Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Workshop Will Offer Advice on Creating Accessory Apartments

May 10, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that it will be offering a seminar titled “Steps to Creating an Apartment in Your Home” on Wednesday, June 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lakeville, CT branch of Salisbury Bank and Trust. The workshop is sponsored by HousingUs, an initiative of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

HousingUs is a tri-state collaborative effort of nonprofit organizations and community leaders to promote broad-based affordable housing options in towns throughout the northwest corner of CT, northeast Dutchess and Columbia Counties in NY and southern Berkshire County.

An accessory apartment (also called an in-law apartment) is a self-contained housing unit that may either be a segment of the main residence or in a separate structure such as a garage on the property of a single-family home. Accessory apartments are an easy and immediate way to help tenants, homeowners and homebuyers. They can ease the very tight rental market for working families. They can also provide a little extra income for homeowners, which in today's economic climate can be of significant financial value.

At Wednesday’s seminar, Jocelyn Ayer, of HousingUs will take homeowners through each step in the process of creating an accessory apartment and answer questions. There will also be a panel discussion with a homeowner and contractor experienced with accessory apartments, and a bank representative to review financing options. Accessory apartment guides tailored for towns in the Tri-state region will be available. These guides, written specifically for the towns of Kent, Salisbury, Sharon, and Cornwall, CT and Sheffiled, MA are also available at town halls and by visiting housingus.org. A guide for Falls Village, CT will be completed shortly.

"HousingUs is helping to build awareness about the need for affordable housing in our towns,” said Michael Dixon, Executive Vice President of Salisbury Bank and Trust. “By partnering with HousingUs, Salisbury Bank is able to enrich the community by preserving homes in the area in which we serve."

Registration is free and can be made by emailing jayer@housingus.org or by leaving a message at 413.229.0370 x105. For more information, please visit housingus.org.

Salisbury Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Lakeville, Connecticut and presently operates full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury and Sharon, Connecticut, Sheffield and South Egremont Massachusetts as well as Dover Plains and Millerton, New York.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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