HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993 Reading Housing Authority Annual ReportC /J
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22 Frank D. Tanner Drive • Reading, MA 01867 -2399 • 617- 944 -6755
1992 -1993 ANNUAL REPORT
The Reading Housing Authority is happy to announce that it has
recently acquired three (3) additional units of family housing
on Main Street. With this new acquisition the Authority curren
operates 241 units of low- income housing: 80 units of elderly/
handicapped housing at Frank D. Tanner Drive; 13 units of famil
housing: 6 at Waverly /Oakland Road, 4 at Parker /Pleasant Stree
and 3 at Summer /Main Street; 8 units of Housing for People with
Special Needs at Bancroft Avenue; 4 elderly units at Schoolhous
condos; 136 rental assistance certificates and vouchers, which
house people in private residences throughout the community
and are supported by contracts through HUD's Section 8 Program
and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP).
The Reading Housing Authority, as a member of a 4 -Town consortiu
comprised of Melrose, Reading, Saugus, and Wakefield Housing
Authorities is a forerunner in the Federal government's restruct
of the entitlement system. With the award of 100 vouchers from
HUD, the four communities under the "Family Self- Sufficiency
(FSS) Program" are working with governmental agencies, school
systems, daycare providers and local business groups to coordina
housing, daycare, education, training and the necessary social
service components which would enable families to become fully
employed and not dependent on welfare assistance within 5 -7
years. Ms. Barbara Zenn Rediker, LICSW, is the Program Coordin
that is working with community leaders for the necessary trainin
education, daycare and other support services necessary to enabl
families to achieve self - sufficiency. The FSS orientation sessi
were held in March 1993 and the program is operational with
over 16 families enrolled in the program and over 40 more in
process. In order to insure its success locally, Ms. Rediker
will be speaking with local groups and civic organizations to
enlighten them about the program and how they can help in this
new and exciting reform program.
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The Board of Selectmen and the Housing Authority Board members
have been working together on the inclusionary zoning for both
the Pearl Street School and the Bear Hill sites. Although in
preliminary stages, the Authority is excited about the new and
varied housing opportunities that are possible with these linkage
programs. The Board of Selectmen has promised their full support
to the Authority as they negotiate with the developers for the
mandated "inclusionary" housing units.
r Equal Housing Opportunity
TDD 617- 944 -9710
L
Reading Housing Authority
Page 2
Annual Report 92/93
The recreation hall at Tanner Drive is still being used by the
Oil Painting, Dance and Exercise classes sponsored by Reading
Elder Services; Blood Pressure and Flu Clinics sponsored by
Reading Health Department; weekly music by Downeast Revival
every Wednesday night (all welcome); monthly music with Roaring
Jelly, playing square and contra dance tunes, every second Tues,
of the month (all welcome); monthly social functions for Tanner -
Club and Reading Singles Club; the annual Daughters of the
American Revolution Dinner and the Mystic Valley Elder Services
Annual Breakfast Meeting.
The current officers of the Reading Housing Authority are:
Chairman - William E. McIsaac
Vice - Chairman - Rev. Robert K. Sweet, Jr.
Treasurer - Arthur J. Reynolds, Jr.
Assistant Treasurer - Donald Allen (State Appointee)
Member - Jean H. Galvin
Secretary and Executive Director - Margaret K. Plansky
The Board and staff have been busy working on new
housing opportunties. The focus for the upcoming
work with the local authorities, banks, developers
and innovati
year is to
.ay
-ille
and townspeo le
to assure access and a greater diversification of housing oppor unties
within the community for people of all income levels. This
commitment of the Authority will provide and protect equal acce s
to developments within the Town to diverse populations, while
still maintaining the small town atmosphere of the Reading community.
We look forward to meeting this challenge.
Respectfully submitted,
William E. McIsaac, Chairma
READING HOUSING AUTHORITY