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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Providers did note that language is often a barrier for clients seeking housing. Engaging a translator and guiding
non-English speakers through the process of applying for and securing housing is a challenge even when a
household is seeking assistance through a service provider; the challenge is presumably far greater for
households that do not have that assistance. A representative from the Arlington public schools reported that
Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish were the most common languages spoken by students in the English language
learners program, but that there are as many as 50 different cultures represented in the school district. Such
cultural and linguistic diversity is an asset, but can also be a challenge, particularly for speakers of languages
that are less common in Arlington.

Age
The median income for Arlington seniors is roughly half that of all households in Arlington (see Age on page 35
for more information). Interviewees confirmed that many seniors’ fixed incomes are a substantial barrier to
maintaining or securing housing that meets their needs. Many seniors also have disabilities, which compounds the
challenges.