Town Of Arlington: Notice Of Availability Of Draft Fair Housing Action Plan

Press release from Town of Arlington:

05/25/2021

The Town of Arlington is in the process of completing a Fair Housing Action Plan. The Plan addresses equitable access to housing choice in the Town of Arlington. Since 1968, all communities that receive funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have had an obligation to “affirmatively further fair housing.” The ultimate goal of fair housing efforts is to eliminate housing discrimination and residential segregation. This plan aims to advance these twin objectives through analysis of existing conditions and recommendations for concrete action the Town can undertake.

Although the requirement to complete a fair housing assessment originally required as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Final Rule was suspended in 2018, the Town completed the plan to ensure ongoing compliance with the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Final Rule.

The Arlington Fair Housing Action Plan was developed from 2019 to 2021 by the Town of Arlington working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights (LCCR). The plan was funded by the Town of Arlington through the Community Development Block Grant Program and through MAPC’s technical assistance program. In addition to data analysis, the planning team conducted interviews and focus groups with Arlington residents, Town staff, Housing Authority staff, school officials, nonprofit officials, and service providers.

The draft plan will be available for review and public comment Wednesday, May 26, 2021 through Friday, June 25, 2021 at 4 PM at the Town of Arlington’s Department of Planning and Community Development webpage at arlingtonma.gov/planning or by clicking the link below.

Read the draft Fair Housing Action Plan.

Comments may be emailed to klynema@town.arlington.ma.us or sent in writing by June 25, 2021 by 4 PM to the Town of Arlington, 730 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476, attn: Kelly Lynema.

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.