Ayer Housing Committee Votes to Seek $30,000 CPA Seed Grant for New Trust

AYER -- August 3, 2020, Ayer's Affordable Housing Committee unanimously approved submitting a $30,000 Community Preservation Act application to seed a proposed Affordable Housing Trust, with a presentation set for August 19 before the Community Preservation Committee. The trust, which requires town meeting approval on October 26, would initially provide rental assistance to low- and moderate-income residents, with income thresholds tied to Middlesex County area median income figures set by the Commonwealth. The committee also reviewed draft bylaws, agreeing to add transparency provisions requiring an annual financial report in the town report, and confirmed two public information sessions, August 24 and September 17, both at 7 p.m. to brief residents before the vote. In a separate announcement, staff member Alicia revealed the town had been awarded approximately $310,000 through a COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant, reduced from a $343,000 request by a 10 percent regionwide adjustment, covering housing, food assistance, Council on Aging services, and small businesses.