Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)

Citation: Town of Arlington, Fair Housing Action Plan (July 2021)
Jurisdiction: Arlington (municipal)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.arlingtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/57214/637641171662530000 ↗

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Rental Application Barriers
High application fees for rental housing are a significant barrier for voucher holders. Additionally, some
landlords continue to refuse rental housing to prospective tenants based on decades-old criminal background
checks or minor misdemeanors. The AHA asks applicants about convictions and pending criminal matters and
encourages landlords to do so as well. HUD guidance advises landlords not to automatically disqualify tenants
with a criminal record.

Assessment: Voucher holders face considerable barriers in the rental market, before even considering the effects
of discrimination and stigma. The waiting list is prohibitively long, available apartments are difficult to find once
a voucher is obtained, and prospective tenants pay proportionally high rental application fees and face
unreasonable screening measures.