Committee Report CR-2
The Housing Committee held a public meeting on May 12, 2009 beginning at three o'clock and five minutes in the Sullivan Chamber, 2
floor, Cambridge City Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss plans for a public forum to provide information and support for homeowners or tenants who may be facing displacement because of economic distress.
Present at the meeting were Vice Mayor Sam Seidel, Chair of the Committee, Councillor Henrietta Davis, Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves, Councillor Larry Ward and City Clerk Margaret Drury. Also present were Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services, Stephanie Ackert, Division Head, Planning and Research Division, Department of Human Services Programs (DHSP), Marianne Colangelo, DHSP, Len Thomas, Director of the Multi Service Center, DHSP, Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development; Christopher Cotter, Director of Housing, Community Development Department (CDD), Joshua Meehan, Senior Program Manager, Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA), CHA, Peter Daly, Executive Director, Homeowners Rehab, Inc. (HRI) Hilary Smith-Gage, Resident Services, HRI, Lauren Curry, Just-A-Start, Paul Lambe, Just-A-Start Mediation for Results program, Elaine DeRosa, Executive Director, CEOC, Adrienne Roche, Winn Management Company, Camille Perry, Mabney Properties, Angel Aiguier, YAH Video News Magazine and Victoria Harris, Aide to Vice Mayor Seidel.
Vice Mayor Seidel convened the meeting and explained the purpose. There was a discussion in which those present who work directly with tenants described the deteriorating economic circumstances they are seeing in recent weeks. There was particular note of the problems of insufficient childcare resources. Single women who have been out of work for a certain number of weeks lose the childcare subsidies which they need to be able to work. Councillor Reeves said that he has encountered a number of people who previously were solidly situated in the middle class and then lost their jobs and have been unable to find work. He noted that this presents huge problems for the unemployed tenant and the landlord who needs the rent to pay the mortgage. Councillor Ward said that there are also people falling behind in mortgage payments who could perhaps be assisted by a City program that would allow them to defer payment on property taxes. It was agreed that statistics on unemployment and evictions in Cambridge would be useful.
Discussion turned to plans for an event to provide assistance to persons facing displacement. Problems with low attendance at resource fairs in the area were noted. There was agreement that an event focusing on providing information about available resources to landlords and managers of larger buildings with affordable housing units, tenant association presidents and leaders, clergy, and other persons with whom tenants with economic problems might discuss their concerns would be fruitful. There was preliminary discussion of a forum, perhaps with personal invitations issued by the Mayor, similar to the currently popular networking events. There was also agreement that Ms. Colangelo should continue her work on the preparation of written material summarizing useful resources. See attached draft material. It was suggested that this information should be on the City's website as well.