Provincetown's Housing Developments and 'Lease to Locals' Program: What Local Residents Need to Know

Town Manager Alex Morse discussed the housing situation in Provincetown, Cape Cod. He recognized the town's efforts in affordable housing development, but noted that the housing crisis is not yet resolved. Provincetown is close to meeting the state's 10% Low Income Housing Inventory requirement and plans to surpass it within two years. Morse stressed the town's dedication to ensuring housing for all Provincetown residents and workers.

A significant upcoming project is the housing development at 3 Jerome Smith Road. The Community Builders aim to start building 65 affordable, year-round apartments in May 2024. The project, expected to take 18 months, will offer a range of units, including 18 studios, 32 one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, 5 three-bedroom units, and 4 units for people with disabilities. Provincetown residents will have priority for these units.

The project will be built on town-owned land, at the site of the old VFW building. The Select Board and Town Administration have prioritized this project, which received state funding last year. It also received a $3 million local commitment from Town Meeting voters and $500,000 in CPA funds from the Community Preservation Committee.

The town is also initiating a 'Lease to Locals' program to meet immediate housing needs. The Select Board and the Year-Round Market-Rate Rental Housing Trust have allocated over $400,000 to this program. It offers incentives to homeowners who rent their homes year-round to eligible households, aiming to increase long-term housing for local employees and residents. Property owners can receive up to $6,000 per year, per tenant, and up to $20,000 for housing three tenants. The program will start on April 1, 2024.

The 'Lease to Locals' program, first implemented in Truckee, CA, has been successful in Nantucket, housing over 30 people in the past year. Provincetown aims to house about 50 people through this program in its first year. Tenants must earn below 150% Area Median Income ($130,515 per person annually) to qualify. The program will start in the next few weeks, and tenants and potential property owners are encouraged to apply.

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