupied, single-family, market-rate, detached homes. They are expensive and becoming even more so. Because of house and lot size requirements and the dearth of rental properties, moving to (and sometimes staying in) Wayland is not feasible for young people, older people, and even what we would characterize as middle-class people. I am hopeful that the Accessory Dwelling Unit law will enable more families to keep multiple generations at one property and generate income that could help a homeowner afford to stay here. I also am hopeful that the Town will open the way for shared housing for individuals living with intellectual or developmental disabilities. I’d also love for the Town to explore ways to accommodate multiple households (e.g., tiny houses) within a collective served by a common community building. I think that would be exciting!
