The name H.O.P.E. stands for Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere as I want to help people of low-income work towards securing their own quality housing and help them obtain the knowledge and skills to become financially independent.

My name is Talia Zeevi, and I am currently a sophomore at Holliston High School. I have always found housing interesting, as it is a basic need in everyone's lives. Some people are not so lucky and struggle with having a consistent house to live in or cannot afford many on the market. This is why I chose my project about affordable housing: to educate the community on this important need and make a difference in the community.

In Holliston alone, there are minimal houses on the market and only a few are under $500,000. These houses are unaffordable to many. Prospective homeowners also have to pay high property taxes.  Lenders require that housing costs do not exceed 30% of a family’s gross income. Housing is difficult to afford, even for those making good incomes, especially homes in good school districts with higher housing prices. The average income in Holliston is $188,000 (which equals a wage of about $90/hr). An average home can easily cost $750,000. If a family puts down 20% as a down payment, the mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance would exceed 30% of this mean income. The total expense would be $5,189 per month.  It’s hard to imagine how a recent college graduate would afford a place to live or a person making minimum wage.