Habitat for Humanity Seeks Land in Plympton for Affordable Housing
Town officials discuss potential collaboration amid challenges
PLYMPTON - January 27 - Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth is actively seeking suitable land in Plympton to build affordable housing, as discussed during the Jan. 27, 2025, Board of Selectmen meeting.
Amy Belmore, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, presented the organization's mission and operations to the board, highlighting their focus on providing affordable homeownership opportunities to households earning up to 60% of the area median income.
"We are very specifically reaching an underserved population," Belmore said. "Folks who are making, or households that are making up to 60% of the area median income."
The organization faces challenges in finding appropriate land in Plympton due to wetlands and rare species habitats. Despite these obstacles, town officials expressed interest in collaborating with Habitat for Humanity to bring affordable housing to the community.
Belmore emphasized that Habitat homes are not gifted but sold to qualified buyers with affordable mortgages. "These houses are not being given to the homeowner. They are becoming mortgage holders at an affordable rate over typically a 30-year term," she explained.
Habitat's model includes a "sweat equity" component, requiring adult homeowners to contribute 250 hours of work on their future home alongside volunteers. The organization also provides financial education to homeowners through the Money Smart program.
Town officials discussed potential ways to support Habitat's efforts, including exploring land donations from community members. Belmore noted that land donations to the nonprofit can offer tax benefits to donors.
"If there are listeners that have land, which is, we are registered 501c3, so there is tax benefit to not only financial donations to support Habitat, but also gifts of that nature," Belmore said.
The board expressed interest in prioritizing the search for suitable land for a Habitat project in Plympton this year.
In other business, the board addressed significant projected increases in the school budget for fiscal year 2026. Officials reported a 13.37% increase for Silver Lake and a 19.7% increase for Dennett Elementary School.
These increases are causing concern among Plympton officials, as well as neighboring towns Kingston and Halifax, about the sustainability of such budget growth.
"There's no way that we would be able to support that type of an increase," Town Administrator Liz Dennehy stated. "Kingston and Halifax, based on that public meeting that I attended about a week ago, they're not able to support those level of increases either."
The board discussed the need for more detailed information from the school district to understand the factors driving these substantial increases. They also mentioned the ongoing regionalization study, which Plympton School Committee will participate in to stay informed about potential future changes.
Officials emphasized the importance of collaborative decision-making regarding potential funding solutions, such as overrides or debt exclusions, to address both school budget increases and other town needs like the new fire station construction.
The board also:
- Approved the annual Best Buddies Challenge bicycle ride application for use of town roads on May 31, coordinating with the Plympton Police Department.
- Discussed upcoming meetings with the Finance Committee and Senator Dylan Fernandes.
The meeting concluded with board members expressing appreciation for the Massachusetts Municipal Association and its annual conference as valuable resources for town officials.