HCA Newsletter

But, thanks for hard work of our project team, our 10 Sunnyside Ave application was strong enough to be funded this time!  This is an incredible project milestone. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed in so many ways to get the project to this point.

The second portfolio-wide meeting of HCA’s Tenant Council took place on June 13^th at the Robbins Library. There was great energy in the room!

Over dinner, the Tenant Council built on the accomplishments of the last meeting, discussing different ways to ensure that all HCA tenants can access the resources  and quality of life that we all need in our lives.

Attendees were treated to a presentation on the organizational structure of HCA given by HCA Director Erica, and made connections between how HCA and our properties are funded and how that may impact their day-to-day lives in their homes.

The group also set priorities for the property management issues they want to address and discussed how to share information and resources with each other. Many attendees of the meeting were at a Tenant Council meeting for the first time, which led to some amazing new perspectives. The contributions of every member of the Tenant Council in attendance were invaluable for the group; every idea that was shared during the meeting will become a foundational building block for the future agenda of the council.

The meeting was led by leaders of the Tenant Council’s Steering Committee; they initiated and moderated discussion, provided ideas, took notes, and even started fundraising for the Tenant Council! A hat was passed and the funds collected will be used for future Tenant Council needs.

In late June, HCA met with staff from Senator Cindy Friedman’s office to advocate for TOPA (Tenant Opportunity to Purchase). Our group was made up of 7 total HCA members, including 5 low-income tenants who know first-hand how the housing crisis is hurting local families. HCA’s Executive Director Erica Schwarz brought this group together to advocate for this important legislation that HCA has endorsed.

It was a rich and productive conversation. Everyone who was on the call wants to see more affordable housing created in Arlington. TOPA would give tenants who live in a building that the owner plans to sell the opportunity to match a market rate offer and buy the building themselves. Or, the tenants could tap a nonprofit like HCA to purchase the property on their behalf. Regardless, the building would become restricted as affordable housing.

Building new affordable buildings is important — but it is just as important that we capture homes that are not currently protected from the market in order to preserve them as affordable. This is especially important when the buildings are occupied by tenants who are struggling to pay their rent, or who will struggle to pay the rent once a new owner comes in.

The current legislative session ends on July 31st. The TOPA legislation was not in the State Senate’s final housing bill, but it was in the House’s version. We are hopeful that the final version that the full legislature will vote on will include TOPA.  Senator Friedman and Arlington’s two State Representatives, Dave Rogers and Sean Garballey are all strong affordable housing supporters. They have all stated some support for TOPA so we hope they will do all they can to see it pass!