Amesbury Housing Trust

The Amesbury Housing Trust met on October 16, 2024. Members reviewed progress on implementing Bill 2021-107 (the Means‑Tested Senior Citizen Rental Assistance Program); the measure was reviewed as approved by the Council, possible implementation approaches were discussed, and the Trust agreed to gather additional data and work on a draft program application. That item was continued to a future meeting for further development. The Trust also received an update on its account balance ($165,662.10 net of prior appropriations) and was informed that six units pending sale at 130 Market St are expected to close before 12/31/2024 and generate approximately $60,000 in additional receipts.

OCED Director Nick Cracknell provided a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program update: the program is hiring a second Housing Rehabilitation Specialist to address a backlog, previously identified management deficiencies have been corrected, two previously paused projects have resumed, one lead inspection request is pending, one emergency roof repair for an elderly homeowner was approved, three additional projects will be reevaluated for eligibility, there are eight open/active cases and four completed constructions. On appointments, the Trust discussed potential representatives to the newly established Community Preservation Committee and the December 2, 2024 deadline for nominees. Ann Mary Connor moved (seconded by Nancy Frick) to nominate Andrew LeFleur as the Amesbury Housing Trust representative to the Community Preservation Committee (motion cites 2024-108); the nomination was approved 4-0. Administrative items included resuming monthly in-person meetings on the second Wednesday and scheduling continued discussion of rental assistance and down payment assistance for the next agenda. No public comments were received.