Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing City of Nashua, NH
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Analysis of Impediments To Fair Housing City of Nashua, NH October 2010 Images of Nashua Nashua City Seal The city seal of Nashua includes its two official birthdays; its founding year 1673, and the year it became a city, 1853. Nashua was originally part of Dunstable County Massachusetts, until the state lines were defined in 1741 and it became Dunstable, New Hampshire in 1746. In 1836 it became Nashua, New Hampshire, and in 1853, it became a city. In the background there are images of the mill industry, the railroad, Main Street Bridge, as well as a river. In the foreground icons of labor and fortitude can be seen, a horn of plenty, and anvil and hammer, a plow and a bale of goods as well as a symbol of modern medicine. The image of the two clasped hands is a representation of the reunion of northern and southern Nashua. Surrounding the city image is a wreath of laurel representing the victory over wilderness. Nashua Dodgers 1946 In 1946 Nashua Dodgers General Manager Buzzie Bavasi accepted catcher Roy Campanella and pitcher Don Newcombe as the first two African American players to play for a minor league team in the 20th century. Nashua Dodgers was the AAA team where the men played in preparation for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Campanella and Newcombe along with Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball in the late 1940’s. The mural is on a wall of the Maynard and Lesieur Tire Company on West Hollis St., which has been around since 1928. The Monument This statue, dedicated to the people from Nashua who served in civil war, was dedicated in 1889 with the following inscription: A tribute to the men of Nashua who served their county on land or sea during the war of the rebellion, and aided in preserving the integrity of the Federal Union. A.D. 1861 - 1865. The Monument is located in Monument Park, at the top of Library Hill at the conjunction of Concord, Amherst, and Main Streets. Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Nashua, New Hampshire Contents I. Introduction and Summary .................................................................................. 1 A. Purpose............................................................................................................... 1 B. Methodology...................................................................................................... 3 C. Findings and Impediments................................................................................. 4 D. Actions to Address the Impediments ................................................................. 4 II. Nashua Background Data ..................................................................................... 6 III. Fair Housing Legal Status................................................................................... 17 IV. Review of Impediments ....................................................................................... 21 A. Public ............................................................................................................... 21 B. Private .............................................................................................................. 27 V. Assessment of Current Public and Private Fair Housing Programs and Activities in Nashua ............................................ 33 VI. Conclusions and Recommendations................................................................... 37 VII. Signature Page...................................................................................................... 48 Appendices 1. Summary of Federal and Sate Fair Housing Requirements 2. Outreach for Public Hearing and Focus Groups Minutes from Public Hearing Minutes from Latino Focus Group List of Consultations 3. Minorities by Census Tract Disabled Population by Census Tract Transit Maps (Day and Evening) 4. References Housing Websites Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing 1 Nashua, New Hampshire I. Introduction and Summary A. Purpose The City of Nashua has a goal of ensuring freedom of choice through its Community fair access to housing in Nashua. The City’s Planning and Development (CPD) pro- actions, including funding a non-profit for grams. HUD requires grantees to prepare fair housing outreach, indicate a willingness and submit an Annual Action Plan and a to understand and work to support the spirit Consolidated Annual Performance Report, and letter of fair housing laws at the state documenting fair housing activity. The and federal levels. This Analysis of responsibility for fair housing is also Impediments extends that understanding and extended to all non-profit organizations action. receiving funds for these programs. With this document, the City is working to Specifically, HUD requires that recipients of fulfill its requirements under the Housing its funding: and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended. The Act requires those com- • Conduct an analysis to identify munities receiving funds through Commu- impediments to fair housing. nity Planning and Development Formula • Take appropriate actions to overcome Grant Programs (including the Community impediments identified in analysis. Development Block Grant and HOME • Maintain records reflecting the analysis Investment Partnerships programs) to and subsequent actions taken. affirmatively further fair housing. This Analysis of Impediments identifies obstacles The Analysis of Impediments was to fair housing choice, which is defined as completed in the third quarter of 2010. The the “ability of persons, regardless of race, City retained Dan Cahill, a Consultant, to color, religion, sex, national origin, familial prepare the Plan. Mr. Cahill was assisted by status, or handicap, of similar income levels a number of associates. The City used to have available to them the same housing Community Development Block Grant choices.” funds to support this effort. In completing his assignment, Mr. Cahill coordinated Through the Office of Fair Housing and closely with Ms. Carrie Johnson Schena, the Equal Opportunity (FHEO) the Department Manager of the Urban Programs Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Nashua. The Urban Programs administers and enforces federal fair hous- Department is part of the Community ing laws. One of HUD’s primary objectives Development Division. The Analysis was is to expand mobility and approved by Mayor Donnalee Lozeau. Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing 2 Nashua, New Hampshire Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing 3 Nashua, New Hampshire B. Methodology Meetings On August 31, a public hearing was held in Overview Nashua City Hall. The public hearing was The outreach for the Analysis of advertised on August 19th. The meeting Impediments had three important elements. began with an overview of the Analysis of • Consultations. The consultant met with, Impediments process and the HUD among others: City officials; non-profits requirements. The types of protected classes agencies working on housing in the City and the acts of discrimination that are often of Nashua and the State of New Hamp- present in housing markets were reviewed, shire; faith institutions; and government as well as the process of gathering data from agencies, including the New Hampshire the City in various forms. Following the Commission for Human Rights and New overview, representatives of the New Hampshire Housing (a full list of Hampshire Legal Assistance Corporation consultations is included in Appendix 2). and representatives of non-profits working • Public Hearing. A public hearing was in the housing field in New Hampshire held in the Nashua City Hall (see participated in an extended discussion. below). Minutes of the public hearing are included • Focus Group. A Latino focus group was in Appendix 2. held (see below). A Latino focus group/community meeting In addition, available relevant records were was held at the St. Louis de Gonzague examined. These included: Church in the “Trees Streets” neighborhood • Fair housing complaints in Nashua on September 8, 2010. The • The City’s FFY10- FY14 Consolidated meeting was conducted in Spanish. Before Plan and FFY10Annual Action Plan the meeting, concentrated outreach efforts • Nashua’s HOME agreements with were organized though several non-profit housing developers and faith communities. The meeting had 30 • New Hampshire’s FFY05-FFY09 people in attendance and was conducted by Analysis of Impediments Milagro Grullon, a housing professional and • City land use regulations associate of Mr. Cahill. The attendees in- • Complaint information from the New cluded renters and homeowners. Minutes of Hampshire Commission for Human the focus group/community meeting are in Rights, the Federal Department of Appendix 2. Housing and Urban Development and New Hampshire Legal Assistance Mr. Cahill also met with several groups. • Mortgage origination data from the The Hispanic Network meets monthly to Federal Financial Institutions exchange information for non-profits and Examination Council others working with the Latino community • Housing program information from New in the Nashua area. Mr. Cahill and Ms. Hampshire Housing and other non- Schena attended the August 20th meeting of profits. this group, held at the University of South- ern New Hampshire. A presentation was made concerning the Analysis of Impedi- Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing 4 Nashua, New Hampshire ments to over 20 professionals and attendees • Significant segments of the population were invited to ask questions and provide are unaware of the requirements of fair feedback. Mr. Cahill also met with the