Agenda Summary
title
Conveying budget priorities and requests for FY 2025.
body
Official Text
Madam Mayor and members of the Executive Branch,
Below you will find my FY25 Budget requests. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts on what I believe should be included in the budget, as a collaborative budget process, which is not required in your role in any way. I am grateful that the Administration created a bridge for conversation on the future of our city. There are some Resolutions that I have resubmitted from last year in the hope they will be accepted this year. Please reach out to me if you wish to discuss any of these Resolutions further. I welcome the conversation.
My Very Best,
Councilor Kristen Strezo
City Councilor at-Large
Housing Stability
RESOLUTION: Continuation of municipal flex funding, which includes funding for legal services, collaboration with community partners and SomerVIP program, as the ARPA funds evaporate.
I am so proud that Somerville has indisputably led the way on affordable housing solutions. That leadership has resonated throughout the Commonwealth. Just as important as vision is the support to bring viable ideas into reality. We have to be bold and intentional-and we also want to take on challenges that we can bring to fruition.
While we talk solutions on the housing crisis, we need to be having a deeper conversation about Section 8 expansion. Another Budget Request I am advocating for is expanding our municipal Section 8 stock through the SomerVIP program. The little-known SomerVIP program incentivizes realtors to show Section 8 units and encourage small owner-occupied landlords to convert their rental properties to a Section 8 rental.
Expanding the Section 8 stock ensures that everyone truly can stay in the community, and the turnaround time to convert a unit can be a little as three weeks, whereas building additional Affordable Housing units takes years. Many of our poorest residents are completely locked out...
Click here for full text