On Tuesday, October 18 over 120 Lynn residents gathered in front of City Hall to rally and present a petition with over 1500 signatures from city residents demanding that affordable housing be the top priority as the city allocates its remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds.
Lynn United for Change, ECCO, and Neighbor to Neighbor presented a petition with more than 1,500 signatures calling on Mayor Jared Nicholson and the Lynn City Council to prioritize affordable housing and to fund the grassroots Community Housing Plan when they decide how to use the rest of the city’s ARPA money in coming weeks.
The Community Housing Plan (click to download PDF of the plan) was developed by grassroots members of the three community groups and funds the acquisition and stabilization of existing affordable housing; lays groundwork for development of new homes for working class and low-income residents; prevents displacement through recovery rental vouchers; and improves conditions through a building repair program.
At the event Lynn residents spoke of their first hand experiences with the housing crisis, describing drastic rent increases that threaten to push them out of the city, “no cause” evictions as new owners purchase buildings, and the impact of housing instability on families, health, and education.
Organizers called on the Mayor and City Council to listen to the voices of the people most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and housing crisis, and to prioritize affordable housing as a matter of equity, fairness, and racial justice.
The above press release was submitted to us by Lynn United for Change.
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