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.