To the editor:
We, the Lynn Housing Coalition (LHC), in collaboration with the organizations signed at the end of this document, write this letter to express our support of the Housing Lynn production plan and ask that you join us in supporting and ensuring steady, consistent progress toward the objectives outlined to keep Lynn affordable.
Over a decade of advocacy by the community has led to this extensive five-year plan. It is an inclusive, equitable and comprehensive housing production plan that takes a critical first step to secure residency for current and future Lynners.
We applaud the community for their relentless efforts and involvement in the significant public engagement process, with which our group was directly involved. While our community partners have a diversity of views on the plan, we appreciate the groups that have served as amazing thought partners in this work: New Lynn Coalition, Lynn Economic Opportunity, La Vida Scholars, Northeast Justice Center, North Shore Juneteenth Association, Pathways Inc., Lynn School Committee, and Lynn United for Change, among others.
This is the first important step in determining the future of housing production in Lynn. The targets and strategies included in the Housing Lynn plan set a critical foundation for Lynn, and we are excited to meet these targets and strive to go even further to create an affordable and inclusive community.
There are important strategies included that will require thoughtful engagement from the community as we work to implement each of them. At every step of the way, we will carefully consider how we can use the plan as a jumping off point, with an eye toward assisting those with the lowest incomes and most critical housing needs.
The Urban Institute in 2019 reported that “households at all income levels are paying a greater share of their incomes on housing than in the past, but the greatest cost burdens fall on very low-income renters.” This concern is ever present here in our community.
By understanding this, and being cognizant of it, we can do the important advocacy work that is necessary for our city. There will be additional opportunities for process and recommendations where we might certainly ask for more, but this sets the groundwork and foundation for that work.
Nationwide, cities and neighborhoods are taking proactive approaches to the housing crisis, especially as they combat the compounding effects of the pandemic. The 2020 State of the Nation’s Housing Report noted that “renters of color, homeowners of color and low-income households disproportionately lost income following the onset of the pandemic, and these households disproportionately struggled to make housing payments as of September 2020.”
Persisting unaffordability is a nationwide crisis and one that we have the opportunity to begin to tackle right here in Lynn. Although some tools in the Housing Lynn plan can be utilized much quicker than others, it is important to remember that they will all require prudent implementation, enforcement and public reporting. This is when the work really begins, and we are excited to be a part of it.
Finally, although we all come to this work from a different place, this plan is a blueprint that presents a myriad of challenges and opportunities for Lynn. The Housing Lynn plan outlines several options and tools that are available to residents, the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development and Lynn City Hall.
We call upon city and elected officials to read the Housing Lynn plan in order to get an understanding of the extensive work put forth by this group and the community partners who have taken their time to collaborate on this plan. Our hope is that you will join us in supporting and ensuring the rollout of the Housing Lynn plan and taking the first critical step toward meeting our housing needs here in Lynn. We also look forward to hearing about the progress made toward the goals of the Housing Lynn plan, and call upon the City and City Council to provide regular updates to ensure accountability and implementation.
Alexander Cuevas (LHC Community Lead)
Nicole McClain (President, North Shore Juneteenth Association)
Andrew DeFranza (Harborlight Community Partners)
Jonathon Feinberg (New Lynn Coalition)
State Representative Peter Capano, 11th Essex District
Marven Hyppolite (Neighbor to Neighbor)
Michael Satterwhite, Esq., (candidate for Mayor of Lynn)
Gordon Hall (The Hall Company, Inc.)
Laura Gallant (Northeast Justice Center)
Jared Nicholson (candidate for Mayor of Lynn)
Tia Cole (Lynn Public Art Commission)
Coco Alinsug (candidate for Ward 3 City Councilor)
George Meimeteas (candidate for Ward 3 City Councilor)
Natasha Soolkin (New American Association of Massachusetts)
State Senator Brendan P. Crighton, Third Essex District
Lilian Romero (Leo, Inc.)
Danya Smith (Ward 4 resident)
Fredrick Hogan (Ward 6 City Councilor)
Krystal Morales (Ward 2 resident)
Julio Perez (State Police Inspector, Ward 7 resident)
Doraima Diaz (City of Lynn Health Inspector, Ward 2 resident)
Victoria Cuevas (Ward 3 senior resident)
