Is Heading for Home a 501c3 tax exempt organization?
Currently Heading for Home is not a tax-exempt organization but there are plans to apply for tax exempt status once the Board of Directors and Committee structure has solidified.
What is the relationship Between Heading for Home and the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce?
Heading for Home is a separate organization for which the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce will provide fiscal agency. This means that, for a nominal fee, the Chamber will provide administrative support, i.e. accounts payable and receivable, payroll and possibly space for staffing
How is Heading for Home funded?
Heading for Home is a voluntary organization funded by donations of its members. The commitment will be for three years and is based on the number of employees employed by each company. Heading for Home plans to establish a set of goals and objectives by which we can measure progress which will give us a clear understanding of what to do after three years.
What is Workforce Housing?
Workforce housing applies to all income levels within our workforce. A household’s total housing costs, according to federal guidelines, should be no more than 30 % of the household’s income. By this standard, a significant number of Monadnock Region residents cannot affort to lease an apartment or purchase a home. Our housing market has lagged in the production of new units and, therefore, existing units have increased in price/cost so significantly that a large number of our workforce cannot afford to live in them.
Who Comprises the Heading for Home Coalition?
The members of Heading for Home are Monadnock Region business and individuals who believe that there needs to be a concerted effort in addressing the affordable workforce housing issues in our region.
Businesses and Organizations who have pledged support to Heading for Home include: Cheshire Housing Trust, Cheshire Medical Center, Countrywide Home Loans, Keene Housing Authority, Masiello Insurance Agency Inc., Monadnock Collaborative/Pilot Health, Panel Pros, Inc., SVE Associates, Weller & Michal Architects Inc.
Individuals who have pledged support to Heading for Home include: Curtis Hiebert, Keith Thibault and Daniel Henderson.
Local Housing Advocates
The following Monadnock region organizations have information and programs helpful to the pursuit of housing for all.
The Southwest Region Planning Commision is one of nine regional planning commissions in New Hampshire established under RSA 36. SWRPC covers a 36-town area in Cheshire, western Hillsborough, and Sullivan Counties. A 2003 report on Southwest Region Housing Trends and Conditions is available at http://www.swrpc.org/library/index.htm.
The Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce provides training and development for employees, marketing opportunities and special events to link the diverse components of the Monadnock Region, named for the mountain that has served as inspiration and recreation for those who live and visit here.
What You Can Do
- Host an informational gathering
- Highlight the efforts of the Housing Coalition
- Invite employees to participate
- Secure speaking engagements
- Participate in local zoning and planning discussions
- Write a letter to the editor
- Call or email elected officials
- Testify at local public hearings
- Testify at legislative hearings
- Donate time and dollars
Why is a Coalition Needed?
A Workforce Housing Task Force was convened in 2003 by the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce to respond to a growing lag in housing production and a growing disparity in area wages and housing costs throughout the Monadnock Region.
Area finance and business leaders, Keene State College, Antioch New England, City of Keene, the Keene Housing Authority, Southwestern Community Services, Cheshire Housing Trust, and the Southwest Region Planning Commission were invited to participate in the exploration the problem and the effort to help find a solution. It was determined that the Monadnock region needs a unified and consistent voice to progress toward a solution to our workforce housing problems. The Upper Valley Housing Coalition and the Seacoast Housing Coalition were able to provide guidance.
Workforce housing applies to all income groups, not just low income groups. Both the rental market and owner-occupied dwellings are impacted. Our region has stalled in its ability to meet the needs of our population.
Our mission will be fulfilled through information sharing and awareness building about the economic and community impacts of imbalances between housing stock, housing costs, wages, job growth, employee retention and the need for environmentally responsible housing development. The coalition hopes to attract a broad range of businesses and individuals to help improve the atmosphere encouraging the market to respond to the needs of our communities