Way Finders to Release Findings from Western Mass. Housing Study

SPRINGFIELD — Way Finders and its research partner, the UMass Donahue Institute, will release findings from “Building Homes. Building Futures.” — its first-ever housing study to cover Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties — at an event on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the UMass Amherst Henry M. Thomas III Center in Springfield.

“Our research confirms that Western Massachusetts is facing a severe housing shortage. Although the region is more affordable than other parts of the state, incomes are lower and remain out of sync with prevailing home prices, burdening households. This burden is especially acute for low-income, renter, and BIPOC households,” said Mark Melnik, director of the Economic & Public Policy Research group at the UMass Amherst Donahue Institute.

Western Mass. needs 23,000 new housing units to meet current demand. Even with projected declines in population locally, the gap will still be more than 16,700 units by 2035. The report, along with its online interactive data dashboards, provides Western Mass. communities with information to address this crisis.

“Housing is at the center of our region’s economic future,” said Keith Fairey, Way Finders president and CEO. “The answer to the housing crisis is clear: we need to build more homes. Housing promotes thriving communities and helps grow businesses and stronger schools. ‘Building Homes. Building Futures.’ provides the critical information our communities need to understand the housing crisis and to create the solutions we need.”