Housing is an important part of community planning as it determines the future longevity and sustainability of our region and its economic development. Our duty at SRPC is to advocate for zoning reforms in the Strafford region that will ensure communities have access to affordable housing as well as helping municipalities incorporate housing into their economic development strategies and to raise awareness about the issue. In addition, per RSA 36:47, SRPC has a responsibility to compile a Housing Needs Assessment for the region.  The document helps to analyze and identify housing needs of residents in our region and offers qualitative and quantitative data that can be used for promoting better housing policies by re-evaluating the supply and demand, the cost, age-friendliness, and affordability of housing in our region. The assessment also plays a pivotal role for many of our municipalities who use the document to identify and address the housing needs in their Master Plans’ housing section. The last Housing Needs Assessment was completed in 2015 as an appendix to Local Solutions for the Strafford Region. SRPC is currently actively seeking funds to update its Housing Needs Assessment and is collaborating with the other Regional Planning Commissions in New Hampshire to create a state-wide document that would identify the needs on a larger scale as many of these issues transcend municipal or country boundaries.