Policy Issue

Rise in housing costs leaves MetroWest families shut out of options

Unaffordable, unsafe, or unstable housing directly relates to negative health outcomes. Developing a regional strategy for affordable housing now will leave the door open for diverse and healthy communities.

December 20, 2022

The cost of housing is high in MetroWest, even more so since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Opportunities are slim for families and individuals seeking affordable places to buy or rent. And, the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housing market in MetroWest remain to be seen; The rates of eviction filings in Framingham and Marlborough since most pandemic-related housing assistance programs have ended are among the highest in the eastern part of the state.

The Foundation’s latest report, Shut Out: Understanding the affordable housing crisis in MetroWest, details the high costs of and instability in the region’s housing market over the past decade through facts and figures. Municipal level data for the 25 communities included in the foundation’s report can be accessed by contacting the report’s author, Kate Baker (kbaker@mwhealth.org).

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