By John Schwing

WESTPORT — An affordable housing deal town officials call “historic” won final approval Wednesday from the Board of Selectwomen.

The agreement with Homes with Hope, the Westport-based nonprofit working to end homelessness, calls for the renovation of the town-owned house at 124 Compo Road North into six residential units for homeless women.

The dwelling, known as “Susie’s House,” has served as the Project Return group home for young women in need of emergency housing.

Under the new arrangement, Homes with Hope will manage the property, which in addition to six en-suite bedroom units, will house communal facilities for residents as well as round-the-clock supervision and counseling, Helen McAlinden, the agency’s CEO and president, told the selectwomen.

The town and Homes with Hope agreed to an “affordability plan” allowing the project to move forward, enabled by two deed restrictions on use of the property — the first for 15 years and a second for 40 years.

First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said the pact “is making history,” noting it is the first time any town-owned property has been deed-restricted for outside use.

Tooker, who said she is committed to helping expand Westport’s inventory of affordable housing, added she is “proud” to have fostered the deal to fruition.

Selectwoman Andrea Moore called the agreement “terrific.”

 McAlinden, praising the plan as “historic” and a “bold move,” said that she is not aware of any other community that has adopted a similar approach to helping “take care of the most vulnerable people.”

She said the agency has raised most of the money needed — about $900,000 — to make the planned renovations to the property.

John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.