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 ↗

Related Parts of This Source

Full Text

1,677 chars

grow. Due the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts enacted an eviction moratorium for nine months of 2020, and
the federal Centers for Disease Control issued its own partial moratorium which remains in effect through June
2021 as of this writing. These actions likely decreased the number of evictions in Arlington, though some are
likely occurring either under the CDC moratorium or by illegal and/or informal means.
Assessment: Household-level displacement is occurring in Arlington, particularly as rental housing is repositioned
for higher-income residents and as older residents seek lower-cost options as they age. Though Arlington has
attracted higher-income residents for some time, rising housing prices could bring a subtle form of community-
level displacement. This displacement may be disproportionately impacting lower-income households, many of
whom are also in protected classes.

Housing Market Recommendations
• Partner with one or more financial institutions and quasi-public institutions like the Massachusetts Housing
Partnership to market available financing options to protected classes. Ensure those mortgage products
are fair to borrowers.

• Through notices and marketing materials, offer fair housing education and enforcement reminders to real
estate professionals operating in Arlington.

• Bolster protections of tenants by requiring property owners to give significant notice to tenants when they
are preparing to redevelop or sell a property and when they are planning to raise rents.

• Advocate for passage of the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act at the state level. If it passes, support
tenant purchasers through funding and technical support.