NORFOLK-The recently published Norfolk Affordable Housing Study Committee report recognized the "shortage of [affordable or attainable] housing as a real problem."

A committee with six members studied the problem for two years, and concluded its work with a town-wide survey that garnered 238 responses from 1,022 postal patrons.

The two major issues appear to be a lack of housing priced affordably enough for younger families-many of whom are renters and can't afford to buy in Norfolk-and the lack of alternative housing for older families, described as having one member older than 58.

An overwhelming 97 percent of older families that responded to the survey had concerns about selling their homes, which had become too expensive or large to maintain, and then being able to find affordable accommodations that would allow them to remain in Norfolk. This group made several requests for convalescent or senior cluster housing, or auxiliary apartments.

Committee chairman Francis Dooley, who is also the Democratic Town Committee chairman, sees this group as "empty nesters who can't find a house that is smaller and more comfortable for them and stay here in Norfolk."

The Housing Committee also noted how important it is to keep younger, year-round families in Norfolk because of the volunteer work they do with the fire department and ambulance corps, and the jobs they perform locally.

The committee recommended that selectmen create a Norfolk Housing Council to make specific recommendations about projects it feels are necessary. The committee is currently working on a list of volunteers who might serve on that council.

The lack of affordable housing for young families is a problem that Mr. Dooley, a recently retired lawyer, also noticed in his practice in Salisbury.

"It's been an obvious problem for years, and it's only recently that it's been addressed in any of the towns," he said. "The programs in Salisbury and Litchfield are very good. Both towns have a variety of affordable housing to meet various needs."

"The way we see it happening in Norfolk is not to go the municipal housing authority route. The state and federal requirements are confining, and we feel, as happened in Litchfield and Salisbury, that a charitable trust would be an appropriate organization to fund whatever program is needed," said Mr. Dooley.

Charitable trusts are groups that operate with public donations, and a housing trust would be dedicated solely to raising money for housing needs.

The Foundation for Norfolk Living Inc. is a housing trust that has recently been formed. In the grassroots approach Mr. Dooley is advocating, the housing council could go to the trust and say, "There's a house on Maple Avenue that we think would be very good and there's a family that needs it. We'd like to organize a rehab of the house. Can you help with financing so we can get this young couple in?"

What Mr. Dooley would like to see happen, whether through the housing trust, a Habitat For Humanity chapter-an option being considered-or another source is the renovation of existing buildings. He knows people in town don't want to see the type of cinder block buildings that have traditionally been associated with affordable housing.

Though Norfolk already has one municipal housing development, Meadowbrook, the senior housing community, Mr. Dooley noted, "When you accept federal funding, you accept federal regulation."

Residents of Meadowbrook feel the development is a godsend, though. Nancy Eckel, deacon at the town's Church of Christ and a resident of the development, recounted her history in Norfolk, saying, "I've lived in three different houses and one condominium in Norfolk over the years." After her husband died and she saw her six kids though school, she had nothing left. "I would have been up a creek without a paddle were it not for the HUD facility. It's a wonderful place to live with all sorts of friends and people I've known for years and years."

If the development wasn't available, Ms. Eckel assumes she'd have to seek affordable housing in another town or state. "It would have hurt very much, but it would have had to be done. All my friends are here, my kids grew up here, lives were lived here and, it would have been terribly hard to leave," she said. "It's a wonderful town, a very special town and I'm glad I could stay here. I'm very fortunate. I'm so grateful. I would be really lonely away from my friends."

She thought of one couple that recently had to make an apartment in the back of their home because they needed the income to keep the residence. "The rent was steep, but they had people lined up to rent it," she said.

Ms. Eckel noted the stigma and hidden nature of poverty in town. Her church's charity groups often have to search for people in Norfolk to take donations of Thanksgiving baskets and warm coats. "There are pockets of poverty but people will not mention it and try to keep it hidden," Ms. Eckel said.

Norfolk Library co-director and longtime resident Robin Yuran said, "If I had to think about buying something in town today, I could never afford it. For those of us who were born and raised here, but aren't in a job that pays a lot of money, it's difficult when you want to think about buying. The average prices are ridiculous."

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