Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association Presents Award To Arlington Officials

ARLINGTON, MA — The Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) presented their Open Door Champion Award to Arlington’s Town Manager, Adam Chapdelaine and Director of Planning and Community Development, Jennifer Raitt at their recent Fair Housing Symposium.

The award is given to those that inspire in the space of fair housing. Chapdelaine and Raitt were specifically recognized for their leadership in creating Arlington’s Fair Housing Action Plan and their commitment to promoting fair housing for all.

"I hope I will continue to be an enabler and uplifter of this work and try to keep it as part of the dialogue so that we can implement recommendations in the plan,” Chapdelaine said in a statement. “I’m honored by the award and really want to commend Jenny and her team for their efforts in developing a fair housing plan for Arlington.”

"This is my heart's work,” Raitt said in a statement. It is inspirational, necessary work. You can't build a future without imagining what's possible. However, not everyone can reach those dreams because there are so many barriers to entry. Discriminatory practices are still there.”

Arlington’s Fair Housing Action Plan was developed from 2019 and completed in July 2021. The town worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and the Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights Under Law (LCCR).

The plan includes an extensive analysis of existing fair housing conditions as well as recommendations including increasing awareness and education pertaining to fair housing, amending policies and zoning that restricts fair housing options, and assisting members of protected classes with attaining and retaining housing. Several plan recommendations involve an evaluation of funding resources and the process of allocating funds.

The Department of Planning and Community Development will continue working and collaborating with the Arlington Housing Rights Commission, Disability Commission, LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission, Arlington Housing Authority, the Housing Corporation of Arlington, and other Town bodies and organizations dedicated to housing and equity to achieve the benchmarks outlined in the plan.

Raitt provided an overview of Arlington’s Fair Housing Action Plan at the CHAPA Fair Housing Symposium.

To read Arlington’s Fair Housing Action Plan, click here.