Maplewood Human Services Commission prioritizes aging‑in‑place and studies community land trust

Amber Shanter, who identified herself as chair of the Human Services Commission, outlined a multiquarter planning framework tied to the city budget cycle and described how the commission condensed many proposals into one primary priority through a dot‑voting workshop. “The top priorities that won this year are we're aging in place,” she said, describing planned work on disability/accessibility, utility and mortgage payment support, and resident outreach to measure how seniors feel connected to Maplewood.

Shanter said the commission’s runner‑up priority is studying a community land trust as a tool to help ensure long‑term affordable housing. She noted legal limits at the state level on rent controls and said one path is city ownership of land to set rates; the commission is consulting neighboring cities that have pursued land trusts.

To develop a recommendation, Shanter said the commission is conducting both quantitative and qualitative surveys, including in‑person interviews to reach seniors who may not use online tools. The commission aims to draft a plan for council feedback in Q1 and present a formal recommendation in Q2 of the next budget cycle. Council members asked about membership residency requirements and possible partnerships (AARP and local retailers); Shanter said she would discuss membership‑count changes with commission members and pursue partnerships.