The mission of the Acton Housing Authority (AHA) is to “ensure an adequate supply of safe and decent housing for low and moderate income individuals and families where they can live without substantial disturbance or interference by others and to provide such housing without discrimination as to race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, veteran or active military status, age, familial status and source of income.” This article introduces some of the staff members who carry out this mission, and details some of the services they provide.
The Acton Housing Authority has two service coordinators funded through grants. They work with Acton Housing Authority residents and voucher holders who rent in Acton at reduced rates.
Amanda Eldridge is the Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-funded family self-sufficiency coordinator who has been assisting residents and voucher holders for over eight years. An Acton Boxborough United Way grant provides resources so that Amanda can assist AHA residents as well as voucher holders. Amanda was born and raised in Acton and graduated from AB. She has two children currently in the school system.
Harry Luo, is a part-time State grant-funded resident services coordinator. The grant enables Harry to assist AHA public housing residents. Harry Luo was born and raised in China and currently lives in Acton with his wife and three children. He is active in the Acton Chinese Language School.
Amanda and Harry meet with residents in person, virtually, or by phone to help them connect with services in our communities such as Household Goods, the Food Pantry, the Council on Aging, and Minuteman Senior Services.
Amanda’s primary focus through the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) grant is to assist families with housing choice vouchers to become more economically self-sufficient. By participating in FSS, families are eligible for matching HUD funds to go into an escrow account as their income increases. Once the participating family graduates from the program, they receive the escrow funds, which can be used towards education, job training, down payments for a home, etc. Many FSS graduates have used their escrow to become first-time affordable home buyers in Acton and the surrounding communities. Amanda tells families about resources for their children such as free community events and opportunities such as First Connections, which provides resources for parents with young children; the Doli Atamian Campership Program, which provides scholarships so that children of parents with limited income can attend a summer camp or activity of their choice; and Danny’s Place and the Boys and Girls Club of Assabet Valley, which provide sliding fees and financial assistance.
Harry has primarily assisted our residents in elderly housing. Harry is bilingual in Chinese and has organized many meetings and social activities for residents at Windsor Green and McCarthy Village. He has coordinated Acton-Boxborough Regional High School volunteers who have been organizing musical events, game nights, and cultural activities for all residents. Harry has also helped residents access affordable cable/internet plans. Both Harry and Amanda help residents access fuel assistance and complete paperwork for insurance, social security, and food stamps.
The AHA has five staff who are bilingual in Spanish and Chinese and assist residents with translation and making sure they understand correspondence and service programs. The AHA also uses a 24 hour/day on-call translation service to assist residents who speak other languages. Staff have assisted residents with limited English proficiency to sign up for services, including activities for their children, such as signing up for sports teams and recreational programs. There are many people who need help with car repairs. They are stressed and worried about how to get to work and drive their children to community events. Amanda helps with referrals to local garages that can support limited English speakers and assist people on limited incomes.
Amanda also oversees the Holiday Giving Program where local individuals, businesses, churches, temples, and nonprofits anonymously “adopt” a family and purchase the holiday wish list the family fills out. Presents are wrapped and ready for the family during the December holiday break. The Acton community is so generous that the AHA offices are filled to the brim with presents in every available space.
Harry and Amanda assisted the Acton Boxborough Food Pantry establish a satellite pantry at the AHA. They provided outreach to AHA residents, assisted them with signing up, and reached out to volunteers. The AHA and Food Pantry partnership will be establishing another satellite site at Sachem Way in the future.
Nancy Kolb is a member of the Acton Housing Authority Commission.