Please make checks payable to:
Committee to Elect Lesley Phillips
1643 Cambridge St, #52, Cambridge MA 02138
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Kelda Fontenot
for
ARLINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Issues
This current pandemic shines a light on the need to address issues of inequity. Across the nation our most at-risk community members; those living in public housing, our seniors, people with disabilities, and people of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Throughout my work as a housing advocate and my personal interactions with the Arlington Housing Authority (AHA), the most frequent concerns I hear from residents touch on the following:
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Improving transparency and communication
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Ensuring that ALL residents benefit from equal treatment and representation, especially our seniors and residents with disabilities
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Promoting a culture that celebrates the diversity of AHA residents
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Creating a system that elevates residents’ voices without fear of retaliation
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Eliminating the hardship and dehumanizing treatment of residents experiencing housing instability
Nationally - housing is currently recognized as a public health crisis.
Locally - a study of the Arlington Housing Authority has been cited as being in need of critical changes to address rising concerns in the community.
Arlington prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive Town; home to residents from a variety of income-brackets. In order to support our affordable housing residents and to prevent them from falling into these statistics we need to address the warning signs.
According to the 2019 League of Women Voters (LWV) 5-year study of the AHA:
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AHA residents were given favorable treatment by the AHA for praising the organization and unfavorable treatment when speaking critically.
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Documentation of AHA policies and procedures is needed; including state
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regulations to define a formal process for tenant concerns to be communicated,
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addressed and resolved. There is an inadequate number of social workers to meet the needs of the tenants.
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AHA training is needed on how best to interact with people with challenges
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including but not limited to hearing, sight,language, cultural, financial, religious
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and physical and mental abilities.
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Communication should be responsive, prompt, and courteous.
We must do better.
Resident Voices
I believe our residents are the heart of the AHA and should be recognized as such. Whether their voices are expressing praise or critique; referencing existing programs or a desire for something new, I will work to amplify the voices of our residents so they are truly at the center of decisions and discussions affecting them. In this spirit, I have already publicly shared my contact information to stay as informed as possible by the most important voices of the AHA, our residents. I welcome all feedback and freely offer my help to advocate for all residents, including those who may fear retaliation for speaking out by promising to keep personal details anonymous if requested.
Equality & Representation
The diversity of our residents is truly a gift! However, too often, there are reports and testimony from residents who are not being treated equally. When all residents receive equal treatment and representation, at all levels of government; we all benefit. I will do everything in my power to advocate for fair and equal treatment of all residents and to promote a culture that celebrates diversity. I will seek out and actively listen to feedback on where improvements are needed and follow through on making sure concerns are addressed and successes are acknowledged.
Housing as a Public Health Issue
Nationally, housing is currently recognized as a public health crisis. Locally, a study of the Arlington Housing Authority has been cited as being in need of critical changes to address rising concerns in the community. According to the National Institute of Health on Affordable Housing and Public Health poor housing conditions are associated with:
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a wide range of negative health conditions
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increased injuries because of substandard conditions
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social isolation because occupants are reluctant to invite guests into their homes.
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reduced social interaction because they lack common spaces (Note: a concern in our AHA buildings where residents are not allowed to use common spaces for gatherings)
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chronic stress that can can exacerbate or lead to mental health problems
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a disproportionate effect on people of color who are more likely to face retaliation when self-advocating
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environmental justice issues (Note: this can be seen playing out in our AHA buildings as it pertains to rodent and insect infestations)
Accountability
The AHA Board is responsible for following the laws governing all housing authorities in Massachusetts. Many of the long-term members have ignored not only Open Meeting and Public Records laws, but other laws put in place to protect residents. Some members of AHA actively interfered with tenants’ rights, as detailed by multiple first-hand accounts as well as a 5-year study by the League of Women Voters. Responsibility for oversight of the AHA in complying with legal obligations and community relations is placed on the 5 AHA Board members.If elected, I will act and use my voice on behalf of all the residents whose rights and quality of life have been impacted by past negligence, indifference, and poor decisions. All had access to the same information as the volunteers at the League of Women Voters and more. All had a legal responsibility to be trained in ethics and policies of Public Housing Authority boards. To date, it seems neither this training nor the personal ethics of long-term board members has improved. We must do better. The only way to move forward is to elect new board members who don’t have a decades-long history of irresponsibility on this board.
Communication & Transparency
The process of applying for housing should be simple, but it is unnecessarily difficult; particularly for non-English speakers. The board does not have a clear, published explanation of the requirements. There is no standard waiting list protocol; some applicants obtain housing within months while others may languish on the list for years without any communication from the administrator. The administrator is unresponsive to waiting residents and the public. This silence creates anxiety, frustration, and hopelessness.
Transparency is key to maintaining a positive relationship with both AHA tenants and the greater Arlington community. Effective, open communication can’t happen without trust in the board - and trust can’t be established with the same culture of disregard and complacency established by longtime board members. As a board member who is already more familiar with the challenges facing applicants to public housing than any current board member, I will establish secure lines of communication for residents to voice any concerns without fear of retaliation, and with confidence that any concern - big or small - will be addressed in a timely manner.