HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-06-22 Housing MeetingWatertown Town Council
Committee on Human Services
Councilor Palomba, Chair, Councilor Bays, Vice Chair, Councilor Gannon, Secretary
Committee Report —Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7:00 PM
The meeting agenda was duly posted, and noted that the meeting would take place remotely via Zoom. The
agenda also noted that Watertown Community Access Television would televise the meeting. In addition, the
agenda provided the public with notice on how to access the meeting online and by telephone, and that
comments were invited via email
All Committee members were present. Others present included: Town Council President Mark Sideris, District
C Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon, Transportation Planner Laura Wiener,
Director of Senior Services Anne -Marie Gagnon, Senior Services Case Worker Jenya Kruglyansky, Fred
Reynolds, David Leon, and Cliff Cook from the Watertown Housing Partnership, Leo Martin, Chair of the
Conservation Commission, Elodia Thomas, Chair of the Community Preservation Committee, Jenna Willis,
Watertown's Social Services Resource Specialists, Sophia Suarez -Friedman, Wayside Multi -Service Center,
Jennifer Van Campen, Executive Director, Metro West Community Collaborative, Jan Singer, Director,
Watertown Community Foundation, Carole Katz, President, Marshall Home Fund, Charlyn Bethell and Will
Twombly from the Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund at First Parish of Watertown, and Watertown
resident Sibylle DeCarlo.
1. Call to Order
Committee chair Palomba called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm. He noted that the purpose of the meeting was
to continue the discussion regarding affordable housing with emphasis on a tenant -based Rental Assistance
Program (RAP) and to consider an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
2. Continue the Discussion Regarding Affordable Housing with Emphasis on the Town Council's
Directive to the Administration to Draft a RAP and to Consider an ERAP
Chair Palomba stated that on September 17, 2019, the Town Council by an 8-0 vote requested that the
Department of Community Planning draft a RAP. The objective of such a program is to provide financial
assistance toward the prohibitively high financial barriers (first month/last month/security deposit) to apartments
people could otherwise afford. Chair Palomba stated that the Committee meeting's order of business is to lay a
foundation for the need for an ERAP, to hear from the Watertown Housing Partnership (WHP) about such a
program, and to discuss the need for a long-term RAP.
Watertown's Social Services Resource Specialist Jenna Wills stated that there are 400 residents served in some
manner by existing Town social assistance programs. The present pandemic and the resulting economic
uncertainty have resulted in a number of residents suffering economic losses of jobs and their businesses. Many
families that have not needed services previously are in danger of losing their homes. The Watertown
Community Foundation has obtained a $25,000 grant to assist at least 28 families identified by Ms. Willis with
their critical short-term housing needs. There are at least 50 families needing such assistance. Ms. Willis and
others are working to connect such families with existing state and federal programs and with local programs
such as the Helen Robinson Wright Fund and the Marshall Home Fund. Many community partners described
the specific assistance that their groups have provided to families in need. Ms. Willis noted that a state eviction
moratorium is set to expire in August (as a side note, that moratorium was recently extended to October 17) and
she anticipates an increase in the number of families facing eviction. Jennifer Van Campen noted that the state
Department of Unemployment Assistance numbers showed that Watertown had an 11.9 percent unemployment
rate for the month of October, representing 2,400 Watertown residents who have lost their jobs.
The Committee's discussion next addressed an ERAP developed by the WHP. Town Planner Laura Wiener,
filling in for a vacant housing planner position, noted that WHP voted recently to allocate $175,000 from
available affordable housing funds for an ERAP that will offer up to three months rental subsidy to persons
living at or below 80 percent of median income. Metro West Collaborative Development will administer the
program. Fred Reynolds, Chair of the WHP, stated that these grants would be made to qualifying individuals
with a goal of providing the funds in an expeditious manner. Jennifer Van Campen of Metro West
Collaborative Development stated she has created guidelines for an emergency rental assistance program that
are being used by other cities and towns. The emphasis will be to address needs of individuals who are not
currently receiving state or federal assistance and to award the grants as soon as feasible. Eventually, it is hoped
that funds from the Community Preservation Act may supplement the existing funds allocated by the WHP. The
team is formulating an outreach program to alert individuals about the ERAP, and the goal is to be distributing
checks to families as early as September. Steve Magoon suggested that outreach efforts for the ERAP would be
enhanced by having the full Town Council vote to endorse the emergence rental assistance program.
Action Item:
Councilor Palomba made a motion that the Committee recommends that the full Town Council vote to
endorse the Watertown Housing Partnership's decision to allocate $175,000 of its available affordable
housing funds to support an Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Councilor Gannon seconded the motion and it passed 3 -0.
In a further discussion of additional funding for the rental assistance program, Steve Magoon stated that the
administration would review whether additional Town funds might be available. In addition, Councilor Bays
cited the possibility that a portion of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds may be used as well. Future
meetings of the Committee on Human Services should be held to obtain updates on the emergency rental
assistance program as well as the status of additional funding.
Chair Palomba made a motion that the Committee on Human Services reconvene in August or
September for these purposes. Councilor Bays seconded the motion and it passed 3-0.
3. Discussion of Creating a Permanent Housing Assistance Program
During the final part of the meeting, Chair Palomba initiated a discussion about the Town's progress on creating
a permanent tenant -based RAP per the Town Council's request. He noted that a study found that $650,000
would be needed to make whole the families who are in need of rental assistance occasioned by the pandemic.
Steve Magoon said that there was limited progress on this request at this time. However, given that fact that
there are two strong candidates to fill the vacant housing planner position he anticipates a draft of a RAP may be
completed in the near future. Mr. Magoon also expressed his appreciation to Ms. Wiener for filling two
planning roles during the absence of a housing planner. Will Twombly asked whether a permanent rental
assistance program would be able to address housing needs of non-residents. Councilor Gannon asked Steve
Magoon if the Town has considered adopting an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, under Massachusetts General
Laws Chapter 44, section 55C. He explained that the creation of such a fund would allow housing monies from
the Massachusetts Housing Partnership to be combined with affordable housing funds from the CPA, creating a
larger funding source. Steve Magoon stated that there are definite advantages to creating such an Affordable
Housing Trust Fund. Councilor Bays noted that the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust was a Committee
recommendation to the Town Council last term and should be discussed again at a future meeting of the
Committee.
Chair Palomba stated that a future Human Services Committee meeting would continue the discussion of a
permanent RAP. He thanked the community members and town partners for their efforts in addressing
emergency rental assistance.
Chair Palomba made a motion to adjourn. Councilor Gannon seconded the motion. All were in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:23pm.
Minutes Prepared by Councilor Gannon
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