Alton workforce housing vote has nothing to do with HUD funds

To The Daily Sun,

When in Laconia last week, my husband picked up The Laconia Daily Sun. We live in Wolfeboro, but a letter to the editor from a Mr. Wittman regarding the Workforce Housing Law contained so much mis-information that I feel I must respond to the people of Alton.

The N.H. Workforce Housing Law simply codifies settled legal case law. It protects communities from the costs of anti-discrimination suits, and provides opportunity for those who work in a community to live there. Because it promotes the economy by providing a stable employee base, it is supported by the NH Business and Industry Association.

It requires that communities do not discriminate through zoning restrictions against reasonable workforce housing construction. It only requires that a community provides opportunity. Each town develops its own plan where and how this will be done.

The amendment in Alton is not a law or vote supporting the Workforce Housing Law. It is a local zoning amendment to remove barriers and set up criteria that your Planning Board feels most appropriate for Alton.

The article has nothing to do with HUD funds. In fact, the primary source of Workforce Housing development is private equity through a tax credit program developed under President Reagan. While some HUD grants may be utilized, such as Community Development Block Grants that support a lot of types of community development activities, it is not a major or "controlling" source. Workforce Housing is not welfare housing. Those who live in it must have resources to pay the rent.

If Alton were to vote down their ordinance amendment, it would not affect the state law. Most of our area communities have already updated their ordinances. If Alton does not address potential barriers, it would keep it open to costly court challenges.

Edith DesMarais

Wolfeboro