Greater Boston, including Needham, is facing an attainable housing emergency. Housing options for all but wealthier people are dwindling—or gone. Young people and many seniors are increasingly saying they cannot afford to live in Needham, or other surrounding towns, and they are moving away.
We want to change that.
Onward for housing choice in Needham!
As a result of Tuesday’s referendum vote, Needham will develop, and Town Meeting will vote on, a new zoning plan to comply with the MBTA Communities Act. It is unclear at this time what the plan will include and when the vote will take place. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, the Needham Housing Coalition will continue to advance its stated objective to “advocate for more attainable housing choices in Needham.”
❤️💙💚💜 We want to express our deep appreciation to the volunteers and others who dedicated their time to support the YES for Needham campaign by making phone calls, canvassing, holding signs, sending emails, and having conversations with friends and neighbors to advocate for the Neighborhood Housing Plan. ❤️💙💚💜
One silver lining of the townwide referendum is that we have gotten to meet and work with so many caring residents who support our work of seeing more housing options in our town. We look forward to getting to know you better, and hope that you will choose to join us in the work necessary to realize our vision of “a vibrant, diverse, sustainable, and inclusive Needham, where people at every stage of life and at all income levels can find a home and be part of a healthy and welcoming community.”
Onward!
Click here for our latest informational newsletter.
Why Housing?
Housing prices are out of reach
Needham has few reasonable options for seniors who want to downsize, adult children who want to settle here, young families, teachers, firefighters, and other local employees who want to live closer to their jobs, and others.
Supply has not kept up with demand
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts needs 200,000 new housing units by 2030 and 400,000 units by 2050. Needham has added only 540 units of multifamily housing over the past 10 years.
Our commercial districts need foot traffic
Needham would significantly benefit from more convenient, walkable, housing density supporting more vibrant business districts in the center and the heights, attracting visitors from neighboring towns and adding revenue to the town budget.
We all benefit from economic and cultural diversity
Any community benefits from the contributions of people from different backgrounds, different cultures, different experiences, and a variety of professions. Our children are more well-rounded and are better prepared to enter our increasingly diverse society when they enter the workforce when they have the opportunity to meet a variety of fellow students.
Join the conversation.
Subscribe to our NHC newsletter for announcements and information regarding housing-related issues.
Join our Facebook group for relevant articles and meaningful discussion about housing needs and housing solutions in Needham.
Attend our monthly open meetings and events!
Join one of our Working Groups.
Invite us to a Housing Conversation with your group or community — formal or informal.
Email us at needhamhousingcoalition@gmail.com.
Request a yard sign.
What’s happening?
Next NHC Monthly Meeting
Current NHC Newsletter and Events
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
For news about what is going on in Needham, subscribe to our three local online news outlets:
We have copied and repurposed text and other content from other housing advocacy groups with their permission. We especially want to thank Equitable Arlington for allowing us to repurpose much of their content and design.
