At Housing for All Watertown, we support all types of new housing to meet the many different needs of our diverse community. We want more 100% affordable projects, more senior housing, more public housing, and more market-rate development—because all of these will be needed to meet the challenges of the housing crisis.

 

With a volunteer leadership team, working groups, and a network of resident supporters, here are the things we do to create positive change.

 

Community Organizing

HAW is first and foremost a movement of residents. We bring together homeowners and renters, life-long residents and newcomers with diverse backgrounds, identities, and politics—but we are united by a common desire to address the housing crisis in the city we love.

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To build a strong movement, we convene regular all-member meetings and informal meetups (such as our recent cookie exchange), host webinars, and curate a lively social media network on Discord.

 

Pro-Housing Advocacy

From zoning reform to the details of a given development, housing in any community involves a complex set of economic, political, and practical issues. It can be hard to know how and when to engage, particularly for those of us with busy jobs, family commitments, and other responsibilities.

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We support pro-housing advocacy by providing information about public meetings, drafting up talking points, and coaching folks on how to be effective advocates for housing in Watertown. We encourage pro-housing advocates to attend public meetings, write to their elected and appointed officials, and talk with their neighbors about the urgent need for more housing of all types.

 

Challenging Old Stories

For decades, the story of housing in Greater Boston has pitted resident complaints against specific projects. This might entail neighbors who don’t want public housing on their block or homeowners who decry a new building of rental units. Researchers have described this as the “neighborhood defender” phenomenon, in which new housing developments are fought tooth-and-nail by a vocal minority of residents.

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By clearly and consistently making the case for more housing of all types, we are challenging that old story and writing a new one. 

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Working class families need more income-restricted affordable and public housing. Young people need more starter homes. Middle-income families need more options. Longtime residents need a chance to remain in their neighborhoods. Seniors need more flexibility to age with dignity in their community. 

 

We need more housing. We need more creative solutions. This is the story we are writing together.