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	"version": "1.0",
	"provider_name": "Action Network",
	"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
	
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	"author_name": "La ColectiVA",
	"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/la-colectiva",
	"title": "Make Barcroft Affordable",
	"thumbnail_url": "https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg",
	"description": "The Barcroft community in Arlington, VA is where many migrant families call home. Unfortunately, however, the callous and continued deprioritization of affordable housing has continued leaving tenants in a precarious situation. The crisis at Barcroft is fueled by Jair Lynch Real Estate and Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund and has significantly increased the possibility of displacement. That’s why we are asking you to take action to support community members resisting the violence of gentrification. Background In December of 2021, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners purchased Barcroft Apartments for $310 million. In order to purchase the building, Jair Lynch obtained two loans below interest market rate including one in the amount of $150 million from Arlington county public funds and the other in the amount of $160 million from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund. It bears noting that Arlington County provided Jair Lynch with a loan so the community of Barcroft would not be displaced but failed to produce a written policy on how Barcroft will be affordable in the long-term. Barcroft apartments, among other buildings, is supposed to provide affordable housing. Yet, affordable housing in Arlington is based on 60% area Median Income (AMI) which is already unattainable for many. Increasingly problematic is that the AMI only stands to increase as Amazon becomes further entrenched in the DMV.   Coupled with an already prohibitive AMI, a 3% rent increase will further impact the Barcroft community and increase the possibility of displacement. We know that developers and investors only care about profits so we need safeguards in place to prevent the displacement of families in Arlington. Where is this 3% going and who will profit? These 3 % will go to Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners who are already benefiting by getting these loans at a low market rate. There hasn&#x27;t been any living conditions improvements yet they are rising rent. The fact that these are loans. Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund is not some benevolent benefactor but functionally a property financer that is whitewashing affordability and romanticizing displacement. Amazon will benefit and profit from the Housing Equity Fund, both financially and reputationally. Furthermore, Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund is a misnomer because of the two billion dollars in the Fund, only 5.9 percent are actually given as grants, and this money is typically spent on “research.” Moreover, it is important to remember that Arlington County gave Amazon public funds to establish their HQ2 in the region and Amazon’s Equity Fund amounts to nothing more than loaning the money back and subsequently profiting even more.. To add insult to injury, the units at Barcroft Apartments are not up to date and are in need of significant repairs. No community should be subject to such living conditions, especially a community who live in a building supported by public funds.     As we campaign to ensure that affordable housing is actually affordable at Barcroft Apartments, we need to start by taking action and demanding a rent freeze for the next year. During this time, we will develop a proposal policy to make sure Barcroft is affordable for the next 99 years and for all generations to come.   Take Action by sending this email to The Arlington Board members   I’m an Arlington resident who supports our neighbors at Barcroft Apartments in making the following demands to ensure their right to remain in our community: 1. Tenants should be granted a 15 month freeze on their rent. 2. Jair Lynch must/is required to honor that if tenants can’t provide W-2 or paysubs, they can support their application and leasing requirements with alternative documents. 3. If remodeling is planned, tenants must be given prior notice of 90 days and be provided with temporary housing in another unit in Barcroft and guarantee the return back to their home with the same number of family members with the same rent price. 4. Jair Lynch must provide significantly improved living conditions at Barcroft apartments, which includes update appliance, air conditioners etc…. 5. Parking must be provided free to all tenants with leasing contracts, including those with out of state license plates.",
	"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-barcroft-affordable-2"
}