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NEWS NEWS NEWS


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HOUSING FOR THE MENTALLY ILL: STATE HOSPITAL LAND REUSE

By Marie Hermann
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Site Board MemMetro Suburban Area Director, met with the Southwest Suburban Site Board for an update on DMH and Area initiatives including state hospital
land re-use issues. He reminded the Board of the successful passage of a legislative resolution that set aside 10% of housing units built at the former site of
Metropolitan State Hospital for people with mental illness. This set aside legislation resulted in 29 units on the site and 10 more offsite. Now advocates hope
to succeed in getting the same 10% of the units to be created on Medfield State hospital lands. At this time the 10% is not certain. Supporters of creating
housing for people with mental illness on this land, which had long been used to house and care for a population with mental illness, should let their state
representatives know of their support for a required set aside such as provided in the development of Metropolitan State lands. Since the state of
Massachusetts had long ago set this land aside for those with mental illness and since this population has a great need for housing, the fair and just thing to
do is to set aside as many units as possible for them. In considering the hoped for addition of these units, the Board turned to the remaining large and
continual need for housing, given that each generation of young people adds to the needy population. There has never been enough housing to meet current
needs, nor planning for future needs. Once the last state hospital lands have been developed, where might units come from? Across the state, cities and
towns have started to see the appearance of 40B developments. 40B is a chapter of state legislation that says that in any community whose affordable
housing units number less than 10% of total units, a developer may bypass the zoning board when he develops a site as long as 10% of units built are
designated affordable. Of those 10%, 3% are supposed to be for the disabled. Success in capturing a portion of this 3% set aside for people with mental
illness could happen with information gathering about 40B projects and the process of obtaining units. For the moment, fighting for the set aside at Medfield
takes priority. Representative Angelo Scaccia is the chairperson of the Housing and Development Committee. He needs to hear from us.   Go to:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/ams1.htm for contact information about  Representative Scaccia

Cities And Towns of the Southwest Suburban Site Board

Canton

BOARD OF HEALTH

CANTON PATCH


Dedham

DEDHAMPATCH

Foxborough

Medfield

Millis

Newton

Needham

Norfolk

Norwood

Plainville

Sharon

Walpole

Wellesley

Weston

Westwood

Wrentham



C.A.S.T.L.E. is a "warm line" run by consumers. A warm line provides emotional support for people who need

a friendly voice to offer support, solace, or advice. The staff on the C.A.S.L.E. warm line are caring people,

some with their own emotional issues or mental illness who have chosen to give back by helping others. The

warm line is open Monday through Friday between 7 and 11 PM. (617) 610-7907.