The Falmouth Housing Trust will co-host an informational meeting for the community on Monday, January 13, 2014 at 7 PM in the West Falmouth Library's Community Room.  The event is free and open to the public!

Guests will hear from Eladio R. Gore, Building Commissioner for the Town of Falmouth, on building codes changes and compliance.  Bob Shea, Geographic Information System Coordinator for the Town of Falmouth, will access maps electronically and display various zones for the audience located within the Town of Falmouth. 

Senior Loan Officer, Addie M. Drolette of Rockland Trust will discuss the effect the new maps will have on properties that are mortgaged.  Douglas D. MacDonald, of Murray and MacDonald Insurance Services, Inc. will follow Ms. Drolette's presentation with an explanation and discussion on FIRM, (Flood Insurance Rate Maps) and what the implementation schedule for July 2014 will mean for consumers.

The panel's presentation will last roughly 40 minutes with a question and answer period to follow.  The evening's presentation is jointly sponsored by the Falmouth Housing Trust, the West Falmouth Library and the West Falmouth Village Association.

For more information, please contact the FHT office, 508-540-2370, or on line, info@FalmouthHousingTrust.org.  The West Falmouth Library is located at 575 West Falmouth Highway, Rt. 28A, in West Falmouth Village.

For the second year in a row the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development has released income data for our region that has decreased from the previous year.

While this year's figures were decreased less than one thousand dollars per bracket, the increase is troubling.  Most notably the sharpest decreased was found for one person, decreasing $650 from last year's figures.  

Most problematic are the conclusions drawn from these figures.  The Cape's income reports include retirement income, or investments.  While the money is definitely real, it hasn't usually been earned here on Cape Cod.  This gives us a false report on what the workforce is producing.  We know that the senior population is growing, estimates for 2030 put those 65 or over at half our population, or 50%!  When you consider these factors and assume that retirement investments are fairly conservative, or steady, the decrease in income figures demonstrates a significant drop for the real workforce.  

For anyone working with families or in human services, this is no surprise.  This data, among other similar reports allows us to state that economic development and affordable housing continue to be a huge unmet need here on Cape Cod, and to a larger extent, Massachusetts.

Its the New Year, and most of us start off with resolutions regarding savings, and money, etc.  Take a minute and add up your housing expenses and this should include heat, electricity & other utilities, insurance, mortgage or rent, etc.  If the total of what you spent for housing surpasses 30% of your annual income, your housing is considered un-affordable.  Simply put your housing expenses exceed what is recommended and because of that other areas of your personal budget will suffer; education, entertainment, healthcare & medication, travel, savings, etc.

As always, for questions, more conversation about this article, or referral information, contact the Falmouth Housing Trust office.  We are here to serve our community ~ Falmouth!

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Economically FRUITFUL 2014!