Answers will help town to fill housing needs

SHARON — A major housing needs survey of Sharon is currently underway sponsored by HousingUs, an initiative of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, the Northwest Connecticut Regional Planning Collaborative, the Sharon Housing Trust and the town of Sharon.A mailing sent to all Sharon addresses by the Board of Selectmen noted, “The results of this survey will be used to create the kinds of specific housing our community needs for our seniors, young families, employees and town volunteers, but we can’t do it without your input.”The sponsors of the survey want to plan strategies and build housing to help meet the needs of those who live, work or volunteer in Sharon. All survey responses are anonymous.Jocelyn Ayers, program coordinator for HousingUs, said, “I have been working with the Sharon selectmen and the Housing Trust to figure out exactly what types of housing might be needed by the folks who live and or work in Sharon,” Ayer added. “We have studies of income levels and other factors, but we really need to hear directly from these folks about what types of homes they are interested in; whether they are interested in rental or home ownership; and what they can afford to pay. This information will help the Housing Trust be better targeted to community needs.”The survey sponsors also want to hear from people who have grown up in Sharon, may now be in college and would one day like to return to Sharon, but know they cannot now afford to live there.“We really need to hear from people who live, work or volunteer in Sharon, so we can make sure that the strategies and kinds of housing we build going forward meet their needs,” Ayer said.People who work in Sharon but live elsewhere are encouraged to participate in this survey. All survey responses are needed by Aug. 30. Survey forms can be picked up at the selectmen’s office in Town Hall or by visiting the town’s website at www.sharonct.org.

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