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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• Re-forming a Fair Housing Commission in town, which should have several seats reserved for residents
who rent their home. As this participant put it, “Many of the committee members don’t have a lot of lived
experience.”
• Raising the inclusionary zoning requirement to higher than 15%. This participant suggested that more
residents would be comfortable with higher-density housing if affordability levels were greater.
• Establishing a community land trust.
• Making affordable housing a priority in the town’s budget.
• Homeownership opportunities for low-income residents. One participant specifically mentioned a HUD
program that the AHA should participate in.
• Education for landlords around their fair housing responsibilities, tenants’ right to reasonable
accommodations, and the need to respond to requests more quickly, more thoroughly, and with more
respect.
• Developing a policy of reduced taxes for seniors, similar to that in Cambridge.
• Creating an inspection program for all rental units, not just for units accepting housing vouchers, to ensure
that all renters are safe and habitable. One participant cited a policy in Chicago as an example.
• Creating a central website with information on tenants’ rights and procedures such as requesting
reasonable accommodations. One participant suggested a tenant information center where residents
could seek advice from an attorney specializing in tenants’ rights.
• Installing central air conditioning and appropriate ventilation in affordable housing units.

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Arlington Fair Housing Action Plan