Housing Partnership seeks direction as vacancy crisis looms
Housing Partnership grapples with direction as longtime member exits. Vice-Chair Hannah Shaffer took temporary leadership after Bev Bates resigned, citing lack of clear mission; members debated whether to pursue reinvigorated work on a dormant Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, mandated under
Housing Partnership · Meeting of May 4, 2026
NORTHAMPTON — Housing Partnership grapples with direction as longtime member exits. Vice-Chair Hannah Shaffer took temporary leadership after Bev Bates resigned, citing lack of clear mission; members debated whether to pursue reinvigorated work on a dormant Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund, mandated under City Ordinance Section 2-621, or focus on rent stabilization advocacy and landlord education ahead of state referendums. Richard Abuza offered to write a personal check to force the city to address the vacant trust board and dormant account.
Gordon Shaw recommended public education around rent control and outreach to community organizers; Yakov Kronrod volunteered to assist with connections to Neighbor to Neighbor and local tenant groups. The group also committed to finalizing a resource brochure stalled for three months.
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Source: the Housing Partnership meeting of May 4, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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