Ribbon cut on new affordable and workforce housing project in Concord
CONCORD, N.H. — A pressing housing shortage is creating calls for more affordable places to live. State officials say it's staying a relevant topic for voters to keep in mind, with ballot boxes opening in less than two weeks.
Nonprofit CATCH Neighborhood Housing cut the ribbon on a 48-unit affordable and workforce housing project, called Davis Ridge, Thursday morning in Concord.
Offering one, two, and three-bedroom units, the $13.3 million complex is expected to be completed by November. Fitted with amenities like a playground, community room, and laundry facilities on-site, the sizable location addresses a bigger problem for voters who need more places to live.
"This is for the schoolteacher, for the firefighter, and the police officer," says CATCH President and CEO Tom Furtado. "Voters are the individuals who reside in developments like this."
Among the scheduled speakers at the ribbon cutting were Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Both shared sentiments on why the need for more developments like these could affect how people make a decision on Election Day.
"Unless New Hampshire can solve this housing crisis, we're not going to be able to attract workers, we're going to stifle the economy," says Hassan. "It's really a critical priority."
"If we're going to have the kind of state we all love to live in, we have to invest in it, and that's what affordable housing is all about," adds Shaheen.
At the forefront of building more homes is the need for more resources to make it happen. That includes a boost to financial support for housing projects on both the state and federal levels, something those developing these complexes are still waiting for.
"It's a challenge, but it's achievable," says CATCH Vice President Alex Panagiotakos, "as long as there's funding for developers to create affordable housing."
Developers and lawmakers alike agree projects like Davis Ridge are putting the Granite State on the right track, despite the roadblocks created since the height of the pandemic.
"There's housing for all residents in New Hampshire. We just need to build more of it," adds Furtado.
Hassan said the only way to make sure living becomes a more affordable reality comes down to supply. According to her, New Hampshire still needs 60,000 additional affordable housing units by 2030 to properly meet the need.
