Investing in greater housing opportunities
Keith Fairey, Way Finders President and CEO
When Way Finders ceremoniously breaks ground on a new affordable housing project—as we did on a beautiful sunny day at the end of June 2024 at Greenstead Grove in Ludlow—it’s immensely rewarding and exciting.
As you can see from the great media coverage of the Greenstead Grove ceremony here, a groundbreaking is a time to come together with our partners, supporters, and elected officials. It’s a time for photos, speeches, and expressions of gratitude. It’s a time for envisioning the 43 new affordable rental homes that will be available for residents—for grandparents, working families, working single people, veterans, and people with disabilities. And it’s a time for acknowledging the importance of investing in greater housing opportunities and choices—they are key to supporting our mission to build a more thriving and equitable region.
In addition to Ludlow’s Greenstead Grove and the 62-unit Rosewood Way in Agawam (to be completed later this summer), we expect to break ground in January 2025 in both Holyoke and South Hadley—which brings the number of affordable rental units we currently have in development to 200. We are thrilled to be part of helping to close our region’s housing gap and to be finally moving ahead on projects that faced various pandemic-related delays.
As much as I love the positive energy and attention generated by a groundbreaking, no photo or soundbite can adequately capture or convey the years of pre-development work that preceded it. We don’t just show up to a parcel and start digging—there are many complex steps to navigate first, which call for both persistence and collaboration. I am most grateful to our dedicated staff and partners for helping Greenstead Grove reach this phase of construction, as it was a long time coming.
I am also extremely grateful to the Edwards Church of Northampton for their recent investment of $500,000 in Way Finders’ Development Capital Fund via a low-interest loan. This Fund, which is open to outside investors, is vital to launching new affordable housing projects. It covers the large expenses tied to early-stage development, including architect and lawyer fees, site preparation, permitting, and due diligence.
Led by Senior Minister Michael McSherry, the Edwards Church congregation came together and asked themselves how they could better align their Church’s investments with their values and bring forth more desirable outcomes for their neighbors and community. They arrived at the decision to support affordable housing, driven by the belief that such an investment enriches the lives of everyone in the community. We couldn’t agree more! The most important way to address the affordable housing crisis is by building more homes, which we can do more of with adequate funding and support.
If you are likewise moved to get engaged and join us in our push to improve the housing stability of families and individuals in the region, which in turn benefits the local economy and people’s overall wellbeing, please support our work. And, as always, stay poised and ready to show up for housing whenever housing is on your local community’s agenda. Your voice matters.
Sincerely,
Keith Fairey, President & CEO