Welcome to the Tenant Newsletter! Here you’ll find important events and ways to engage, both in the HCA and the wider Arlington communities. You’ll see everything from resources that you can access to updates on resident activities! If there is anything you’d like to add to the next newsletter, please reach out to Jackson 781-859-5294 x.6 | jhamilton@housingcorparlington.org. Enjoy!
October 2024
HCA UPDATE: Appointments with Renea and Jackson will now be by appointment only, except for emergencies. Renea and Jackson are too busy to handle walk-ins and still serve you all in their fullest capacities. Please call or email them to set up appointments so that they are able to take the time to go over everything with you during your appointment.
Renea: 781-859-5294 x.7 | rduran@housingcorparlington.org
Jackson: 781-859-5294 x.6 | jhamilton@housingcorparlington.org
Save the Dates
| Date | Event |
| Tuesday Oct. 22 6-8pm | HCA’s Annual Meeting. First Parish Church, 630 Mass Ave. Dinner starts at 6, program starts at 6:30. Have the chance to vote on HCA’s bylaw changes, and also new members of HCA’s board. Come out for a night of celebration with your neighbors! |
| Thurs Oct. 17 & Thurs Nov. 7 | Affordable Housing Overlay Forum – this is the first information session for Arlington’s proposed AHO, which will allow organizations like HCA to build affordable housing in more cost-effective ways! https://www.arlingtonma.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/35168/ |
| Wed. Nov. 6 12-1pm | Focus Group with Beth Israel Lahey. They are a funder of ours and they want to know “about the health issues and social factors (e.g., housing/transportation/economic insecurity/food insecurity/violence, etc.) that they feel have the biggest effects on their community, and to ask about the types of community resources they wish were available to you” There will be compensation. Reach out to Jackson (jhamilton@housingcorparlington.org) if you’re interested! |
Resources
| Date | Event |
| Thurs Oct. 10- Oct. 30 5:30pm | Free Financial Literacy course at the HCA office – Learn how to create a budget to reach a goal, build credit, and how to make your money work for you! There will also be an opportunity for a 1-on-1 financial coaching session to help you take control of your money. The class takes place on Thursdays in September and October. Email Renea if you’re interested: rduran@housingcorparlington.org |
| Now – Oct. 9 | Help decide what holidays the Town of Arlington observes! Fill out this quick Google survey to have your holidays acknowledged by the Town: Inclusive Holidays and Observances Survey 2024 (google.com) |
| ONGOING | THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEAL BASKETS ARE BACK! Here is the form: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/TdWhtITxBM36Jk5LRvu0Bg . Additional information to come. |
Opportunities to Engage!!
| A spot is open on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees, which is a group who advocates for affordable housing in town. Here is more information about the opportunity here: Committee Openings | Town of Arlington (arlingtonma.gov). If you are interested or want help with the application, reach out to Jackson jhamilton@housingcorparlington.org | 781-859-5294 x.6 | |
The 2024 Annual Survey is active now! Your feedback will truly give the staff at HCA the information on how to make your lives as residents better. There will also be a drawing for $25 gift cards when the survey closes. Scan the QR code now! |
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| Beth Israel Lahey’s Mt. Auburn Hospital. This is a great opportunity to influence the flow of money and to direct policy priorities in the State! Here is the link to the survey: Community Health Survey for Beth Israel Lahey Health: FY25 Community Health Needs Assessment (jsi.com), and if you are interested in attending the meeting, email Jackson. |
Tenant Council Updates
| Thank you to everyone who attended the Tenant Council Meeting on September 30th! It was our most highly attended meeting to date and we had a great time planning out the Tenant Council’s upcoming agenda. | Our community Facebook page just for HCA tenants is live! The Tenant Council now has a page where you can talk to your neighbors, conduct exchanges, help each other, and much more! Here’s the link to join the group! : https://www.facebook.com/share/g/tkdsCL8rZCSyT7un/?mibextid=K35XfP | We are scheduling a meeting with Property Management to address many of the issues that were decided upon by the Tenant Council. This will be the first of many meetings between the Tenant Council and Property Management; come to the next Tenant Council meeting to help decide exactly what the next meeting will be about. |
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September 2024
Save the Dates
| Date | Event |
| Sep. 17 10:00a | Senior Coffee Hour at HCA’s conference room! If you need a ride to get to the office (252 Mass Ave) please let Jackson know! Give him a call or send him an email. 781-859-5294 x.6 or jhamilton@housingcorparlington.org |
| Sep. 21 10:30a- 4:30p | Town Day – Tons of resources will be there for any need you may have. There will also be food vendors, live music, and more! It takes place right in the center of town, between Pleasant St. and Jason St. Check out some more information here |
| Sep. 30 6:30p | The next meeting of the Tenant Council will take place on Monday, September 30 @ 6:30pm at the Robbins Library Community Room. You will get an invitation in the mail soon. |
| Oct. 22 | HCA’s Annual Meeting. More information to come. |
Resources
| Date | Event |
| Sep 12- Oct 24 | Free Financial Literacy course at the HCA office – Learn how to create a budget to reach a goal, build credit, and how to make your money work for you! There will also be an opportunity for a 1-on-1 financial coaching session to help you take control of your money. The class takes place on Thursdays in September and October. Email Renea if you’re interested: rduran@housingcorparlington.org |
| Sep 21 10:30a- 4:30p | Town Day – Tons of resources will be there for any need you may have. It takes place right in the center of town, between Pleasant St. and Jason St. Check out some more information here |
| Sep 24 – Dec 3 6:30p- 8:30p | US Citizenship Class – a FREE 10 week course at the Gibbs School. Learn how to answer the questions on the citizenship exam and improve your English. Must have a green card for 5 years or married to a US citizen & have a green card for 3 years. Sign up for the class here |
Opportunities to Engage!!
| Town Board | Annual Tenant Survey | Lahey Survey and Meeting | |
| A spot is open on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Trustees, which is a group who advocates for affordable housing in town. Here is more information about the opportunity here: Committee Openings. If you are interested or want help with the application, reach out to Jackson jhamilton@ho-usingcorparlington.org | 781-859-5294 x.6
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The 2024 Annual Survey is active now! Your feedback will truly give the staff at HCA the information on how to make your lives as residents better. There will also be a drawing for $25 gift cards when the survey closes. Take the survey here. |
|
Tenant Council Updates
| Next Meeting | HCA Tenant Facebook Group | Meeting with Property Management |
| The next meeting of the Tenant Council will take place on Monday, September 30 @ 6:30pm at the Robbins Library Community Room. You’ll get an invitation in the mail this week! | Our community Facebook page just for HCA tenants is live! The Tenant Council now has a page where you can talk to your neighbors, conduct exchanges, help each other, and much more! Here’s the link to join the group! : Facebook Group | We are scheduling a meeting with Property Management to address many of the issues that were decided upon by the Tenant Council. This will be the first of many meetings between the Tenant Council and Property Management; come to the next Tenant Council meeting to help decide exactly what the next meeting will be about. |