Housing Authority

General Responsibilities and Duties

Mission

The mission of the Southampton Housing Authority is to monitor the Town’s affordable housing needs, and to help design and implement plans to increase affordable housing within the town, in accordance with the housing regulations established by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (formerly Department of Housing and Community Development). 

Affordable Housing in Southampton

Currently, all Affordable Housing in Southampton is managed by Way Finders - questions and applications should be directed to the Way Finders offices.  

Active Projects

updated April 2025

354 College Highway Property

The Housing Authority secured CPA funds in June 2022 to purchase an undeveloped property at 354 College Highway for the purposes of developing affordable housing. The lot is 1.34 acres, partially wooded, abuts the Lyman Conservation Area, and is located close to amenities. The property has been purchased and the Housing Authority has been working to prepare the property and create an RFP for the development of 1-2 affordable housing units on this lot for homeownership.

Based on discussions with potential RFP respondents, and using remaining CPA funds appropriated for this project, the Housing Authority has had the property re-surveyed due to unclear boundaries, commissioned a wetland assessment and delineation for the property. In order for the wetland delineation to be accepted by the Southampton Conservation Commission, the Housing Authority underwent the Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Wetland Protection Act Request for Determination of Applicability process, which included a ConCom public hearing, with support from consultants at GZA GeoEnvironmental. Next, the Housing Authority commissioned a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment and a septic design, which is currently in progress. We expect to release the RFP by June 30, 2025.

Affordable Housing Trust

In 2022, the Housing Authority worked with the Select Board to write a bylaw to create a Municipal Affordable Housing Trust. This bylaw passed at the December 13, 2022 Special Town Meeting. The Affordable Housing Trust will enhance the town's ability to purchase, develop, and renovate property for affordable housing. The Select Board is in the process of appointing Trustees, and is seeking qualified residents who could bring to the Trust relevant personal and/or professional experience, knowledge or interest in real estate, finance, affordable housing, banking, architecture, social services, or the like. If you're interested in volunteering, please take a look at this memo and reach out to the Select Board.

Potential Opportunities at 117-125 College Highway

The Town of Southampton recently purchased a 56.3 acre undeveloped property at 117-125 College Highway (nicknamed 0 College Highway for planning purposes), after several Boards and Committees expressed interest in utilizing parts of the property and residents voted in favor of the purchase at the May 2024 Town Meeting vote and on a ballot in June 2024.  The town is currently engaged in a community planning process to determine the future uses of the site, and the Housing Authority is advocating for the development of approximately 40 units of affordable housing on this site.

To determine the feasibility of potential housing on this site, the Housing Authority met with several local and regional community development agencies to gather information and advice and develop/strengthen our relationships. In June 2024, members of the Housing Authority and Planning Board met with Keith Fairey, Executive Director and Lauren Borgatti, Chief Operating Officer at Way Finders to walk through the site and discuss potential opportunities for future affordable housing development. In the second half of 2024, the Housing Authority had several guests join our meetings to advise on and support this process, including Christine Madore, Senior Development Manager and Laura Shufelt, Senior Advisor and Real Estate Development Officer from Mass Housing Partnership, Laura Baker, Real Estate Development Director at Valley Community Development Corporation, and Faith Williams, Associate Director at Hilltown Community Development Corporation. Information gathered includes potential types/design of housing, funding sources, community engagement, sewer/septic/waste treatment solutions, pitfalls to avoid, and support with RFP development.

 

Join the Housing Authority

Southampton Housing Authority welcomes new members! Help us work toward ensuring adequate housing options in Southampton for families and individuals of all income levels. We need dedicated individuals with interest or expertise in housing to help us reach our goals. To learn more, email us at housingauthority@townofsouthampton.org.

Meetings

Visit MyTownGovernment for meeting details.

Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes can be found at MyTownGovernment.
 

Contacting the Housing Authority

Email:

housingauthority@townofsouthampton.org

Mailing Address:

Housing Authority
Town Hall
210 College Highway
Southampton, MA 01073
 

Members of the Housing Authority

Position	Name	Term Expires
Clerk	Janet Cain	2027
Select Board Liaison	Daniel Lavalley	2028
Vice Chair	Joy Piper	2027
Chair	Sierra Simmons	2026
	Anne Bowman

 

Housing Production Plan

• Southampton Housing Production Plan 2022
• Southampton Housing Production Plan 2011