WESTPORT–Information about affordable housing in Westport is set to become more accessible as the town’s Affordable Housing Committee advances its initiatives to expand the availability of diverse and affordable housing options.

On Tuesday, the committee discussed finalizing its mission statement and developing a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the town website. Members had researched FAQ formats from neighboring communities, which were used to create a draft that the committee discussed during the meeting at Town Hall, committee member Kate Weber said.

“We’re going to tweak it so it pertains to Westport,” Weber said after the meeting.

Update soon

The updated information is expected to be posted on the town website before the committee’s next meeting on Sept. 9, according to Weber.

Among the suggestions for the FAQ was the idea to begin with an explanation of what qualifies as affordable housing, rather than leading with details about the state’s 8-30g statute, as the draft taken from other communities did. The state law allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations in towns where less than 10 percent of residences are classified as affordable.

4% affordable

Currently, 420 of Westport’s 10,567 dwellings – 3.97 percent – are considered affordable. The town needs 1,057 affordable units to meet the state-mandated goal of 10 percent.

$1.36 million trust fund

The five-member committee is primarily responsible for overseeing Westport’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. As of Friday, the fund held $1,364,029.41, according to Planning and Zoning Director Michelle Perillie. It is financed by inclusionary zoning fees, set at $5 for every $1,000 spent on construction projects. The fund also accepts donations.

A portion of the meeting focused on compiling suggestions and questions to be addressed in upcoming meetings. Resident Gloria Gouveia, one of the audience members in attendance, asked how the waiting list for affordable housing is managed. The committee also discussed the need for a lead office responsible for creating and providing affordable housing.

Who owns?

Committee Chair Jim Foster voiced frustration with the lack of clarity. “Who does own it all?” he asked. “Who has that plan and is working on that vision to improve affordable housing?”

Foster also recommended including information about the professions held by affordable housing residents and their typical salaries to counter notions that affordable housing leads to crime. He emphasized that the homes are for a wide range of professionals, including “bakers and tailors and teachers and firefighters and everyone else.”