Rochester Affordable Housing, Inc.
We are a community-based non-profit organization working toward affordable housing for Rochester Seniors and Veterans
Our History. Rochester Affordable Housing, Inc was established in 2017 with the focus and goal to assist our Rochester seniors and veterans to remain in Rochester by offering options and providing guidance. Although our goals have changed since Massachusetts laws on ADU’s enacted an across the board access to all homes allowed an accessory dwelling unit with some guidelines, we are still motivated to assist anyone who needs guidance.
Is the goal to provide free housing? Not at all. The intent is to help seniors and veterans with their option to downsize into a smaller, efficiently-designed residence. The cost to the resident would be much less than staying in a larger home with perhaps inaccessible areas and the responsibility of maintenance along with ever increasing property taxes.
What is our mission? Our mission is to assist Rochester Seniors over the age of 62 and honorably discharged veterans of any age to remain in their town when their housing situation becomes difficult or non-conforming to their lifestyle needs.
The Town of Rochester has a Housing Production Plan (June 2010) and a more recent one done by SRPEDD July 2025 addressing the issues of affordable housing as a whole. RAHI does not address the overarching need for affordable housing. It prioritizes the needs of its senior citizens and veterans. RAHI recognizes, in the future, that others could be served if inventory of affordable housing can be made available.
What are the RAHI Priorities? 1. Rochester residents age 62 or older. 2. Rochester residents who are disabled veterans of the United States Military Services, honorably discharged.
How can you help? Volunteer! Be a part of our group. Attend a meeting and decide where you can help RAHI. We always welcome ideas, research and communication with the public. We welcome anyone with current or past experience in construction, engineering, land management, community services or anyone who has an interest in the afore-mentioned topics to join the board. Email us and we will tell you our next meeting date. Rochesteraffordablehousinginc@gmail.com.
Can I donate time? Yes, donating your time is a wonderful gift to your community. We send out informational mailings, attend outdoor and indoor town gatherings and host brunches to inform our town residents of their options and new changes. Extra helping hands or funding for stamps, supplies and coffee etc for brunches would be a great way to donate.
How can I leave a more permanent legacy? There are many ways to leave property to be used for affordable housing including open land suitable to allow buildable lot(s) and dwellings or buildings suitable for adaptation. Also, recent changes in the law mean that a donation of a single unit can now be modified to create an adjacent affordable dwelling.
Modifying a dwelling to create two or more housing units would, for example, allow accommodation for aging parents and or a young family. Providing assistance to that process is our goal.
Since RAHI began, many changes have taken place in our town’s housing market. Some of those changes are that prices have surged, with the Governor’s new incentive for Accessory Dwelling Units, our seniors now make up approximate group size of one third our population in town and approximate number of veterans are more than 300. Addressing their needs have become increasingly difficult as prices climb in other areas. We hope to ease the burden of those looking for answers to housing, while remaining in their hometown of Rochester.
Our vision of affordable housing for seniors and veterans in Rochester has different forms but they all include a secure, modestly sized (up to approximately 900 square feet), comfortable one bedroom, bath, kitchen-living room area which are handicap accessible. Many homes in Rochester could adapt to an ADU attached, inside or separate from the existing dwelling.
Board Members
From left: Norene Hartley, Richard Cutler, Mark Wellington, Ann Soares, Mary McCann, Ann Cambra, Valerie Farretta, Gianno Lettieri and Robin Martin.