Jericho Affordable Housing Committee
The Jericho Affordable Housing Committee was established by the Selectboard in November of 2020 with a mission to increase the availability of affordable housing in order to support a more diverse, vibrant and inclusive community by lowering economic, racial and social barriers to living in Jericho.
What does the Jericho Affordable Housing Committee do?
- Collect relevant data to inform decision making by the Planning Commission and Selectboard (Potentially through a formal Housing Needs Assessment).
- Fundraise sufficient money through donations, grants and other means to assist with the development of affordable housing options.
- Serve in an advisory capacity to the Town regulatory bodies (e.g. Selectboard, Development Review Board) and other Town commissions (e.g. conservation commission, planning commission).
- Work with local, state, and regional entities to obtain funding and promote a favorable climate for affordable housing.
- Educate the public on the affordable housing needs and opportunities in Jericho.
- Advocate for affordable housing on the local and state level.
We're Seeking One New Member
The Selectboard just appointed six founding members for 1, 2 or 3 year terms. We are looking for one more member.
If you're interested, please contact Paula Carrier - her contact information is found on the sidebar of this page.
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ADU Survey Summary
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Summary of Results
ADU Survey conducted in the Spring of 2021
by Jericho’s Affordable Housing Committee
An ADU, or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), is an additional, small dwelling on an owner's property or an accessory apartment attached to a single-family home, garage or outbuilding. Our Committee wanted to explore ADUs as one method to provide more affordable housing in Jericho. To understand how ADUs serve our community today and how we can make them a more accessible option in the future, we asked Jericho ADU owners and renters to complete a brief survey. This is what we found.
Our survey was completed by 10 owners and 2 renters; representing roughly 15% of ADUs in Jericho. The survey data indicates ADUs in Jericho are primarily:
- intended for long-term rental and/or family use,
- 1-bedroom apartments,
- attached to or within the primary dwelling, and
- rented by adult-only households (rather than families with children)
- for less than $1000/mos
This is substantially below what market rents would be for this area. Fair market rent for Jericho is $1,265 as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
While the expense of construction can be a barrier to adding an ADU, most of the owners that completed our survey reported the ADU existed at time of purchase (or had been included in initial construction). The more substantial barriers were navigating permitting and interactions with town officials or the unknown of being a first-time landlord (for example, how to identify good tenants).
NONE of the owners recommended against ADUs. Owners cited additional income and family need as their primary reasons for having an ADU. This endorsement speaks to the feasibility of ADUs, despite the barriers identified. Both renters strongly recommended ADUs as an affordable way to live in Jericho (both have been residents for multiple years).
Our survey supports the notion that ADUs are one way Jericho can attract new residents to our community with affordable housing and have current residents benefit from additional income or the flexibility of multi-generational living. It also suggests that there are already ADUs in Jericho that are not being rented, but would be if:
- Permitting, regulations, and town officials were easier to navigate and access
- Resources and answers to frequently asked questions were centralized
- Residents could be connected with neighbors who currently rent an ADU to share their experiences first-hand
To directly address these needs, the Affordable Housing Committee is developing an ADU portal on the town website. Stay tuned for its launch in the Fall of 2021!
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We Need You!
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The newly formed Jericho Housing Committee needs members! Please consider joining this committee that will address the important issue of providing affordable housing in Jericho. Contact Paula Carrier (her contact info is on the sidebar of this page) if you're interested.
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Presentation to the Planning Commission 8-3-21
Meeting Videos
