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