All meetings in Truro are remote only. Go to truro-ma.gov and click on the meeting you want to watch. The agenda includes instructions on how to join.
Friday, Nov. 5
- Economic Development Committee, 10 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 8
- Local Comprehensive Planning Committee, 10 a.m.
- Energy Committee, 4:30 p.m.
- Bike and Walkways Committee, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 9
- Council on Aging, 9 a.m.
- Select Board, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 10
- Climate Action Committee, 10:30 a.m.
- Commission on Disabilities, 4:15 p.m.
Conversation Starters
Rental Assistance, Adapted
Despite its availability, no one has applied for emergency rental assistance — a $50,000 program supported by the Housing Trust Fund.
Betty Gallo, the vice chair of the Truro Housing Authority, proposed to the select board on Oct. 26 that the word “emergency” may steer applicants away. Another deterrent: the housing authority requires applicants to demonstrate that Covid-19 contributed to their financial burdens. Some people, Gallo said, don’t necessarily link their rental problem to the pandemic.
Yet there is evidence that the need for rental assistance is substantial. In 2015, the town’s housing needs assessment surveyed 200 renters and found that almost half grappled with “extreme rent burden” (in which 50 percent or more of an individual’s income is devoted to paying rent). While the planned Cloverleaf development will provide affordable housing, it is still years from completion. And planning at the Walsh property is just getting underway.
“I’m worried we’re going to lose people who are really important to our community,” Gallo said.
The select board unanimously approved a new program put forward by the housing authority, hoping to attract more applications. The word “emergency” has been removed, and the money available, which goes to landlords directly, has been bumped up from $250 per month over two years. Now, individuals can apply for between $350 and $600 per month for up to three years. Landlords must file W-9 forms for their tenants to be eligible for this assistance. —Jasmine Lu
