THE NOV. 29th op-ed “Housing policies leave cities behind,’’ by Benjamin Forman, misrepresents the impact of the state’s housing programs on cities.
Today’s housing programs do not concentrate poverty. In fact, affordable-housing projects in cities outside metro Boston often increase the average income in poor neighborhoods. This housing usually serves working families, is well managed, and stabilizes the neighborhood. In almost all instances, state-funded affordable housing projects offer quality far superior to what the private sector is producing in these places.
Directing limited housing dollars away from residents who need it most would be wasteful and unfair, not to mention risky. Affordable is the market in places such as Lawrence and Brockton.
Much better are Forman’s points about leveraging the state’s affordable-housing programs by coordinating with other state investments in economic development. This is the road Lowell followed over 30 years to nurture a strong middle-class private housing market.
We agree that more needs to be done for the so-called Gateway Cities. Start with: limiting new abandonment by protecting tenants in foreclosed multifamily properties; directing state planning, infrastructure, and job creation dollars to these areas; and requiring that all municipalities with little affordable housing do their fair share.
Andre Leroux, Executive director, Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance Boston 
