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HomeMy Public PortalAboutFY22 HOME Consortium Watertown draft annual action plan1 FY22 (HM21) Annual Action Plan Template - HOME AP-10 Consultation 1. In the provided excel file, update agencies, groups and organizations who participated in the process. 2. In the provided excel file, update local/regional/state/federal efforts considered when preparing the AAP. AP-12 Participation 1. Update your community’s citizen participation process narrative below. Consortium Communities The Towns of Bedford, Belmont, Concord, Lexington, Sudbury and Wayland use public hearings at the Board of Selectmen (Select Board) meetings when broad public input is needed and/or public hearings are required. The local Boards (Bedford Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Bedford Housing Partnership, Concord Housing Development Corporation, Lexington Housing Partnership, Sudbury Housing Trust, and Wayland Housing Trust) hold monthly meetings to review and deliberate on all proposed or ongoing affordable housing projects. In Brookline, the Housing Division staffs the Brookline Housing Advisory Board (HAB), which holds monthly meetings to review all affordable housing projects being undertaken or considered by the Town. All final funding commitments for affordable housing projects are approved by the Board of Selectmen, which act on recommendations from the HAB and hold public hearings for public input. All HAB meetings are open to the public and advertised on the Town’s website and blog, to all interested parties, including all Town Meeting members. The Brookline Housing Division reached out to an extensive network of affordable housing advocates including Brookline’s boards, commissions, staff, nonprofits, social services agencies, affordable housing developers, and human and health services providers, to participate in the formulation of the FY21-25 HUD’s Consolidated Plan. As part of this planning exercise, the Town conducted a housing needs assessment that involved data analysis, public outreach, consultation with stakeholders, and public meetings. A survey yielding 458 responses delivered insight and data on the public’s most important housing needs and priorities in order to inform the use of the Town’s HOME Investment Partnership Programs funds in the future. On January 1, 2020, Framingham began its second year as a city. In FY20, the city established new protocols for the process to accepting HUD funds that will continue in FY21. As a result, Community Development Department (CD) staff recommends a budget to the mayor that the City Council ratifies. Once the council provides authorization for the municipality to accept HUD funds, CD staff submits its Annual Action Plan to HUD. The City’s Community Development Committee (CDC) holds a series of meetings and public hearings. To amplify CDC outreach efforts, staff invites resident input through newspapers, emails and other forums. 2 In the spring of 2019, the Town of Natick completed the development of the Natick 2030+ Master Plan, ending a three-year planning process guide achievement of the town's desired vision for its physical environment over the next 20 years. Housing is a major component of this plan. In multiple public engagement events held to date, residents support diversification of the Town’s housing stock, development of mid-rise multi-family dwellings (under six stories), development of more barrier-free dwellings and a wider variety of housing types in town that can accommodate a broad array of inhabitants in various life stages. The Natick Planning Board is reviewing the final draft of the master plan, and is anticipating accepting the Plan and presenting it to the Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting in the spring of 2019. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust is also completing an update of the town’s Housing Production Plan, and plans to submit the final plan to the Commonwealth in 2020. Needham’s Affordable Housing Trust conducts meetings to discuss housing initiatives and other housing-related issues. The Trust holds meetings at least twice a year with special meetings as needed, which the public is notified and encouraged to attend. The City of Waltham Planning Department held a public meeting on January 23, 2019 to gather input on the FY21 (FFY20) Annual Action Plan. Topics discussed included housing and community development needs and proposed use of funds for the upcoming year. In Watertown, the Watertown Housing Partnership serves as the Town’s policy body, whose volunteer members are appointed by the town manager to oversee the development and preservation of affordable housing in Watertown. The Partnership uses email to announce its meetings, as well as agenda postings. The Partnership approved the Watertown components of the FY22 (FFY21) Annual Action Plan. 1. In the provided excel file, update your community’s citizen participation outreach and efforts. 3 AP-15 Expected Resources 1. Explain how federal funds will leverage additional resources (private, state, and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements will be satisfied. Please update the FY2021 narrative below In FY21, the Town of Belmont will use HOME administration funds to put together a state housing grant application. The funds, if granted, will be used to assess possible development opportunities at an existing Belmont Housing Authority housing development. Depending on the outcome of the state grant, the Town will use HOME administration funds to put together another Community Preservation Act grant application. If approved by Town Meeting, the CPA funds will be used to further assess possible development opportunities at an existing Belmont Housing Authority housing development. Additionally, the Town will explore using HOME funds to provide deeper affordability at two housing developments currently under construction. In FY21 (FFY20), the Town of Brookline is considering committing HOME funds to continue supporting the Brookline Housing Authority’s (BHA) Strategic Preservation Initiative, or one of two additional projects still in the early, conceptual planning stage: the Brookline Senior Hub at 108 Centre Street and the development of an affordable rental senior housing project (62+) at the Kent/Station Street Town-owned parking lot. In all of these cases affordable rental housing units will be created or preserved and once a project is selected, the Town anticipates setting aside federal funds (HOME Program) to match municipal, state and federal funding (CDBG), and private investment in the form of sponsor loans, bonds and low income housing tax credit equity. In FY21, the Town of Concord anticipates formally committing $442,943.40 in FY19, FY20 and consolidated pool HOME funds to the Junction Village development. The Junction Village project is currently seeking state funding, and the town has contributed an additional $2,000,000 in local funds towards the construction of 83 new units of assisted living. In fulfilling its mission to create affordable housing and rehabilitate housing stock with HOME funds, City of Framingham projects have included CDBG, historic and low-income housing tax credits, Emergency Solutions Grant, National Housing Trust Fund, HOPWA and private funds, among others. In the City’s most recently completed major rehabilitation project, HOME funds served as a resource to combat homelessness. By subsidizing 11 units at the 53 single-room occupancy facility, the city used HOME funding to support accessibility upgrades and rapid re- housing services for homeless individuals transitioning to self-sufficiency. This project also leveraged nearly $500,000 in private funds and donated developer fees. The City expects to use HOME funds in the same manner in the future. In 2019, the Town of Natick, through its Affordable Housing Trust, completed the development of two affordable dwellings at 299 Bacon Street using Special Permit Mitigation funds. The Trust 4 has also been allocated $240,000 in municipal funds since 2018 ($80,000 per year) to develop affordable housing from Town Meeting, and will continue making regular requests in the future. These funds will be augmented by fees paid to the Trust by housing developers under the Natick’s new Inclusionary Requirements for Affordable Housing. In FY20, the Town of Sudbury committed $178,203 in HOME funds to the Coolidge Phase II project, augmenting $250,000 in committed local funds, $320,000 in proposed local funds and $15,000,000 in state subsidies. The completion and occupancy of this project is anticipated during FY21. The Housing Division and the Waltham Housing Authority (WHA) are in the scoping stages of renovations to a 59 unit elderly housing complex that will use HOME funds and Community Preservation funds to sustain the property. The Community Preservation Committee has awarded $50,000 to the WHA in 2019 for an architectural study to be completed on the roofing structure. The design was finalized and the CPA Committee awarded an additional $300,000 to complete the roof project in 2020. The Municipal Housing Trust Fund Committee has allocated $100,000.00 to the Housing Division to fund the 2020 Emergency Assistance Program to provide emergency assistance to residents facing eviction or a housing emergency, accounting for another source of leveraged funds. Watertown will open its initial Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding round this year. The Town enacted a two percent surcharge, and has created the property assessment and taxation infrastructure to collect and sequester these funds. It presently has over $7 million in the CPA reserve and the expected annual revenue stream is $2 million. The CPA funds can be used in the future to leverage federal HOME funds. In addition, the Town has approximately $269,000 in its Affordable Housing Trust Fund generated by cash-in-lieu payments for affordable Inclusionary Zoning units. 1. If appropriate, describe publically owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that may be used to address the needs identified in the plan Please update the FY2021 narrative below In Brookline there is a proposed project to develop senior affordable housing above the Kent/Station Municipal Parking Lot. This parcel was identified in the Town’s Housing Production Plan as appropriate for this type of use. The Town of Belmont will examine existing Belmont Housing Authority properties to assess potential housing development opportunities at these locations. The Junction Village property in Concord is owned by the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC), the CHDC is working with a private developer to construct 83 units of affordable housing for seniors 62+ years old with tiers of affordability: 17 units for extremely low income households at 30% AMI, 26 units for very low income households at 60% AMI, and 5 40 units for high moderate income households at 150% AMI. The project, known as Christopher Heights of Concord will be funded in part by local and state HOME funds. Waltham has been approved for a 4.3 million dollar HUD Section 108 Loan for the revitalization of the Woerd Avenue Dump and surrounding area. The Wayland Housing Trust currently owns a parcel of land where the Town would like to construct one unit of low-moderate income rental housing. The project will be partially funded by local HOME funds. The Town of Wayland continues to work to sell a town-owned parcel for the development of a 218 unit multi-family rental community. Fifty-five (55) of the units will be designated affordable and a portion of the project will be age-restricted. This development, Rivers Edge, will serve the need of low-moderate income families and add housing choices for the increasing senior population in Wayland. 6 AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives 1. In the provided excel document, please update your community’s annual goals and outcomes for FY22 (HM21). 2. Use five sentences or less to describe your community’s FFY22 (HM21) goals. Watertown does not have any pending HOME supported projects that will be completed in FY2022 (FFY21) and expects to rely on its Inclusionary Zoning, the Affordable Housing Development Fund and Community Preservation Act funds to create additional affordable units. The Town may seek to use HOME funds in FY2022 to identify and evaluate potential affordable housing sites. In addition, it is likely that an existing HOME-assisted development may apply in FY2022 to use HOME funds for necessary capital improvements. 7 AP-50 Geographic Distribution 1. If your community has geographic target areas for the allocation of HOME funds please describe the areas that will receive assistance. Please update the FY21 narrative below Community Development Department staff in the Town of Framingham use census tract information to determine whether to target a specific area of the community with HOME funds. With this strategy, HOME funds are designated for use in census tracts 383600.2, 383501.2, 383300.1, 383400.3, 383400.2, 383200.4, 383200.1, 383101.2, 383101.1, 383102.1, and 383102.2. These tracts house the highest number of low- and moderate-income residents. No other Consortium communities identify target geographic areas. 8 AP-55 Affordable Housing 1. Update your community’s efforts to support the development and preservation of affordable housing. (MAXIMUM of 5 sentences) Please update the FY2021 narrative below Consortium Communities The Town of Bedford plans to assist at least two households with HOME funded rental assistance in FY21. Bedford has several other active affordable housing projects. The Town is using $3,000,000 in Bedford CPA funds to assist Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a national nonprofit developer, with the preservation of 96 units of housing at Bedford Village. This development was originally funded through the State’s 13A program, and the affordability restriction expired in March of 2018. The project includes the change of ownership of 447 Concord Road in Bedford, a HOME-assisted development. The Town is also supporting the Coast Guard property with the Pine Hills Crossing development through overlay zoning for the March 2019 Town Meeting. Bedford has commissioned a Housing Strategic Study to review current data and discuss future goals and strategies. The Town has 977 affordable units, with 18.36% of its housing included in the Commonwealth’s Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI). The Town of Belmont expects The Bradford project will come online during FY21 (FFY20). This mixed-use project includes 112 units, 12 of these will be affordable, including two HOME- assisted units. The Town will bring forward a zoning by-law amendment to the 2020 Annual Town Meeting allowing for the development of 144 units at Zone 3 of the McLean District, which if approved and built, will provide 32 affordable units. Additionally, Bedford will continue to investigate housing development opportunities at several of its Housing Authority properties. The Housing Trust has actively participated in moving these projects forward by conducting numerous public, educational meetings In Brookline, The Harold and Ronald Brown Family House, a new project with a total of 62 new units of affordable rental senior housing will complete construction and begin occupancy during 2020. The project received financing through the State’s Department of Housing and Community Development as well as a $3 million in funds from the Town in locally controlled resources, including the Town’s Housing Trust. A portion ($807,028) of these funds is a mixture of FY17, FY18, and FY19 HOME funds and program income. The Town of Brookline is also in the process of selecting a developer who can develop and manage a rental senior housing project (62+) at the Kent/Station Street Town-owned parking lot. The project will retain existing municipal parking on-site, while creating a range of approximately 40 to 65 age-restricted rental units for seniors. The project will underwrite affordable housing available to a range of incomes. 9 Brookline continues to process a number of 40B Comprehensive Permit projects which will add a significant number of affordable units to Brookline’s housing stock. Since 2016, the Town approved eleven 40B projects containing a total of 728 rental units, of which 199 will be affordable to households earning 80% of AMI or less. Four additional 40B projects are in various stages of approval. These projects could add as many as 287 additional rental units, of which 71 would be affordable to households earning 80% of AMI or less. In addition, Brookline’s Public Housing Authority continues its multi-year strategic preservation initiative that will rehabilitate and preserve its six federal housing developments (containing 438 affordable units) through the HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, with state and local support. Finally, the Town of Brookline continues to administer its Inclusionary Zoning Bylaw which applies to any project containing six or more newly constructed dwelling units. Currently five projects have been approved which are subject to this bylaw and will provide cash payments towards the Brookline Housing Trust. Two additional projects have been approved, which would yield approximately 16 on-site affordable rental units. The Town of Concord has a history of supporting efforts to establish and maintain affordable housing. The Peter Bulkeley project was completed in FY18 (FFY17) and created four new units of senior housing. Concord is committing FY19 and FY20 and consolidated pool HOME funds for the Junction Village affordable assisted living facility project that will include 83 units of new construction overall, four of which will be HOME-assisted units. All of the units will be income- restricted. Junction Village received its Comprehensive Permit and a funding application was submitted to DHCD. It is anticipated that this project will be occupied in FY22 or FY23. In FY21, the City of Framingham’s Community Development Department will launch partnerships and initiatives that support the development and preservation of affordable housing. The Department maintains this practice to remove barriers for residents unable to afford the rising costs of market rate units. For the next year, the city plans to prioritize HOME fund use for projects that provide service-enriched housing as well as decrease homelessness for families and individuals. Through this approach, the City then addresses the needs of low- and moderate-income residents coping with food insecurity, lack of transportation access, health care system entry challenges, and other issues. The Town of Lexington has committed FY18, FY19 and FY20 HOME funds towards the renovation of five units owned by the Lexington Housing Authority at Pine Grove Village. Completion and occupancy of this project is expected in FY20. The Town has several other active affordable housing projects currently in process including units developed by the Lexington Housing Assistance Board (LEXHAB). In FY21, the Natick Affordable Housing Trust will continue to fund a new Tenant Based Rental Assistance service offered by the Natick Service Council, first on a pilot basis, and, if warranted, on a permanent basis. The Trust will also explore partnering with a nonprofit to use HOME funds to start a critical Housing Rehabilitation program for income-eligible households. 10 Despite surpassing the state’s 10% affordability goal, at 12.7%, the Town of Needham recently approved a 16-unit multi-family rental development at 1180 Great Plain Avenue, near the Town Center and public transportation, through the Chapter 40B comprehensive permit process. Four of the units will be affordable to those earning at or below 80% of Area Median Income with an even distribution of one and two-bedroom apartments. An abutter has appealed the ZBA approval which the developer is currently working to resolve. Needham also approved a bylaw at its special fall Town Meeting to allow the creation of accessory apartments through a special permit process. While these units will not be eligible for inclusion in the Subsidized Housing Inventory, it is hoped that they will address some local housing needs. The Town is further hoping to attract affordable housing through zoning changes involving the promotion of mixed-use development in a business area along Highland Avenue and Route 128/95 as well as in its Neighborhood Business District. The Town of Needham, through its Affordable Housing Trust, also received approval to introduce a Small Repair Grant Program to offer grants of up to $4,000 to qualifying homeowners earning at or below 80% AMI to make health and safety related repairs to their homes. Town Meeting approved initial funding of $50,000 from its general budget to fund the program. The Town of Sudbury has a few projects developing for future years. The Coolidge Phase II began construction in FY19 with completion expected in FY21. Phase II will consist of 56 one- bedroom units restricted to households with at least one member who is at least 55 years old, of which two units will be HOME assisted. The Coolidge Phase I was a fully occupied 64-unit affordable rental development completed in 2014 that is also restricted to households with at least one member who is 55 years or older. The City of Waltham Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance requires at least 10 percent of units in residential developments with eight or more dwellings to be affordable to households at 80% of the Area Median Income. The City Council is amending the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to provide for households at 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income. The rehabilitation of the Waltham Housing Authority’s Beaverbrook Apartments has begun with a $300,000 award for the roof replacement. The completion of the Cooperstreet project will provide 26 affordable one and two bedroom units to the City, with a lottery to be held in the Spring of 2020. The Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a 40B project on Second Avenue that will provide 49 affordable units to households at both 60% and 80% of AMI. Two additional 40B projects are currently in the approval process with the ZBA with anticipated approval in 2021. The Watertown Housing Partnership approved a new five-year housing plan in December 2020, with review by the Town Council expected early in 2021. The plan contains goals and strategies to create and preserve affordable housing for various income levels (below 80% area median income and below 60% area median income) and for seniors and individuals with a disability. One of the plan’s themes is creating a pipeline of 100% affordable or mixed-income projects 11 since virtually all of the Town’s new affordable units have been generated by its robust Inclusionary Zoning requirements and production of substantial amounts of multifamily housing. The Town of Wayland will continue to make progress on efforts to sell River’s Edge, a town- owned parcel on Route 20. The site represents an extraordinary opportunity in Wayland, with zoning in place to build 218 multi-family residential units in primarily three to four story buildings. The Wayland Planning Board sees this project as a unique opportunity to build attractive, higher density housing for which there is demand. The project also meets Commonwealth goals, including Smart Growth principles by transforming abandoned municipal industrial property into attractive affordable housing. Wood Partners was selected as the developer for this project through a public procurement process and the property received final permits in FY20. Additionally, the Town received a $2.4 million MassWorks Grant for water infrastructure improvements for this project. 2. Complete the tables below: NOTE: The following numbers should be based upon projects that are expected to be CLOSED OUT IN IDIS in FY22 (between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022). The first two rows in each table provide a sample. One Year HOME Program Goals by Households Project Name Rental Assistance Production of New Units Rehab of Existing Units Acquisition of Existing Units Total TBRA program 5 households 14 Court Street 1 household One Year HOME Program Goals by Households Project Name Homeless Non-homeless Special Needs Other Total TBRA program 5 households 14 Court Street 1 household 12 AP-60 Public Housing 1. Update actions planned during the next year to address the needs of public housing. Please update the FY2021 narrative below In FY21 (FFY20), the Bedford Housing Authority will continue its social service program to connect families to the resources necessary to stabilize their living situation and improve their quality of life. The program will provide financial literacy education, skill training, career coaching, and other support services to a maximum of 15 low-income households currently residing in Bedford Housing Authority units. Since its passage, Belmont Town Meeting has approved over $1,000,000 in CPA funding for public housing projects, the majority of which was used to upgrade and renovate the existing developments. In FY21, the Town will investigate development opportunities at several of the Housing Authority properties with the expectation that additional units can be added. In FY21, the Town of Brookline will continue working with the Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) on its multi-year Strategic Preservation Initiative. This project will take advantage of HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration Program as well as federal and state tax credits and state and local subsidies, to rehabilitate and preserve 497 units of affordable public housing units in six different properties. In FY20 the BHA began construction on Phase 1, a 99 unit property serving low- and extremely low-income seniors (O’Shea). The BHA also obtained a preliminary funding commitment from the Town of $1.35 million, including $452,927 in FY20 HOME and program income funds, for the first of its Phase II projects, a 99-unit senior property at 90 Longwood Avenue (Morse). In FY21 (FFY20) the Concord Housing Authority plans to continue working on the development of one unit of family rental housing under the Department of Housing and Community Development LIP Program on town-owned land. Last year, the Framingham Housing Authority (FHA) announced plans for a major overhaul of its housing portfolio. Since then, the agency has been working to secure the necessary financing for the project. Once all funding is in place, the Community Development Department expects HOME funds to be among the many sources used to support this major rehabilitation initiative. Because some FHA sites are located in Opportunity Zones, there could be traditional and non- traditional investment streams used to finance this project. In FY21 (FFY20) the Lexington Housing Authority will continue to proactively program capital needs projects to ensure their portfolio of housing provides safe, stable, quality affordable housing for low and moderate income households. The Natick Housing Authority (NHA) successfully rehabilitated the formerly vacant Coolidge House congregational housing project into individual dwellings for small households headed by 13 persons with disabilities. Agency leadership is developing comprehensive renovation plans in concert with municipal staff and the Natick Affordable Housing Trust, using funds from a variety of sources. Attention is being focused on adding accessible units at the Cedar Gardens family housing development. Though not yet ready for funding in FY21 (FFY20), the Town of Needham continues to work with the Needham Housing Authority (NHA) on plans to potentially modernize, redevelop existing properties or develop new units on NHA-owned property. The Town assisted the NHA to plan and facilitate three retreats to discuss these potential efforts in more detail. The Town also helped the NHA prepare a Request for Proposals to secure professional services to assess the feasibility of various projects through a facilities master plan. Needham is holding Community Preservation funds in reserve for the support of such a project. In coordination with Representative Garlick’s office, the Town sponsored a special event for the new NHA Executive Director on August 2, 2019 to bring together and introduce public and nonprofit service providers who are available to work with the NHA in support of its tenants. The Housing Division has begun the project scoping process with the Waltham Housing Authority for the HOME and CPA-funded rehabilitation of the Beaverbrook Elderly Apartments. The 59 unit complex rehabilitation will include the renovation of two, one-bedroom units into fully accessible apartments, a new roofing system, kitchen renovations, and ADA improvements site wide. The Watertown Housing Authority is working with HUD to “reposition” its 50 federal public housing units using Section 18 of the Federal Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. § 1437p). The WHA proposes to convert these units into 50 Section 8 vouchers. Repositioning would provide long-term sustainability for this wing of the E. Joyce Munger Apartments and therefore benefit its tenants. During FY21, the WHA will continue the process of obtaining local and federal approval for this repositioning. In FY21, the Wayland Housing Authority, working with Town, will be an active partner in administering the HOME funded TBRA program, providing security deposit assistance to income eligible households. 2. Update actions to encourage public housing residents to become more involved in management and participate in homeownership. Please update the FY2021 narrative below The Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Needham and Sudbury Housing Authorities engage tenant groups to provide feedback on general administration issues and policy decisions A new executive director was hired by the Belmont Housing Authority. The new director is reviewing existing policies and programs to see if there are additional opportunities for its 14 tenants to become more involved and to move on to market rate housing. The Housing Authority meets regularly with its tenants to address various issues that arise from time to time. In Brookline, as any affordable homeownership unit becomes available through turnover, the Town’s Housing Division manages this resale process and engages in extensive outreach and a lottery process. Public Housing tenants interested in homeownership opportunities are notified through the Housing Authority or by signing up for the Town’s affordable housing listserv. A number of public housing tenants have taken advantage of these opportunities in the past. Brookline’s town-wide tenant association provides ongoing support of the BHA's efforts to create and maintain quality housing, to strengthen social service programming, and increase self-sufficiency opportunities. The BHA works with the tenant association to foster communication with residents with respect to initiatives, policies and practices. The BHA encourages residents to become actively involved and to challenge BHA’s management with independent ideas and concerns. Depending on interest and resident availability, each BHA public housing site may have its own tenant association with a board elected by and consisting of residents. If there is not enough interest or availability for an official site-based tenant association, the residents can still plan site-wide social functions for the resident community, or to discuss such issues as BHA plans and policies, major repair projects, or other resident concerns. The Framingham Housing Authority (FHA) offers various opportunities for its residents to become homeowners or participate in management that the Community Development Department fully supports. An example is FHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, which is a voluntary service that encourages FHA residents, both Section 8 and Public Housing, to work towards becoming financially independent by maintaining a savings account for five years. FSS diverts funds from rent increases into an account for the participant household. At the five-year mark, residents use the funds to accomplish a long-term goal, such as purchasing a home, paying for school or becoming debt free. The Community Development Department supports FSS participating residents and other FHA residents by notifying them of homeownership, rental, employment, Section 3 and community development opportunities as well as committee meetings through various outreach outlets. Waltham residents may participate in the management and operations of the Waltham Housing Authority (WHA). The WHA is required to have one of its residents sit on its Board of Governors. That person has one of five votes to determine policy and procedures for the WHA and presumably represents residents’ interests in the decision-making process. Additionally, the WHA maintains a Resident Advisory Board, comprised of federal public housing residents and Section 8 participants. This Board meets twice a year to discuss proposed capital improvement projects and the application of federal funds. At these meetings, the residents have an opportunity to make proposals regarding the use of funds for the needs of the residents. Finally, the Board of Governors provides an opportunity for residents to address the Board at 15 monthly meetings by setting aside some time on the agenda for discussion of resident issues. Resident associations are encouraged to attend the meetings and bring forward any residential community issues. The Watertown Housing Authority has an active Tenant Association and Resident Advisory Boards (RABs) in the family and elderly developments. The Authority communicates all capital needs plans and operational issues to all the resident groups. The Authority is also a member of the Massachusetts Learning, Employment and Assessment Program to enhance resident employment and life skills. The Wayland Housing Authority works to facilitate tenant participation in WHA operations. The WHA continues to encourage tenant participation in newsletters and the tenant handbook. Staff meets with tenant groups on a regular basis or as needed, and tenants serve on the WHA board. 3. If the PHA is designated as troubled, describe the manner in which financial assistance will be provided or other assistance Not applicable. No PHAs in the Consortium have been designated as “troubled.” 16 AP-65 Homeless and Other Special Needs Activities - 91.420, 91.220(i) Describe the jurisdictions one-year goals and actions for reducing and ending homelessness including: 1. Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs Please update or add to the FY2021 narrative below In addition to the work being done by the Community Day Center of Waltham, the City of Waltham’s Public Health Department recently hired a social worker and substance abuse counselor to specifically target street outreach efforts within the community. The combined efforts made between the City of Waltham Public Health and Housing Departments, the Waltham Police Homeless Task Force, and the Community Day Center of Waltham provide outreach and an assessment of the needs of the homeless population, including unsheltered persons. The Waltham Homeless Coalition, spearheaded by the police department, convenes monthly to share resources that are aimed at helping Waltham homeless persons. Annually, The City of Waltham allocates $100,000 for a winter Warming Center for unsheltered homeless who cannot qualify for Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) services due to substance abuse and or criminal activity. The Waltham Police Homeless Task Force works to build trust with homeless persons, performs assessments in the field and links them to shelter and supportive services that meet their needs. The shelters administered by MHSA in Waltham provide overnight shelter, meals and bathroom/shower facilities while engaging homeless persons in case management to work towards permanent housing. Needham will continue to refer anyone looking for an emergency shelter to appropriate locations such as shelters located in nearby municipalities. The Town’s community housing specialist can provide additional support in answering inquiries and supplying important information and referrals. The Needham Housing Authority will also continue to assist people who may be homeless or at risk of homelessness in their search for affordable housing opportunities and support services, prioritizing these households for occupancy in its developments. 2. Addressing the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of homeless persons Please update or add to the FY2021 narrative below The Natick Affordable Housing Trust established an Emergency Homeless Voucher program for those homeless who are on the streets during inclement weather and need shelter. The voucher program provides for several nights of housing in a local hotel with the condition the individual seek assistance from the Natick Service Council. The recipients of the voucher are usually picked up and assisted first by the Natick Police, who gather information, run a 17 background check, notify Natick Service Council, and provide a ride and the voucher to a local motel. The Service Council will pick up the voucher recipient the next day for further assistance. The City of Waltham focuses resources on providing rapid rehousing services when possible, to decrease the number of unsheltered people who are unable to reside in the current transitional shelter beds in the City, due to substance abuse and or criminal behavior. The HOME TBRA program can bridge the homeless individual into public housing by providing a rental subsidy based on the Waltham Housing Authority rent standard. The Community Day Center, the Waltham Police Homeless Task Force and the City Health Department Outreach worker collaborate to refer homeless individuals to the TBRA Program and maintain a proactive approach in providing continued support for the client. 3. Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again Please update or add to the FY2021 narrative below The Natick Affordable Housing Trust has been meeting with Family Promise, a regional transitional housing organization, for the last year. Both organizations have been reviewing means in which the Housing Trust can assist Family Promise to provide rental assistance or rental units for Family Promise clients, primarily homeless families in need of transitional housing. The Housing Trust is also reviewing the possibility of using HOME funds for Tenant Based Rental Assistance that could be provided to several income levels, including those families transitioning from homeless assistance to more independent living. Needham will promote mixed-income housing development to serve the range of needs for assisted housing. This will likely include several income tiers in new rental developments, including units for those earning at extremely low and very low-income levels and thus affordable to those who may be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Waltham will continue to refer very -low income individuals and families to social service agencies that maximize rapid re-housing services to shorten the length of time persons experiencing homelessness stay in emergency shelters. The rapid rehousing programs provide case management to give households the opportunity to access any services needed in order to retain permanent housing. The Waltham Housing Department continues to administer the Municipal Housing Trust Emergency Assistance fund to provide financial support for those who may be facing eviction 18 due to non-payment of rent and or rent arrears. The Housing Department also coordinates with the Department of Transitional Assistance for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) funding to maximize the amount needed to obtain permanent housing with security deposit payments, first and last month rent payments and moving expenses. Removing the barrier of the upfront costs needed to obtain permanent housing continues to be an ongoing need for Waltham citizens. 4. Helping low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low-income individuals and families and those who are: being discharged from publicly funded institutions and systems of care (such as health care facilities, mental health facilities, foster care and other youth facilities, and corrections programs and institutions); or, receiving assistance from public or private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education, or youth needs. Please update or add to the FY2021 narrative below The Natick Service Council helps low income families, including eviction prevention services, emergency utility assistance, and financial assistance for school, camp, and other children programs. The City of Waltham HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance full rental assistance program provides monthly subsidy rent payments to individuals, at risk elderly, battered families with referrals from local social service agencies, such as the Community Day Center, Newton Wellesley Hospital, the Council on Aging and the Waltham Housing Authority. The Municipal Housing Trust Emergency Assistance Fund assists households in Waltham who are at risk or may be near homeless. Households facing eviction who are able to pay rent moving forward, but need assistance with rent arrears, may apply for funding that prevents eviction and keeps them permanently housed. The Housing Department coordinates with the Department of Transitional Assistance to help facilitate emergency Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) funding, to be used in conjunction with Waltham funds for households with dire circumstances. The Watertown Housing Partnership (WHP) launched an emergency rental assistance program in September. The program seeks to avoid evictions and prevent homelessness. The WHP initially committed $175,000 to assist Watertown residents struggling to pay rent because of economic loss related to COVID-19. Eligible households were required to have incomes below 80% of area median income and were not eligible if they had another form of public rental assistance. Households could receive assistance for up to 3 months, with the amount of money varying by bedroom configuration. The WHP voted in December 15 to commit a further $100,000 to this program and amended program guidelines to include recipients of other forms of public rental assistance and allow tenants to renew for a further three months. HOME resources were not used for this program. 19 AP-75 Barriers to affordable housing 1. Update your community’s plans to remove or ameliorate public policies that serve as barriers to affordable housing (these include land use controls, tax policies, zoning ordinances, building codes, fees and charges, growth limitations). Please update the FY2021 narrative below In FY20, Belmont amended its Inclusionary Housing By-Law by lowering the threshold requirement for affordable units and eliminating exemptions for mixed-use developments. In FY21, the Town will continue to reduce legislative impediments by presenting a zoning bylaw amendment to Town Meeting to allow 144 units, 32 affordable units at Zone 3 in the McLean District. The Town will also continue to look for other housing development opportunities, such as redevelopment of several Housing Authority properties. The towns of Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Sudbury and Wayland encourage local affordable housing initiatives through zoning changes and the adoption of inclusionary zoning provisions. The ability to access other local funds such as Community Preservation Act (CPA) and Housing Trust funds helps overcome the high cost of development. In addition, these communities support local housing authorities in their efforts to expand their portfolio with additional units. There are four areas of focus to make affordable housing more accessible to the residents of Brookline: • Regulatory: The Brookline Zoning Bylaw includes provisions to increase affordable housing through an inclusionary housing ordinance. Brookline will continue to use its zoning bylaw proactively to encourage affordable housing as part of market-rate projects through the inclusionary zoning provision. • Resource Allocation: Brookline acts as a partner by matching fiscal resources and technical assistance to facilitate new affordable housing development town-wide. The Town will continue to use its own Housing Trust as a way to help write down high property and land costs associated with affordable housing development. The Brookline Housing Authority properties are on a “PILOT” (payment in lieu of taxes program that exempts the entity from paying real estate taxes on it affordable housing properties under state statute). • Education, Consultation and Advocacy: The Brookline Housing Advisory Board is fundamental in promoting the preservation and creation of affordable housing. It studies and provides guidance to town staff and boards regarding Brookline’s housing needs, policies, programs, and zoning tools. • Local Planning and Policy: The Town is a strategic partner in pursuing public-private partnerships that foster affordable housing development in key strategic locations town-wide. Brookline assists the Brookline Housing Authority in numerous projects involving construction or repairs projects, major construction and renovation projects as well as smaller repair and replacement projects. Many other affordable housing development projects are funded with State programs, and the Town usually matches 20 fiscal resources and technical assistance to facilitate new affordable housing development. Over the past 15 years, Framingham enacted several laws to increase the affordable housing stock with an inclusionary zoning bylaw and redefinition of the central business district to include multi-family housing and transit orientated development. Currently, residents are mobilizing to bring Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding into the community. As a result, the department anticipates forming some crucial partnerships that will leverage HOME, CDBG, CPA and other funding to expand community affordable housing development. Natick will enforce a new Inclusionary Zoning for Affordable Housing section in the Town’s zoning bylaw. This revolutionary new regulation requires affordable housing in any development yielding two or more net new dwellings. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust will use funds and/or land generated by Inclusionary Zoning to develop affordable housing in the town and continue to seek additional local funds from the Community Preservation Act to help overcome the high cost of development. Finally, the Trust will continue supporting the Natick Housing Authority in preserving their existing inventory and expanding their portfolio with additional units. In 2020, the Natick Planning Board is looking to modernize cluster development regulations in the town’s zoning bylaw to encourage the development of more efficient residential subdivisions with a greater range of housing sizes and types. Needham continues to look for opportunities to develop affordable housing as part of redevelopment efforts in locations that have previously been zoned solely for business purposes. For example, the Town approved mixed-use zoning in an area along Highland Avenue in close proximity to Routes 128/95. It also approved changes to the Neighborhood Business District bylaw that would allow housing and mandate the inclusion of affordable housing or cash in-lieu of units. Another bylaw change was to allow accessory dwelling units, previously not permitted. While over the 10% state affordability goal under Chapter 40B, at 12.7%, Needham has continued to approve affordable housing development including a recent approval of 16 rental units in a multi-family structure at 1180 Great Plain Avenue, close to the Town Center. This project will include four affordable units evenly split between one and two-bedroom apartments. Additionally, the Town is revisiting local Chapter 40B Guidelines that it prepared in 2012 to steer development to appropriate locations and take advantage of the “friendly 40B” process available through the state’s Local Initiative Program (LIP). These Guidelines will be revised in the near future. Waltham will continue to operate the HOME-funded Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program with a focus on the city’s chronic homeless population to transition this population into stable, permanent housing. With little or no income or assets, poor credit records, mental health issues and no shelter resources available in surrounding communities, Waltham’s goal is to strengthen and support local homeless support agencies. These organizations assist the homeless with, job training, counseling, and other service assistance so participating individuals can develop financial independence and self-sufficiency. 21 The five-year housing plan approved by the Watertown Housing Partnership in December 2020 recommends that the Town continue to consider change zoning that might serve as a barrier to affordable housing. In the last five years, Watertown has created new opportunities for mixed use development (including multifamily housing) along two major corridors (Pleasant Street and Arsenal Street) and substantially reduced parking requirements for multifamily projects. The new plan suggests that Watertown consider developer incentives to create units with lower rents, encourage more development in close proximity to high-frequency bus lines and local retail employment, and further infill development. 22 AP-85 Other Actions 1. Please update your community’s planned actions to foster and maintain affordable housing (FY21 narrative below) Many of the Consortium communities will continue to work with staff, developers, consultants, and property owners to look for affordable housing development opportunities. Every year, the City of Framingham sponsors the work of local nonprofits as part of its poverty alleviation strategy. The sponsored agencies’ mission range from food security for homeless and low/mod residents to ESL classes for new immigrants adjusting to life in the United States. This strategy partially hinges on close collaboration with town departments and community organizations. Such close collaboration has resulted in referrals to the Tenant-Based Rental assistance program by local agencies and by CD staff to resources for food, literacy, non-TBRA rental assistance, after-school programs or the possibility of homeownership. The Natick Affordable Housing Trust and Community & Economic Development Department is exploring use of town funds to augment federal HOME monies to assist the Natick Service Council’s new Tenant Based Rental Assistance program. Local resources can be used more flexibly and quickly in this program, allowing it to serve a greater number of clients with a wider array of housing problems. The City of Waltham will continue to support the Waltham Housing Authority (WHA) with HOME funding to provide a resource for rehabilitation of aging units. By leveraging Community Preservation funds the City and the WHA are able to make substantial improvements to Housing Authority units with an emphasis on improving ADA accessibility. 2. Please update your community’s planned actions to reduce the number of poverty-level families (FY21 narrative below) The Town of Belmont will use HOME administrative funds to put together a state housing grant to investigate the redevelopment of several Housing Authority properties. The Housing Trust will continue to seek CPA funding to enable the Trust to respond quickly to housing opportunities that arise from time to time. This fund allows the Housing Trust to conduct various pre-development activities without going through the municipal funding process. The Town of Bedford is assisting the Preservation of Affordable Housing to preserve 96 units of housing at Bedford Village with $3,000,000 in Bedford CPA funds. This development was originally funded through the State’s 13A program, and the affordability restrictions expired in March 2018. For over a decade, the City of Framingham bolstered affordable housing development and preservation through legislation and partnerships. Next year, the City will continue to use a mix 23 of tools, such as municipal funding, inclusionary zoning, the Community Preservation Act, as well as HOME and CDBG funds, to foster and maintain affordable housing. In FY21, the department will tap into the resources of MassHousing, MassDevelopment, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership Fund and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation to apply new ways of contributing specialized equity, lending and/or technical assistance to new-sponsored projects. The Town of Natick recently started annually appropriating local revenues ($80,000 per year) for the Natick Affordable Housing Trust to provide and preserve affordable housing for needy households in the town. The Trust is also considering proposing new real estate transfer taxes to Town Meeting in 2020 to help fund affordable housing development. The Waltham Housing Division will continue to administer the Housing Trust Emergency Assistance Program for residents who cannot afford to stay in their homes. By providing assistance to households that are at risk of eviction and facing displacement, the program helps families avoid the negative social and health consequences of displacement. These include the disruption of social networks, risk of living in overcrowded conditions, extremely long commutes, and even homelessness. 3. Please update your community’s planned actions to reduce lead-paint hazards (FY21 narrative below) Many of the Consortium communities cited MassHousing’s Get the Lead Out program as an option for residents. For all of the Consortium communities, new affordable construction is free from lead paint. Lead-based paint and other hazards are managed by the Brookline’s Health Department Division of Environmental Health. Lead hazards are treated as a violation to State Sanitary Code, and the Division implements regulations and requirements for lead removal, abatement and containment. The Massachusetts Lead Laws are followed, and contractors are required to comply with State’s requirements of safe practices for renovation and lead abatement. The City refers constituents in need of lead abatement to Mass Housing agencies in charge of administering the Get the Lead Out Program, such as Urban Edge. Households with a child under 6 years of age can request an inspection by the Brookline Health Department. In Brookline projects funded with CDBG and HOME funds, the environmental review analysis will disclose the presence of toxic substances such as lead and asbestos, and in many cases, it discloses to the public a mitigation plan if the new construction or rehabilitation of housing may involve dealing with such toxic substances. The Regional Housing Service Office ensures that all HOME funded projects and programs in Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Sudbury, and Wayland comply with the applicable lead laws and regulations. This includes measures to verify that households receiving Tenant Based Rental Assistance funds meet applicable requirements and development or renovation projects have completed environmental reviews prior to committing funds. 24 Framingham addresses lead hazards through the City’s rehabilitation program. If there is a child under 6 living in the household and the project meets the funding threshold, the city will conduct a lead inspection. If lead hazards are found the City will include lead remediation as part of the scope of work. Lead safe work practices are required for all projects, even those that do not involve lead remediation. While Needham has a Health Department staff person who has a Lead Determinator License from the state, the Town rarely receives complaints about the existence of lead-based paint in homes and typically refers complaints to the MA Lead Poisoning Prevention Program/Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. The Town also provides information to residents on lead- based paint issues through a section on the Town’s housing website, a housing brochure, and referrals to the state’s “Get the Lead Out” Program for financial assistance on lead-based paint removal. Moreover, as part of the demolition permitting process, the Town requires that all builders hire a water truck to be present on site throughout the demolition process to spray down any dust plumes that may occur to prevent potential airborne hazards from migrating onto other neighboring properties. The Waltham Housing Department administers the CDBG-funded lead paint program to income eligible homeowners and or to landlords who have low to moderate income tenants. Owners or tenants must be within the HUD income guideline at or below 80% of the AMI. If owners and/or tenants are above the income requirements they are referred to Mass Housing Loan programs. Even with resources for remediation, landlords can carry a significant financial burden for lead removal, which makes them less likely to address the issue. In addition, federal and state support for lead removal is limited and conditional; not every house receives federal or state funds for full abatement. Watertown’s Social Services Coordinator and local nonprofit Metro West Collaborative Development provide information about lead based paint to households as requested. All HOME assisted units are certified lead-free. 1. Please update your community’s planned actions to develop institutional structure (FY21 narrative below) For many of the Consortium communities, the biggest gap in institutional structure results from limited departmental capacity due to larger workloads, staff turnover, and small numbers of staff. The Towns of Bedford, Concord, Lexington, Sudbury and Wayland are members of the RHSO, a municipal regional collaborative providing technical assistance to the municipal boards, committees and staff. This has served to increase municipal capacity for affordable housing. The 2018 Belmont Town Meeting approved a $250,000 affordable housing fund to enable the Housing Trust to respond quickly to housing opportunities that arise from time to time. This 25 fund allows the Housing Trust to conduct various pre-development activities without going through the municipal funding process. The Housing Trust will continue to seek CPA funding to enable the Trust to respond quickly to housing opportunities that arise from time to time. Framingham’s Community Development Department credits its success to cooperative participation of governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, private enterprises and individuals in its service delivery. The Department’s approach is to build new relationships that benefit clients and the community in the form of referrals to the tenant based rental assistance program, housing rehabilitation program, and responses to an RFP for new services by local agencies. This approach also contributes to the creation of a strong-civic infrastructure comprising of the public, private, and non-profit sectors. It generates networks, coalitions, and partnerships that serve as platforms for continued dialogue on community improvements. Waltham Housing Division has increased staff in 2020 and has hired a principal office assistant that is fluent in Spanish. This position enables the city to assist applicants with all applicant intakes for the city’s Tenant Based Rental Assistance and emergency assistance programs that have a language barrier. Watertown’s proposed Housing Plan includes creation of a municipal affordable housing trust as a “near-term” strategy. The Town Council is likely to consider such a trust in FY21. Creating a trust will increase the Town’s capacity to create and preserve affordable housing by adding an entity with the authority to engage in real estate activities.