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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston is looking to provide affordable housing for its city employees as many workers have been struggling to afford the astronomical costs of housing in the city that the job requires them to live in. Many city workers make less than $30,000 a year.
“The police department, BCYF, 911 operators and transportation operators are all struggling to fill their workforce, and we need to help them hire the people that residents of the city rely on”, said Ben Weber, Boston City Councilor.
“The cost of housing in Boston is predictably expensive, and due to residency requirements, too many workers have to choose between their jobs and affording to live here,” added Weber.
Weber and Councilor Julia Mejia made this proposal to consider the options available surrounding the housing of workers.
“Whether it is building [housing], whether it is looking at existing stock, or whether it is looking at supplemental subsidies [these are all options we are considering],” Meija said.
New York City faces a similar problem with housing for city employees, and announced a workforce housing plan last week that would be a collaboration between the city and the trade unions.
Boston Councilors agreed to hold a hearing on the issue at a later date.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports:
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