The Affordable Housing Trust agreed to assemble a communications subcommittee to prepare outreach for the annual town meeting and to explain recent housing investments to the public.

The subcommittee will pair at least one Trust member with the town communications department to develop a concise package about the Trust’s recent projects, funding and results. Chair Bridal Sullivan said the goal is to produce materials earlier than last year and to present a recommended communications approach back to the Trust for approval.

Trust members said the public is not always aware of the Trust’s accomplishments and that a clear, simple message is needed to explain how funds have been used. Members suggested summarizing unit counts, projects completed and those under way so residents can quickly see outcomes. Alice Ramos (housing office) was asked to distribute existing packets and past presentation materials as starting points for the subcommittee.

Several members volunteered to help. Chantal Murphy offered to serve; another member indicated availability to help while not working. Members discussed using a mix of social media and traditional outlets depending on the subcommittee’s recommendation and noted that the communications department is undergoing a staffing transition, so the Trust should prepare near–final materials for distribution.

Members flagged a recent news article as an example of public confusion and said outreach should correct factual misunderstandings without adopting a defensive tone. The Trust identified topics to prioritize in outbound messaging: the Trust’s recent production and subsidy counts, the status of current projects, and clarifications about which projects are town-led versus privately developed.

The Trust did not take formal action beyond forming the subcommittee; the group will report back at a future meeting.