The second report of a multi-phase project studying Pioneer Valley housing issues was recently released by the UMass Donahue Institute, Way Finders, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and the Metropolitan Springfield Housing Study Advisory Committee.

The reporting highlights included:

• Housing prices were gradually rising before the pandemic, then rose dramatically (for both sales and rentals) during the pandemic due to limited housing stock and low-interest rates.
• The COVID-19 pandemic, dramatically worsened economic conditions for low-wage, service and marginal workers primarily through layoffs.
• Segregation exists both historically and in the present day in the Pioneer Valley. Housing costs, deficits, and regulations are reinforcing and continuing to perpetuate segregation across area communities.
  

Read the full report