Lowell trust members review $3.2 million ARPA fund as HUD data shows city incomes lag metro area

The City of Lowell Affordable Housing Trust Fund met Aug. 20 and reviewed federal and local data showing a substantial gap between the metropolitan median income used in HUD calculations and Lowell’s census median, discussed using a one‑time $3.2 million ARPA allocation to seed the trust and considered funding models and sources for future awards.

Elliot Yafa, a guest from the Department of Planning and Development, said HUD uses metropolitan‑area median income that includes surrounding communities and that “the median income for this area is 136,900.” He told the committee that census data for the city of Lowell shows a much lower median income — about $73,083 — creating roughly a $60,000 difference between the metro figure and the city figure. Yafa also said HUD’s fair market rent for a two‑bedroom unit is $2,242 and that a household would need roughly $81,527 in gross income just to avoid being considered cost‑burdened for that rent level.

The numbers matter because…