Waltham Considers Help for City Renters

An idea is before Waltham’s City Council to consider a voucher program to alleviate costs for renters struggling to pay.

Waltham rents are soaring, the Boston Globe reports that officials in Waltham are considering spending $2 million on the voucher program. Proponents hope that the program could be implemented by spring.

The vouchers would help residents in the city who make less than 50 percent of the area median income, and the Waltham Housing Authority would oversee the vouchers.

City Council discussed during its Sept. 13 meeting and referred the request to the Finance Committee, a recommendation for the appropriation of $2,001,500 for the WATCH-WHA Tenant Rental Assistance Proposal. The CPC voted to recommend to the City Council that the total be appropriated from CPC affordable housing funds to the rental voucher program.

The rental vouchers would be awarded through a lottery system, only used for those who live or work in Waltham. The request is now before the Longterm Debt Committee.