ECCO Leaders and Allies Rally at Lynn City Hall in 2022

Housing Justice

CHOOSING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS OUR PRIMARY CAMPAIGN

In 2020, ECCO used a Participatory Action Research Model to address issues facing people of color on the North Shore. Surveys revealed affordable housing as the top concern for Black, Latinx, and Cambodian communities. Working with local partners, ECCO uncovered how lack of affordable housing and racist housing policies, including “sundown” towns, have fueled racial inequality for generations.

ECCO’s strategy includes three key actions: advocating for rent stabilization in Lynn and Salem to address rising rents, ensuring that American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are allocated for affordable housing and include input from affected communities, and pushing for zoning changes, including local approval of the Housing Choice Act, to facilitate affordable housing development near MBTA stations. These efforts aim to make affordable housing more accessible and inclusive in local cities and towns.

OUR SUCCESSES SO FAR

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ECCO’s research highlights that contemporary racial inequities in housing stem from discriminatory policies at federal, state, and local levels, particularly during the 20th century. Housing inequity was not caused by personal prejudice but by government-imposed segregation, such as the FHA's exclusion of Black families from suburban loans. This resulted in long-term disparities in wealth accumulation between Black and White families. In Massachusetts, zoning laws and neighborhood associations perpetuated racial segregation even after the Fair Housing Act. ECCO aims to engage communities in conversations about racial justice and affordable housing, empowering local leaders and encouraging civic participation for lasting change.