Edition No. 261L | March 22, 2007

Ana Luna, Executive Director of Arlington Community Trabajando, a Community Development Corporation in Lawrence; Dr. James Jennings of Tufts University; and Mayte Rivera, a Ph.D. candidate at Northeastern University and Director of the Community and Enterprise Development Center at Northern Essex Community College submitted the proposal to the Housing Committee of Lawrence City Councilors last Monday, March 12th. Councilor Nilka Alvarez, Chair of the Housing Committee; Councilor Patrick Blanchette, President of the City Councilor and Councilor Jorge Gonzalez, District C, agreed to support the resolution. Additional endorsers of the resolution include, Bread and Roses Housing Trust, Metropolitan Credit Union, and the International Institute of Greater Lawrence.

The resolution will help address the foreclosure crisis in Lawrence in various ways: First, it will engage the support and involvement of residents and businesses in the Arlington neighborhood, where an estimated 35% of foreclosed properties, over the past three years, have been located.

Second, this resolution will encourage the building of partnerships and collaboration involving city and state government; faith-based sector; all small businesses. These entities, until now, have not been working collectively on foreclosure prevention and home retention problems in Lawrence, particularly in sections of the City where concentrated foreclosures prevail.

Third, the designation will help by concentrating funding sources in an area of the city where home-ownership and wealth-retention resources have been minimal. Arlington Community Trabajando will place special emphasis in raising funds for the Northern and Westerly part of the City for financial literacy, homeownership education and foreclosure prevention.

Fourth, through the efforts of the Wealth Preservation and Housing Partnership, the resolution will encourage active community and economic development planning to address those factors contributing to the high count of foreclosure filings in Lawrence, e.g. loss of employment, medical or health issues, limited education of residents, and unstable affordability of local households to grapple with rising property taxes, increasing interest rates and surge in construction as well as maintenance costs in cities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

In 2006, according to ForeclosureMass over 425 foreclosures were filed with Land Court in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Concentrated foreclosures have a direct impact in the quality of life of neighborhoods, homeowners, tenants and surrounding businesses. Once the foreclosure process is initiated by lenders, tenants of multiple-family dwellings are ordered to leave the premises. Thus, resulting in immediate displacement of families and children.

The resolution will concentrate in the Arlington neighborhood because the financial loss to this part of the city is considerably higher than in other neighborhoods due to the concentration of commercial activity. The Arlington Neighborhood had over 67 retail establishments as of 2006; these businesses employed 405 individuals and generated $45 million in annual sales. This is the kind of business activity that is threatened by a concentrated and rapidity of foreclosures in this neighborhood.

If you have questions or require further information, please contact Ana Luna or James Jennings at 617 627 4625.

Arlington Community Trabajando is a community development corporation established in 1996. ACT’s Mission is to empower residents and stakeholders through initiatives in affordable housing, business, workforce, youth development, green spaces, public safety and other activities. We offer a range of services connected with our mission, such as youth development programs, business technical assistance and training, affordable housing advocacy, green space planning, financial education and workforce training.