UPDATED AT 3:03 p.m 

Coverage of the Board of Aldermen's discussion of this issue follows the original story. 

Advocates for Homeless Protest City's Decision With Sleeping Bags

As dusk turned to dark, dozens of concerned residents and community activists gathered in front of City Hall last night for a Sleeping Bag Rally. The rally for "homes for the homeless" was held just before the Board of Aldermen's meeting at City Hall. 

Some brought sleeping bags and pillows or wore their pajamas. Others held signs or addressed the crowd. Some just listened. 

Tito Meza, a community organizer with the Somerville Community Corporation, was a sign holder. "People are here to demand of the city to really provide more affordable housing. By denying the construction of more units for poor families, I think it is a disgrace," he said. "I'm so glad that many people [came] tonight, because we need to struggle and fight for justice; this is an act of justice." 

The rally was in reaction to the Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals' rejection of a permit application by the Somerville Community Corporation and the Somerville Homeless Coalition to create six units of affordable housing for homeless families at 162 Highland Ave (formerly the CASPAR's Outpatient and Addictions program). Several of the City's Aldermen testified in front of the ZBA against the proposal. 

"In the end they claimed it was density that they were denying us based on," said Courtney Koslow, a senior project manager at the SCC. "But [it was] just as dense or less dense than other buildings in the area and now homeless families will be sleeping in their cars or motels, and children won't have a place to call home."

Ana Ferreira shared her story with the crowd. She and her 5-year-old son, Matthew currently live at a family shelter in the city.

"It's very hard for my son because he has special disabilities. I need to take my son to a variety of doctors and specialists and provide him with a good education," Ferreira said as she choked up. "It's not just addicts who can become homeless. For example, I am a licensed medical assistant and I happen to be homeless." 

Ezra Glenn, is the Chair of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee. At the rally, he explained to the crowd the steps that the organizations went through to secure funding, to comply with zoning laws and to speak with residents in advance of the permit application. Glenn emphasized that the permit complied with all of the zoning requirements of the building in question. 

After the rally, the group walked into City Hall and sat in the Aldermen's Chambers hoping to hear their concern's addressed at the meeting. 

"Our reason for being here, is that we are both hoping to call attention to what happened and make people know we are paying attention--that we know about the vote and we know about their participation," said Ellen Shachter, a housing and benefits attorney and a member of the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee in Somerville.  

"But more importantly," continued Shachter, "because we're not really looking to go backwards, we are looking to go forward and to get the commitment from the aldermen and all of the city leadership to make sure that we continue to build affordable housing and continue to build affordable housing for homeless families in particular."

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Aldermen Discuss Denial of Permit for 162 Highland Ave. 

When the Aldermen's meeting convened, the supporters of "homes for the homeless" rolled up their sleeping bags, left their signs in the hallway, and  sat quietly in the chamber, listening intently for when the Board would take-up the issue they rallied on behalf of. 

Following several scheduled items of business, and the recognition of long-time affordable housing advocate, Mary Louise Daly for her 21 years of service to the Affordable Housing Trust (on her 90th birthday);  Alderwoman Rebekah L. Gewirtz, Ward 6, and Alderman Thomas F. Taylor, Ward 3, introduced a resolution to discuss the denial of the permit for 162 Highland Ave. 

Alderman Taylor then sponsored Matthew McLaughlin, president of Save Our Somerville and a member of the SCC, to make a statement. 

Wearing a shirt printed with "SOS" in graffiti-style letters, McLaughlin addressed the board, speaking of the sprawling development he has seen in Somerville over the course of his lifetime, his dissatisfaction with the Board's decision to reject the permit, and a drive to move forward on this issue.  

"I just don't buy the excuse that density was the reason. For me, if the problem isn't about density, what could it be? And the only logical thing I can think of is than some neighbors just don't want homeless people living next door to them, said McLaughlin.  "Even though, that would by default-- make them no longer homeless."  The crowd chuckled. 

"I think that a few people raised objections to Board members and like good Aldermen, you all tried to address your constituent's concerns. But by doing so, you neglected the desires of many other people." 

Alderman Taylor responded to McLaughlin's statement insisting that density was the factor at play here. He described how overcrowding negatively affects the quality of life for residents and costs the tax-payers due to its effect on traffic and parking and water run-off, among other reasons. 

"I think this particular issue that happened at 162 Highland Ave is a healthy one, because what it's done," said Taylor; "is that it's caused us to get together and to talk about how much affordable housing is appropriate for our community, where should that affordable housing be and how is the funding mechanism and why we couldn't do four units or five units instead of six. 

Alderman Sean T. O'Donovan, Ward 5, spoke pointedly against McLaughlin's statement that members of the neighborhood surrounding the property in question didn't want homeless families to move in. He also criticized the method of the community groups in approaching this plan. 

"You don't go ahead and move forward on a project, bring it all the way to the planning board, all the way to the ZBA, without talking to the people who have their finger on the pulse of the neighborhood," said O'Donovan. "It doesn't mean that because I echo the concerns of the people in the neighborhood, that myself and the people who live there, are against affordable housing and homelessness. It's not fair. "

Alderwoman Gewirtz called this a "critically important conversation" and suggested that the item be moved to the Committee on Affordable Housing and Community Development and 

Alderman-at-large Dennis M. Sullivan, moved to remove the specific mention of 162 Highland, from the resolution  to keep the issue on the table. Alderman Sullivan's request was approved and the amendment was accepted. 

"We got an agreement from the city to work with us. And with Alderwoman Gerwirtz, and the Housing Committee, we will talk about specific programs and policies that will help make somerville a home for a diverse population," said Mary Regan, a community organizer with the SCC following the meeting.

Another concerned resident, and the City's Disability Commissioner, Rev. Ellen M. Frith M.Div., called the rejection of the permit heinous and said her representative never came and spoke with her: "I think that what was said about people being against it is misleading. Because, Tom Taylor is my alderman, and he never asked me. I was never invited by him or any other alderman to come here.

"We had lots of people call their Aldermen in support of this project. Its not that the aldermen were hearing from one side, they heard from both sides for sure," Regan added.