By Arthur Moore
This is a tough issue; Granted I am not an expert but being a senior and knowing many and talking to them and seeing what is going on in their lives I get a pretty good idea of some of the problems first hand.
First I don’t believe we have such a thing as affordable housing. I have seen lower pricing but nowhere near the range of being actually affordable on most seniors’ incomes, One problem I hear about is seniors selling their home to move to a condo. Many of the new condos do not have much parking. Its sad to learn this after making a big move as now having friends and family visit become a big issue, Some have already had to suck it up and move out and relocate, Some I have been able to warn beforehand. It seems like anything being built here is useless for seniors unless they are hermits Even then senior services have no parking to come and aid them. They were better off in their big houses. Some landlords that can do it are very good to our seniors and they give them a big break Some have family that helps, some just end up being homeless and live on the streets, This is all I have seen firsthand. I have also seen the city many times have a chance to help and blew it. Powder House school should have been one of those to help homeless, sadly it was not. The old Star market since the people of Winter Hill will never get what they want which would be a supermarket could be made into something good. But once again not only do we get something we do not want here it is more useless multiuse buildings. How well did that work on the other corner? I do not know the answer but I have also seen nothing done about this. I have heard the talk for years for affordable housing. I have no expectations any more of seeing that here in Somerviile. We have a supply and demand issue here that will not let that happen. Money comes first is the rule. And remember, the people that have been in office and running for reelection or another office only talk about this at election time and afterwards nothing. KI expect more of the same.