The Long Haul
We’ve come so far. There’s further to go.
Here’s the story of a little island making big waves:
NOVEMBER 2020The beginning
Deep in COVID, watching real estate prices soar and the island’s workforce leaving, two housing advocates wondered if it wasn’t time to resurrect the old housing bank campaign. (It had failed twice, coming close as far back as 2005 before being knocked down by the MA Real Estate lobby).
They put the word out and formed a Steering Committee of Islanders and washashores, young and old, from every town.
The group Zoomed on Saturday mornings. From couches and kitchen tables, over countless cups of coffee, in PJs, with family members peeking into the frame, “they” became “we.”
MAY 2021Creating a vision
We drafted a vision for the housing bank, shared it widely, asked for feedback, and integrated it.
DECEMBER 2021Taking it to the towns
We pitched An Act Establishing the MV Housing Bank to all six town Select Boards. They endorsed it!
APRIl-May 2022Taking it to the people
Landslide majorities in all six towns approved An Act Establishing The MV Housing Bank at both town meeting and the ballot box.
JULY 2022The Housing Review Board
A Housing Bank Review Board was appointed by our six towns to consider amendments to An Act Establishing The MV Housing Bank. They made no substantive changes.
JANUARY 17, 2023The Bill Goes to Beacon Hill
Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Dylan Fernandes formally filed An Act Establishing the MV Housing Bank.
MARCH 23, 2023Martha Goes to Beacon Hill
We shipped up to Boston 300 strong! We met with legislators, rallied on the capitol steps, and generally knocked legislators’ socks off. Weeks later, the place was still buzzing!
OCTOBER 18, 2023The Affordable Homes Act
Governor Healey filed a historic housing bond bill (The Affordable Homes Act), including a statewide local option for a transfer fee
Thanks to supportive written and oral testimony from the Island, The transfer fee sailed through the Joint Committee on Housing and the House Committee on Bonding before landing on the desks of the House Ways and Means committee.
We flooding Way and Means members with hundreds of emails, and made calls, morning to night. Despite all the noise, Way and Means cut the transfer fee out of the bill.
The transfer-fee-less bill passed first in the House, then in the Senate.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee declined to reinstate the provision and it was not included in the final legislation...
SUMMER 2024How the Sausages Gets Made
Thanks to supportive written and oral testimony from the Island, The Affordable Homes Act (AHA) sailed through the Joint Committee on Housing and the Joint Committee on Bonding.
When it arrived before the House Ways and Means Committee, we flooded members with hundreds of emails, and made calls, morning to night. Despite our pleas, Way and Means cut the transfer fee out of the AHA.
The (edited) AHA passed on the House floor, and was referred to the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee. Senate Ways and Means declined to reinstate the transfer fee, so it was not included in the final legislation...
PRESENT DAY
We are disappointed a transfer fee was not included in Affordable Homes Act (AHA). Maybe even as disappointed as our state Sen. Julian Cyr, who has tirelessly worked for its passage! But, like Sen. Cyr, we are not done. Not hardly.
The AHA’s Seasonal Communities designation allows the creation of a regional housing bank, which will require some additional work here locally. And we still have work at the State Level to procure the transfer fee to fund it.
Our focus is razor-sharp.
A plan for the 2025 legislative session is taking shape.
We’ll be in touch for your input and support soon!