Waltham’s WATCH CDC Fighting For ‘Tenant Rights Notification’

WALTHAM, MA — WATCH CDC, a community development corporation that provides services and resources to the Waltham community, is working with local tenants to introduce an ordinance that would help renters and promote overall housing stability.

The ordinance, entitled “Waltham Tenant Rights Notification” would require landlords to provide a notice of housing rights and a list of programs and resources that can provide housing support. Regardless of whether the landlord is providing a notice to quit or a notice of non renewal of a lease, the list of resources would be required to be served by the landlord concurrently.

“This ordinance would promote equal access to information that encourages housing stability,” WATCH Community Organizer Genoveva Tavera said in a statement. “Informed tenants would have a higher chance of maintaining their tenancy and seeking rental assistance if needed.”

Somerville passed a similar ordinance in 2019 and the cities of Boston and Cambridge quickly followed by passing their own versions of housing ordinances in 2020.

Additionally, community members are looking for the city to create an Office of Housing Stability with a focus on preventing homelessness. The push to create this office is due to the end of the Massachusetts eviction moratorium on March 31, 2022.

“We need to prevent displacement, rehouse the homeless, and continue to improve tenants’ rights in Waltham,” Tavera said.

According to WATCH CDC, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been deeply felt throughout much of the Waltham community. Renters in Waltham make up more than half the city's population and the pandemic put many of these families in financial difficulty.

The pandemic has also affected many Waltham renters’ work schedules, as many of them are working fewer hours or have had gaps in income due to illness, caring for a family member, or being laid off.

“This ordinance has been written by the tenants for the Waltham community,” Kaitlyn Greenberg, a member of WATCH’s Tenant Action Group, said in a statement.

The need to keep people in their homes is compounded by the fact that affordable housing and shelters are not readily available for low-income families and individuals in Waltham, said WATCH CDC.

According to Cory Mills-Dick, the Director of Client Services at Middlesex Human Service Agency, the Waltham Family Shelter only has room for about eight families. In addition, Bristol Lodge men
and women shelters have significantly reduced capacity due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and public housing in Waltham has a waitlist of five years or longer.

WATCH CDC created an online petition to spread awareness and encourage community support. The petition has attracted over 250 signatures by Waltham tenants and landlords. To sign the petition, click here. For more information, contact WATCH CDC’s Campaign and Communications Coordinator Brianna Polanco at brianna@watchcdc.org.