From the Office of Senator Kerry

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Washington, DC – Senator John F. Kerry joined with Representatives Barney Frank and Mike Capuano, Mayor Tom Menino and Governor Paul Cellucci to provide affordable housing vouchers to the elderly residents of Brighton Village Apartments in Boston. Senator Kerry and Rep. Frank and Capuano successfully pushed for the inclusion of a provision in the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act that will increase the value of the residents' Section 8 vouchers, allowing them to remain in their Brighton Village homes despite rent increases. Without the legislative change increasing the value of their Section 8 vouchers, the 18 residents of Brighton Village receiving Section 8 vouchers, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, faced likely eviction. The tenants were informed earlier this year that the owner of the property was planning to raise rents from the current tenant share of a two bedroom at $357 to either a below-market rent of $1,350, with market level at $1,650.

"This is a huge victory for the residents of Brighton Village, who have already sacrificed so much and lived extraordinary lives and who should never have to worry that they will be evicted because of a landlord hungry for profit or a housing voucher that runs out," said Senator Kerry. "This legislation provides new flexible vouchers that will allow these senior citizens – mostly retirees relying on Social Security, often paying over half their monthly check on rent -- to once again stave off eviction. I'm pleased that in a time of too much partisanship Barney Frank, Mike Capuano, Mayor Menino, Governor Cellucci and I were able to work together so effectively and prove that government can do good things for our citizens."

Rep. Barney Frank said, "I am pleased that the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, working with the Mayor of Boston and the Governor, was able to take the necessary action to resolve this situation. The problem at Brighton Village underlines the need for Congress to take further action next year to increase the availability of affordable housing so that crises of this kind do not happen in the future."

Rep. Mike Capuano said, "Providing enhanced vouchers to these elderly residents of Brighton Village will allow them to stay in their apartments and in the community they have come to call home for years to come."

Mayor Menino said, "I commend Senator Kerry and Representatives Frank and Capuano for their work on behalf of Brighton Village. This situation is evidence of the dire need for more affordable housing and a perfect example of how, working together, we can come up with effective solutions that are about people, not a bottom line."

Governor Paul Cellucci said, "Passage of this legislation solves a long-standing hardship for many elderly residents in Massachusetts who face displacement from their homes. Preserving affordability for elder housing remains a top priority of the Cellucci-Swift Administration and this technical correction will go a long way toward solving one of our state's biggest challenges."

The American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act, of which the Brighton Village provision was a part, is a comprehensive housing bill that, among other things, helps expand housing opportunities for lower income elderly and disabled people by expanding the sources of financing that can be used in conjunction with Section 202 and 811 funding and by increasing flexibility for the use of Section 202 and 811 money. The bill also reforms the regulation of manufactured housing and Native American homeownership and rural homeownership programs, as well as authorizing the use of Section 8 funds to provide downpayment assistance.

A recent study issued by the National Low Income Housing Coalition highlights the fact that there is no city county, or state where a minimum wage job is adequate to enable a working person to afford the typical rent on 2 bedroom home. In tight markets such as Boston, New York, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Austin, San Francisco, and many others around the country, affordable housing is out of reach to average working families -- leaving elderly Americans far out of reach of the affordable, reliable housing they need in their golden years.

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