Cape Cod motels that rent to homeless could be forced to close

Selectmen: We are not villains

http://www.wickedlocal.com/yarmouth/news/x2118743200/Selectmen-We-are-not-villains

By Jen Ouellette
Wed May 21, 2008, 11:03 AM EDT

YARMOUTH, MA -

Yarmouth selectmen took the opportunity Tuesday night to counter images of the town as the evil landlord evicting low-income folks to the streets.

“The town of Yarmouth has been the subject of a disinformation campaign,” began chairwoman Suzanne McAuliffe.

Selectman Jim Hoben was chairman of Yarmouth’s affordable housing committee prior to becoming a selectman a year ago.

“In the past couple of days I’ve seen a lot printed that I know is not true and frankly it’s hurtful to me,” he began. “I’ve been in small rooms and big rooms and empty rooms working on this.”

Hoben said he was part of discussions with motel owners that began in 2003 because motels were having difficulty staying in business.

Hoben added the town has always been supportive of initiatives to bring in more affordable housing and has provided tools to do so.

“We didn’t have any homeless advocates in the room when I was arguing for 16 units per acre or fighting for $150,000 for predevelopment funds, which weren’t popular ideas. I was often the lone voice in the room,” Hoben said.

He cited the town’s investment in the Growth Incentive Zone for motel owners and the establishment of an affordable housing trust as more proof of the town’s dedication to helping folks find quality housing.

Many members of the board repeatedly made the point that motel owners were given ample time – since September 2006 – to come into compliance and noted that only a handful of motels out of close to 60 in town are having difficulty renewing their licenses.

“We put the tools in place to start the transition of these people out,” said Hoben. “What we didn’t want was people to ignore it, continue to cash those checks and then be surprised at the board of health hearing and not understand why the town is inpatient.”

The board also invited members of the affordable housing committee to the meeting for an update.

Alan Aarons detailed town affordable housing programs, including a buy-down program using CPA funds, down payment assistance and development on town-owned land including units at Brush Hill Road, Cedar Lane, German Hill and Setucket Pines.

Aarons also noted town tools including the accessory apartment bylaw, group home acquisition assistance along with the motel bylaw and predevelopment funds.

The town is also working on a rental assistance program that will help renters with first, last and security deposits, and a ready renters and ready buyers list.

McAuliffe said she’d like to transform the controversy into a cooperative issue.

“We’d like to talk with housing agencies. We invite them in the room with us to work with us and to talk with us.”