Planning for Success
Public Education
ASSOCIATES INC
Educate the Public on the Need for and Benefits of Housing
Issues /Opportunities Addressed: C)
Timeframe for Action: Short and Mid Term
Housing, and particularly affordable housing, can be a challenging topic to discuss and
describe in most communities. There are often many misconceptions around affordable
housing, who it is for, how it is designed, the presumed issues that come with it, and why it
is needed. The topic of affordable housing tends to draw out negative comments and
misinformation which swirls on social media, websites, and in our daily community
conversations with friends and neighbors. Anti-housing advocates can quickly spread
misinformation and potentially derail needed housing investments.
To get out ahead of any potential communication issues around housing, the City should
consider a public education campaign to help educate residents, property owners, and
even elected officials on the concepts around affordable housing and the issues it can
help address. The campaign could include:
¢ A dedicated website to collect and distribute information on affordable housing
¢ Social media campaigns with regular posting or links to information
¢ Public meetings or pop-up events to talk about housing in Nashua
¢ Public service announcement on local cable access channels
¢ Informational flyer or mailer sent to households in Nashua
¢ Asemi-regular topic of discussion at Board of Aldermen meetings
The City of Salem, MA recently conducted a media campaign around affordable housing
in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The “Homes for
Salem’ initiative is a video series highlighting the struggles Salem residents and workers
face in finding affordable housing. The four-part video series tackled topics on the
housing market, housing needs, meeting housing challenges, and spreading the word.
Nashua Housing Study - 62
Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership
Building public support for affordable housing.
Municipal Officials trained.on affordable Citizens participated in our Advocacy Training
housing Issues and strategies Program
Case Study — Public Support for Affordable Housing, Cape Cod, MA
The affordable housing crisis on Cape Cod due to the uptick in seasonal and
vacation rental units was driving the housing market out of reach for many
who live and work locally. The Lower Cape Community Housing Partnership
was started as a community-based strategy to build public awareness and
support for affordable housing. The Partnership equips low- to moderate-
income residents, business leaders, municipal staff, and elected officials with
the knowledge and skills to support the creation of more affordable housing.
The three-part strategy included the formation of the Lower Cape Housing
Institute which is a six-week workshop for municipal officials to equip them
with the tools and resources to boost affordable housing. The Lower Cape
Advocacy Training which is directed at residents to equip them with
information to be able to speak up at public meetings. Public Education which
sought to share information on the importance of affordable housing with the
public at-large.
Source: Lower Cape Partnership
