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Deerfield committee eyes Housing Choice designation; students to help pull application data
Summary
The committee discussed EOHLC’s new Rural and Small Town Housing Choice criteria, noted Deerfield currently does not meet that criteria, and said Conway School of Design students will help compile data for a possible Feb. 27 application; FRCOG assistance is also available.
Members of Deerfield’s Ad Hoc Senior Housing Committee reviewed revisions to the state Housing Choice Designation criteria and discussed next steps for a potential application during their Jan. 28 remote meeting.
The meeting notes state that EOHLC (as referenced in the minutes) has added a "Rural and Small Town" category to the Housing Choice Designation criteria, a change the committee said could make designation more attainable for rural communities. The committee recorded the application deadline as Feb. 27, 2026, and also noted "We do not meet the criteria," indicating current gaps in Deerfield’s alignment with the revised requirements.
To address data needs, the notes say Alex Galloway is working with students from the Conway School of Design to pull relevant data to support an application. The committee also noted that FRCOG can assist Franklin County towns with applications or meeting the criteria. Members discussed outreach at the state level, noting an attempt to engage the Massachusetts Municipal Association delegation at an EOHLC booth did not occur as planned and that Tim Hilchey suggested contacting state Sen. Jo Comerford as a next step.
Why this matters: the Housing Choice designation can influence eligibility for state resources and technical assistance; committee members are exploring whether recent changes to the criteria create a viable path for Deerfield to apply.
The committee scheduled follow-up work and will continue the topic at future meetings; the next meeting is Feb. 4, 2026.
