Brookline 2023 Candidate Profile: Susan Cohen, Housing Authority

BROOKLINE, MA – Brookline’s spring town election is coming up on Tuesday, May 2 and Brookline Patch has reached out to candidates in contested races to answer questions about why they're running.

In 2023, only races for select board, school committee (1-year term) and housing authority are contested.

Susan Cohen is an incumbent running to keep her housing authority seat. Here's why she's running again in 2023.

Susan Cohen, 71, Attorney, General Counsel at Cambridge Housing Authority

Relevant experience:
I began my career as an attorney representing low-income tenants. I have represented various public housing authorities for nearly four decades, including the Brookline Housing Authority for over 20 years. I am a long-time board member and past president of the Housing Development Law Institute in Washington, D.C., a national organization of housing authority attorneys and agencies. Through HDLI, and my participation in other local and national organizations, I have been actively involved in the effort to protect and improve public housing and develop affordable housing both here in Massachusetts and nationally. I am an active participant in the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization's Housing Justice Campaign in support of increased funding for state public housing.

Why are you seeking elective office?
I have devoted my whole life working to support low income and public housing residents and to improve the housing they live in. I have brought my skills and dedication to my home town of Brookline, and would like to continue my service to the BHA community and the Town.

Describe the issues that define your campaign platform

• I will focus on pathways to the support and preservation of our funding-deprived state public housing;
• I will insure that BHA completes its renovation of our elderly/disabled buildings into high quality, energy-efficient, and attractive housing;
• I am committed to diversity and opportunity for people of all backgrounds to live in Brookline regardless of income;
• I will ensure that the BHA continues to expand and deepen its rich panoply of resident services for families, disabled, and elderly.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have a unique background and experience to best support the efforts of the BHA to improve the conditions in public housing and to complete the deep rehabilitation of the developments. I know the intricacies of public housing operations, capital improvements, development, and subsidy programs. I have brought those skills to bear for the BHA and will continue to do so from day 1.

If you are an incumbent, how long have you served in this position and what are your major accomplishments while in office?
I have served one 5 year term as a Commissioner. BHA is in the process of converting its public housing portfolio, with deep rehabilitation of the developments into modern, energy-efficient, and attractive housing that will serve the low-income community for the next generation. It has already fully rehabilitated 61 Park Street (O’Shea House) and 90 Longwood Avenue (Morse Apartments), and is in the process of doing the same for 50 Pleasant Street (Sussman House), and 32 Marion Street (Colonel Floyd Apartments). I am proud of the contributions I have made to the success of these projects. BHA also raised our Section 8 payment standards (the amount we can pay for a tenant in a private apartment) to enable more voucher holders to find a home in Brookline, which offers rich services and opportunities. I have been centrally involved in the effort to make that possible.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Our public housing community is a critical part of the fabric of Brookline. My day-to-day experience puts me in touch with the lives of public housing residents in a direct way. At the same time, I am working hard to solve larger systemic issues. I have the background, the network, and the tools to address the difficult challenges to financing redevelopment and preservation of our valuable public housing, and the commitment to our residents that has continued for literally decades.