The pressing need for affordable housing took center stage at last night's Cambridge City Council meeting.

After several Cambridge residents urged the council to address the issue, the council passed three orders to limit rent increases and to increase the availability of information regarding affordable housing.

Several members of the Dana Street Tenant Association spoke before the council, asking for help in keeping rate increases reasonable.

"I would like to continue living in Cambridge, but if the rents continue going up, we will have to move within the next year," said one resident.

"People of low and moderate income are being squeezed out of Cambridge," said another resident. "It's my home, and I don't want to leave."

The orders approved by the council criticized specific landlords for raising rents last year and said they unfairly evicted residents in attempts to bring in more affluent renters.

"We have these rent control apartments and they are trying to charge full market value," said one resident. "My salary has increased by three percent a year, but my rent has gone up way more."

Pat Dumont, who has lived in Cambridge for the last 20 years, complained rents are being increased despite substandard living conditions.