Dear Editor,
The Massachusetts housing crisis continues to worsen increasingly as each day goes by. According to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, Boston is already 38,000 housing units short of what is desired, and this number is expected to almost triple in the next ten years if no measures are enacted by the state.
The issue of inadequate supply and the problem of affordability of properties is apparent across all of Massachusetts. To resolve this crisis and obtain a noticeable effect on our community, significant efforts need to take place: Massachusetts governmental control of the housing market and programs to stimulate home building.
Rather than just letting the housing market dictate itself, authorities should step in to limit corporations that buy and resell many properties from purchasing a certain amount. Although these large businesses would be against this change, it should keep the overall price of homes in Massachusetts down and therefore grant more low-income families the ability to find affordable housing.
Furthermore, to solve the issue of insufficient supply, the government should develop certain programs that provide a monetary reward for individuals who construct new residential locations. This will prompt building companies to focus on the construction of houses rather than other properties.
Ultimately, the result will be an increase in the supply of houses on the market, which will decrease the price per unit for buyers, making it easier for all individuals to find a place to reside and thrive.
Everyone in our community should have the opportunity to purchase an affordable house; therefore, people should take immediate action so that a solution to this crisis can be obtained and the market can become stable once again.
— Brady Gorman, Hopkinton
Editorial Disclaimer: The views and perspectives presented in letters to the editor reflect the personal opinions of individual contributors and do not represent the official stance or endorsement of HopNews.
Have you ever tried to build any housing? The government places many restrictions and requirements that raise the cost of building affordable homes, from permitting fees, inspection fees, zoning & environmental restrictions, green energy requirements, building code requirements and building moratoriums. Try buying a lot in Hopkinton to build a 2 or 3-family, or even a tiny house… nope. Corporations buying and rehabilitating dilapidated properties is not the problem. They are updating the available housing stock.
The other main problem is NIMBY. Just look at the uproar that the MBTA Communities Act caused. And if you build more affordable housing, then you have to deal with the downstream results. More kids in school, more police, fire, trash pickup, senior services, traffic, etc. If a new home is net neutral with respect to the costs to provide services, then the price would be quite high.
So you want the government to come in and fix the problem. The government has never fixed a problem, only made it worse. That is exactly how Trump got re-elected. Thank goodness!
*citation needed*
The last thing Hopkinton needs is more housing. Traffic is insane, taxes are rising, schools are bursting at the seams. And those who profited from this don’t live in our town. It’s time to slow the insane population growth and focus on ideas that improve the town.
*citation needed*
As stated by the head of government, the President of the United States: “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” Ronald Reagan 1981.
How about building smaller houses that seniors who want to downsize can actually afford? We don’t need 6000 sq ft homes like those being built in town today.
People can’t afford to downsize. Maybe you bought your family home for 200k in the 90’s. It’s paid off, the kids are gone. Downsizing would have actually cost us money to move into a smaller home in town due to the pricing of today.
Exactly my point.
I agree completely with this message. I appreciate the well-thought out message and well researched information. You clearly know your housing stuff.
This opinion seems very well thought out. You clearly know you stuff. What do you think George Washington would during the start of the country.
I don’t know if anybody has ever been in the housing on Davis Rd but they so bad plywood cabinets in the kitchen the counters has big holes in them the stoves don’t work correctly that’s just some of the things going on down there we should be a shame if you ever had to put your mother or father in there or yourself so yes we do need housing for the elderly in this town the us dose not know how to take care of the elderly what ever happen to the golden years i guess it only happens on tv thanks