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Contact: Lydia Agro,Communications Director, 617-988-4109
Location: Boston
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The United States Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved a request by the Boston Housing Authority to allow for site-based waiting lists at all of its federally subsidized family developments throughout the city of Boston.
Since 1988, applicants to the BHA’s family program have been required to apply to a citywide list and have been offered the first apartment of appropriate size that meets their needs anywhere within the city. Under the new rules applicants will be allowed to put their names on one or more waiting lists for specific sites. Applicants may choose any or all locations under the new guidelines. Current residents of BHA developments waiting for transfers will also have the option of choosing which site they want to live in.
“This is a historic day for public housing in Boston,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “This change allows residents who have lived in neighborhoods all their lives to remain in those communities or to move to a new neighborhood. Low-income families should have the same right to choice in housing as families with higher incomes.”
Over the next couple of months the BHA will be contacting all applicants by mail to inform them of their options and allow them to make location choices. Applicants currently on the citywide wait list will be placed in order of application date and priority on the site-based waiting lists. The BHA expects to fully implement the site-based waiting lists early next year.
A 1998 federal law allows housing authorities to use site-based waiting lists. The BHA petitioned HUD to allow for the changes in October of 2002. HUD notified the BHA of the approval of the plan on September 17.
“Applicants from every neighborhood consistently tell us that they want to choose where to live. This may be because they have friends, family, medical services, daycare, employment or other support services in a particular neighborhood that they want to maintain,” said BHA Administrator Sandra Henriquez. “These relationships are very important to our residents and have a strong impact on the quality of their lives.”
The BHA ‘s HOPE VI developments, Mission Main and Orchard Gardens, have successfully implemented site-based waiting lists when they were redeveloped.
“Public housing residents should have the right to choose where they want to live,” said Ruth Capone, Chair of the Maverick Tenants Organization in East Boston. “Why should we be treated differently from anybody else?”
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