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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Affordability
The cost of housing in Arlington was the single most prominent theme throughout all the interviews conducted.
When we asked the interviewees what their clients needed most, all clearly stated that Arlington needs more
affordable housing. Given the extent to which protected classes have lower incomes than the general population,
housing affordability is a critical and nearly universal barrier. Interviewees noted that in decades past, below-
market-rate rental units could be found in Arlington. But with increased costs, low vacancy rates, and buildings
being sold for renovation to high-end units or conversion to condominiums, below-market options are now few

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Arlington Fair Housing Action Plan

and far between. As an example, one interviewee mentioned that the only affordable option available to a
client was to rent the garage of a single-family house. Housing instability is not unique to renters; even those who
have purchased their homes can find it difficult to balance mortgage payments, maintenance costs, and property
taxes.

Given the lack of housing options with costs below the market rate, many residents seek deed-restricted
affordable housing. However, there are not nearly enough deed-restricted units in town to meet the need.
Providers cited the low number of affordable units compared to the number of low-income households, and the
high wait lists for affordable units. Several interviewees noted that, while the units created through these policies
are technically affordable (typically to those earning 80% of the Area Median Income), they are still far out of
the reach of the extremely low-income and very low-income clients that their organizations serve.