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HomeMy Public PortalAboutBHP packet 09.23.21Brewster Housing Coordinator Update August 2021 Jill Scalise Ongoing Activities/ Projects 1. Community Outreach and Education (Housing Production Plan (HPP) Strategy #13) • Responded to email and phone requests for information and assistance, 55 total requests for housing information (35) or assistance (20). Office hours held on Thursdays from 10-12. • Prepared and delivered Brewster Housing presentation to Brewster Housing Coalition. Interviewed for Cape Cod Times housing article. 2. Brewster Affordable Housing Trust Fund (BAHT) (HPP Strategy #7) & Community Housing Parcel off Millstone (Select Board Strategic Plan Goal H-3, HPP Strategy #15) • The Trust met twice to finish draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the property. Legal review completed. The Trust will present the RFP to the Select Board in September to vote on the issuance of the RFP. 3. Redevelop Existing Properties for Affordable Housing (HPP Strategy #6) • Serenity Brewster (55+ rental housing, 27 affordable units): Leasing of 41 studios apartments in Phase 1 continues. Grand Opening Ceremony postponed for Covid safety concerns. Working with Elevation Financial on Local Unit Application for 27 affordable units. Phase 2, 91units, expected to open in 2022. • Latham Centers (Educational, 8 rental apartments): Provided support & attended Community Preservation Committee (CPC) meeting regarding $150,000 CPA grant request towards creating affordable apartments as part of Latham’s renovation and revitalization of the former Fire Museum property. CPC supported request. 4. Comprehensive Permit Projects (HPP Strategy #14) • Brewster Woods (30 affordable rental units): Construction continues. • Habitat, Red Top Road (2 affordable homes, ownership): Habitat for Humanity applied for a Comprehensive Permit, Zoning Board of Appeals hearing scheduled for September 14th. With Ellen Murphy, completed application for $10,000 for Technical Assistance from Mass Housing Partnership. 5. Preservation of Housing and Related Support of Brewster Residents • Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing rehabilitation and childcare applications available. Material also provided for FY21 CDBG application. • Brewster Rental Assistance Program (B-RAP), Housing Assistance Corporation’s (HAC) contract was extended for 2 additional years. Program guidelines adjusted to allow reasonable rent, defined by HAC, in accordance with other rent vouchers such as HUD. • Brewster COVID-19 Relief Fund: Provided staff support for housing requests. 6. Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) (HPP Strategy #10) • Communicated and coordinated with homeowners, Habitat, and HOME Consortium, to facilitate affordable resale of SHI home on James Burr Road. Select Board waived Town’s right of first refusal. • Follow-up continued for several SHI homes. Investigated 3 affordable rental units expiring from SHI. 7.Housing Production Plan (HPP): CPC voted to support $25,000 CPA grant request to update HPP. 8.Brewster Housing Partnership (BHP): Held two meetings. • Reviewed and endorsed CPC Housing CPA grant applications for HPP and Latham Centers. • Provided input for Select Board Strategic Plan & support letter for FY21 CDBG application. 9.Collaboration (HPP Strategy #9) • Attended HOME Consortium, Making the Case Zoom Call, Lower Cape Housing Institute & CPC regional funding discussion. Provided information about Brewster housing program to Lower Cape towns. Personnel • Worked with: Assessor, Building Dept., CPC, COA, Health Dept., Housing Partnership, Housing Trust, Planning Dept., Select Board and Town Administration. • Attended CPC, Housing Partnership, Housing Trust & Select Board meetings. • Participated in trainings including: One Cape Summit, Open Meeting Law & Conflict of Interest. Brewster Community Housing: An Overview of Brewster’s Housing Initiatives AUGUST 31, 2021 JILL SCALISE, BREWSTER HOUSING COORDINATOR Brewster’s Housing Context Brewster Housing Stock: 45% owner occupied, 8% renter occupied, 44% seasonal/ vacant (Pre-2020 Census numbers) (MA Housing Stock: 56% owner occupied, 34% renter occupied, 4% seasonal/ vacant) 2019 Median Value of Brewster Home-$442,000 2019 Median Household Income-$75,321 (American Community Survey) 2020 Median Brewster Home Sales Price-$470,000 (Cape & Islands Assn. of Realtors) 2021 Median Brewster Home Sales Price YTD for Single Family homes= $675,000 (Cape & Islands Assn. of Realtors) for Condominiums = $364,500 Affordable Housing: ▪Affordable units on the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) –268 units 5.58% of year-round housing, MA mandates 10% affordable of year-round housing stock. ▪Brewster Housing Authority-56 apartments, state subsidized housing, 2+ year wait list ▪Wells Court-24 apartments, senior housing, 2+ year wait list ▪King’s Landing-108 apartments, 5+ year wait list The Brewster Housing Program is guided by the: HOUSING PRODUCTION PLAN 2017 BREWSTER VISION PLAN 2018 Brewster Vision Plan Housing Goals Provide more affordable, safe and accessible rental and home ownership housing options at different price points, particularly for single people, young families and our older population. Achieve the state’s 10% affordable goal by 2025 1. Promote housing choices to allow families to live, work and prosper 2. Provide opportunities to address the varied housing needs of Brewster’s aging population 3. Address the housing needs of the Town’s year-round & seasonal work force Housing Production Plan Goals Year-round rental housing Partnerships Seniors & people with disabilities Increase local capacity Variety of housing choices Housing rehabilitation assistance 10% statutory minimum WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? Create Preserve Support Fund Collaborate Create Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod Paul Hush Way –14 affordable homes Brewster Woods (Rental) 30 apartments: affordable 1, 2 & 3 bedroom Housing Authority property, RFP & lease Received Comprehensive Permit April 2018 Funding: Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) & $550,000 in CPA funding approved May 2017 MassWorks Grant, received 1.68 million dollars, 2019 $250,000 HOME funds approved in 2020 Presently under construction Expected opening Summer 2022 70% local preference Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) & Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) Serenity Brewster Redevelopment of empty site to 132 units of age 55+ rental housing Assisted living & nursing home closed in 2019. Elevation Financial Group, a private company, is redeveloping the property & working with Town. Received a Use Variance from ZBA in 2020 Phase 1: First 41 studio apartments opened in July 2021. Phase 2: 91 apartments. A mix of studio & 1- bedroom units expected to open in Spring 2022. 27 affordable apartments. 20% of all units. Local Action Unit (LAU) application in process for affordable rental units. Habitat for Humanity Red Top Road Land donated by resident 2 homes Local Initiative Program (LIP) CPA Funding-$100,000 Comprehensive Permit Application Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Public Hearing 9.14.21 Millstone Community Housing 16+ acres of Town owned land designated for community housing. In 2018, CPA funds were used to purchase access parcel. Oversight of process by the Affordable Housing Trust. The Affordable Housing Trust is drafting a Request for Proposals (RFP)with Mass Housing Partnership’s (MHP) assistance Feasibility Report (grant from MHP) Outreach (Including information sessions & online surveys) Additional Watershed Study based on abutter concerns Meeting with Select Board and Trust to approve RFP 9.09.21, then will go out to bid. Affordable rental apartments, up to 90 bedrooms total. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) & Accessory Apartments New ADU and Accessory Commercial Dwelling Unit (ACDU) bylaws were approved at Town Meeting in Fall 2018. ADUs allowed by right, special permit needed if in water protection district or lot is under 30,000’. ADUS must meet several requirements in the bylaw including year long lease and owner occupation of one of the housing units. Building Dept., Planning Dept., Housing & ZBA work together on implementation. Building Dept. handout describes process for residents, available online. At least 16 Accessory, ADUs or ACDUs have been approved or permitted since March 2019. Preserve Housing Rehabilitation $1.3 Million Regional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY20 Dennis, Brewster & Wellfleet Up to 80% Area Median Income (AMI) Childcare vouchers also available Brewster is the lead grant community for FY21 grant application Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) Homes Affordable Housing Trust initiative to preserve SHI homes Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding of $500,000 Goal: Keep homes on SHI and return several SHI homes that are uninhabited to occupied, rehabilitated, deed compliant status. This is a slow, involved, legal process. Brewster Affordable Home Buyers Buy-down Program Provides up to $30,000 to purchase an affordable home, requires an ongoing affordable deed restriction. Funded thanks to the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund Funding Streams Short-term Rental Revenue & Town Funds ▪The Select Board approved a policy in 2021: 50% of anticipated short-term rental revenue designated for Affordable Housing Trust. ▪Free Cash designations to Housing Trust CPA Housing Grants ▪Housing Coordinator ▪Housing Trust ▪Rental Assistance Program ▪SHI preservation ▪Purchase of access parcel to Millstone road ▪Brewster Woods, Habitat ▪Buy Down Program ▪2021 Application for Housing Production Plan Update ▪2021 Application for Latham Centers housing Additional •CDBG funds like Housing Rehabilitation & Childcare ▪State grants like MassWorks ▪HOME Consortium Funding ▪Mass Housing Partnership grants for technical assistance ▪Partnerships Support Brewster Rental Assistance Program Up to $500/ month ongoing assistance or up to $6,000 emergency Covid assistance HAC is managing agent Universal application for all available funding. Online application Housing Trust initiative, funded by CPA Extended for 2 years Brewster COVID Relief Fund THIS FUND PROVIDES UP TO $1,000 FOR HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY A COVID RELATED LOSS OF INCOME OR INCREASE OF EXPENSES. INCOME LIMITS APPLY. APPLICATION AT: HTTPS://WWW.BREWSTER-MA.GOV/FILES/COVIDRELIEFAPP.PDF. Resident Support Office hours: Thursdays 10AM-Noon Help connect residents with available resources and assistance Guide affordable homeowners through refinance and resale requirements Provide information about housing programs and opportunities Fair Housing Collaborate Town, Lower Cape & Community Partnerships Town Entities Town Hall: Housing Office, Administration, Building and Planning Department Community Preservation Committee Council on Aging Housing Authority Housing Partnership Housing Trust Select Board, Planning Board, ZBA, & Finance Committee Brewster & Lower Cape (Outreach) Brewster Community Network (BCN) Brewster Housing Coalition Chamber of Commerce Conservation Trust, Ponds Coalition Faith Community Local Non-profits Lower Cape Towns Realtors Schools, Parent Teacher Org. (PTO) Community Community Development Partnership (CDP) Elevation Financial Group Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) Latham Centers Collaboration Examples Brewster Community Housing Forum Cape Cod Sea Camps Proposal Cape Housing Institute Housing: Serenity Brewster Brewster Woods Habitat for Humanity Latham Transitional Local Preference & Fair Housing Session Lower Cape Housing Groups TOGETHER, MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY Questions? Jill Scalise, Housing Coordinator jscalise@brewster-ma.gov 508-896-3701 ext. 1169 https://brewster-ma.gov/departments- mainmenu-26/housing-office Brewster Housing Partnership Minutes 8/19/21 Present: Lisa Forhan, Vanessa Greene, Sarah Robinson, Jillian Douglas, Diane Pansire, Ralph Marotti Guests: Donna Kalinick, Asst. Town Administrator, Anne McManus and Heather Kelsey (Latham Centers, Inc.) 1. Call to Order – 6:00 2. Declaration of a Quorum- Quorum was present 3. Meeting Participation Statement 4. Review and discuss housing-related CPA applications for comment and recommendation to Community Preservation Committee: A. $150,000 request submitted by Latham Centers Inc. to apply towards development costs associated with renovating the structure(s) at 1439 Main Street to produce 7 dormitory-style affordable dwelling units for Latham clients and staff – Ms. McManus and Ms. Kelsey answered questions regarding the proposed project creating 7 units for “transitional age” (17 -22) year old individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities. 1 of the 7 units would be for staff on site. Details of the project as follows: • Students will be living in studio apartments for no longer than 2 years; • Some, but not all, will be Latham students • Program design is a result of an identified need • Abutting neighbors are aware of the plans to renovate • Progam expects to include students from the Cape primarily, unless there are vacancies • Funding will come from school districts; students will be involved in vocational activities to earn income and leave the program with a “nest egg” to secure housing later • Staff will be present 24/7. Staff will assist with transportation. • Latham staff will work with the town to add the units to the town’s subsidized housing inventory. The Partnership voted to recommend to the CPA they support the request. B. $25,000 request submitted by Brewster Housing Coordinator Jill Scalise & Assstant Town Administrator Donna Kalinick for contract services to assist in the update of Brewster’s Housing Production Plan. Discussion included: • The current Housing Production Plan expires in June, 2022 • New census data can inform the new plan • Covid impacts on the housing market should be included • Many of the goals of the last HPP have been met; should consider new goals (including workforce housing) • Jillian commended the town staff for the work done in support of the housing initiatives in the last HPP. The Partnership voted to recommend that the CPA support the request. 5. Updates from Housing Coordinator – full report attached. Highlights and discussion included • Housing coordinator has received a significant increase in the number of calls requesting information and housing assistance • Serenity – 25 of the 41 units have been leased 6. Updates from Standing Committee Liaisons a. Affordable Housing Trust – currently working on RFP for Millstone b. CPC - 7. Discussion of an alternative reference for the pending development project between between Ocean Edge Golf Course & Millstone Road – no concensus 8. Scheduling of future discussions related to potential rationale and/or criteria for Local or Regional Preference in Brewster-Sponsored housing projects and programs • Fayth Ellis meeting with other committees to discuss; Jill will contact Fayth 9. For Your Information – Special Town meeting regarding the Town purchase of the Cape Cod Sea Camps property will be held 9/25/21 at 10:00 a.m.; Special Election on 10/5 10. Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated by the Chair – There were none. 11. Approval of Minutes from previous meeting – Minutes were approved with the addition of attendees. 7. Schedule Next Meeting – 9/23/21 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. 8. Adjournment – 7:27 p.m.