Inclusionary Housing Program

Inclusionary Homeownership Opportunity: 260 Beacon Street, Somerville

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and 260 Beacon, LLC are pleased to announce two (2) income-restricted condos available for purchase through the City of Somerville’s Inclusionary Housing Program, located at 260 Beacon Street, Somerville. Two 2.5 bedroom condos. will be offered to income-eligible households at below-market-rate prices via an application and lottery process. Please visit https://beacon260.com/ to learn more about this property.

Information and Application Packets will be first accessible starting at 11AM on Thursday September 19^th, 2019 at the first (1^st) information session. Then, starting Monday September 23^rd, 2019, application materials will be available on the Inclusionary Housing Program webpage, at the Somerville Public Library branches, City Hall and the City Hall Annex.

Flyers

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Information and Application Packet

• Download PDF

Starting Monday September 23, 2019, hard copies of the Information Packet will be available at Somerville City Hall, Somerville’s Housing Division and the Somerville Public Libraries (East and Main Branch).

Unit Descriptions

*One deeded parking space in garage per unit is included in the price.

**Condo fees are set by the Condo Association and are subject to change after initial year.

Income Eligibility Requirements

Head of household cannot be full-time student; Units subject to Affordable Housing Restriction in perpetuity, other restrictions may apply.

All applicants should attend an information session and read the Information/Application Packet before submitting an application.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or [email protected].

About the Program

Our Inclusionary Affordable Homeownership Program provides opportunities for first-time homebuyers based on income. Sign up here to get alerts whenever affordable housing units become available. To be eligible for the program, you must:

• Be a first-time homebuyer
• Intend to use the unit as your primary residence
• Be a “ready buyer” and get a mortgage pre-approval
• Agree to follow any Deed Restrictions on the unit
• Have a certificate from an MHC Homebuyer Class by the closing date. If you haven’t taken the class yet, you can see a list of upcoming classes here.

Deed Restrictions

Affordable housing units have some important resale/equity restrictions. A few of them are listed below. We’ll give the winner a full copy of the restrictions during the Purchase and Sale process. You can also request a copy by calling us at (617) 625-2577 x2577.

• The unit may have a Deed Restriction that limits equity and has some rules for reselling the home. We’ll need to reassess the home’s value if you decide to sell it in the future.
• You’ll need to keep the home as your primary residence, but you have the option to sell it at any time. We perform residency certifications once a year.
• Once we’ve certified that you are income-eligible, we won’t need to perform any additional income verifications.

Lottery Drawing and Process

We use a lottery to choose the winner, who will then be able to buy the home from its current owner. Here’s how it works:

• We’ll draw each name and assign it an appropriate number.
• The first name we draw is the winner and will have one week to certify their income with the Housing Division.
• Once certified, the winner will enter the Purchase and Sale Agreement with the current homeowner.
• The owner and buyer will agree on a closing date that’s convenient for both parties.
   

Affordable Housing
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Inclusionary Rental ALERT: Eleven (11) Income-Restricted Rental Apartments Available at [email protected] & The Commons at Prospect Hill

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Cedar Development, LLC & Prospect Commons, LLC are pleased to announce eleven (11) income-restricted apartments for rent at 400 Mystic Ave. and 434 McGrath Hwy., Somerville available through the City of Somerville’s Inclusionary Housing Program. Four (4) 1BR and seven (7) 2BR apartments will be offered to income-eligible households at or below market-rate prices through an application and lottery process. Please visit https://www.400mystic.com/ and https://www.theprospectcommons.com/ to learn more about these properties.

Download Info Packet / Application

Flyers

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Inclusionary Rental ALERT: A Two (2)-Bedroom Apartment @ 100 Fellsway West, Somerville

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), in collaboration with the Craig Corporation are pleased to announce the affordable rental opportunity for one (1) rental apartment at 100 Fellsway West, Somerville. The apartment is available for rent through the Inclusionary Housing Program via an application and lottery process for income-eligible households with a combined gross income that meets the income eligibility requirements detailed below.

Preferences will be provided to households who currently reside or work full time in Somerville (32 hours or more per week) and provide current verification dated within the last thirty days from the date a complete application is submitted.

*Gas heating, electric cooking, electricity and water/sewage bills are paid separately by tenants and not included in rent

**Minimum income requirement waived for households with MRVP, Section 8, PASS or other mobile rental voucher

*** Head of household cannot be full-time student; other eligibility requirements apply.

100 Fellsway West is a four story building with 19 residential units. Apartment 303 is on the third floor and includes an outdoor parking space as well as an in-unit hookup for a laundry machine and dryer.

Additional restrictions apply for the apartment available through the City of Somerville’s Inclusionary Housing Program including: 1) the head of household cannot be a full time student and 2) an asset limit of $250,000 excluding restricted retirement, college savings and health plans. Inclusionary units must be the household’s primary principal residence. The units cannot be subleased; rooms cannot be placed on AirBnB or similar websites. Households who move into these units are subject to annual income re-certifications to ensure their continued eligibility.

Interested applicants should prepare to proceed with an income certification after the lottery if their number is selected first from the lottery wheel; the Housing Division recommends households begin to collect their: 1) 2018 Federal Tax Returns (all pages and schedules), W2s and 1099s, and 2) the most recent three (3) months of all income and all asset (ex. Bank, Venmo/ Paypal statements) statements. The City reserves the right to request more income/asset information during the income certification.

The Housing Division will host an information session to review income and asset eligibility requirements, the application, lottery process and restrictions. The first information session will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 in the third floor Community Room of the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), 259 Lowell St. in Somerville.

Pre-lottery information and application packets will be available starting Monday, October 28, 2019 through 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. October 28, information and pre-lottery applications can also be printed from the City of Somerville’s Inclusionary Housing Program website or picked up at the City Hall Annex located at 50 Evergreen Ave., City Hall located at 93 Highland Ave., and the Somerville Public Library branches. Complete pre-lottery applications must be submitted and received by the Housing Division located on the first floor of the Somerville City Hall Annex at 50 Evergreen Ave. by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Applications must be completed and signed by all adult household members. Applicants must write “N/A” in sections that do not apply and should not leave any part of their application blank. Incomplete and late application will not be accepted. Applications submitted late, by piece-meal or in screen shots.

Complete and eligible pre-lottery applications received before the deadline will be included in the lottery scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 11 a.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. Applicants do not need to attend the lottery to proceed with an income certification. The lottery will be available to watch on Youtube at SomervilleCityTV. The winner will be notified immediately after the lottery and will have five business days to submit initial income and asset documents. Lottery results will be posted on the City of Somerville Inclusionary Housing website by Tuesday, December 3, 2019.

Complete applications can be submitted via email to [email protected], via fax at 617-591-3235, or mail and in person at the Annex. The Housing Division is open from Monday-Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If you have any additional questions regarding this opportunity please contact Andres Bueno at 617-625-6600 ext. 2584.

Download Info Packet / Application

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The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or [email protected].

Affordable Housing
Alerts: Sign Up Now

First-Time Homebuyer Education

There are several programs to help you learn about the home buying process. They’ll teach you how to deal with credit issues, work with a Realtor, apply for a mortgage, and more. The organizations below offer these First-Time Homebuyer classes:

• Somerville Community Corporation First-Time Homebuyer Seminar
• CHAPA Homeownership Education Workshop
• MAHA Homeownership University

Closing Cost and Down Payment Assistance

The Housing Division and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund offer three programs to help first-time homebuyers in the City. Each program has different rules and benefits. You must be a first-time homebuyer with an eligible income to qualify. We give preference to current residents, though anyone is welcome to apply. The three programs are:

• Closing Cost 80 Program: We’ll provide closing cost assistance up to $5,000 as a 0% interest, five-year forgivable loan. 
• Down Payment Assistance 80 Program: We’ll provide down payment assistance up to 15% of the purchase price as a 0% interest, deferred payment loan.
• Closing Cost/Down Payment Assistance 110 Program: We’ll provide up to $5,000 in down payment assistance or closing costs as a 0% interest, five-year forgivable loan.

To learn more about eligibility and income limits, click here.

First-Time Homebuyer Education

There are several programs to help you learn about the home buying process. They’ll teach you how to deal with credit issues, work with a Realtor, apply for a mortgage, and more. The organizations below offer these First-Time Homebuyer classes:

• Somerville Community Corporation First-Time Homebuyer Seminar
• CHAPA Homeownership Education Workshop
• MAHA Homeownership University

Homeownership Guide

We’ve organized a list of resources for new and current homeowners. The guide includes information about loans for remodeling your house, improving energy efficiency, removing lead, and other resources. You’ll also find important information about zoning laws and permits. Click here to read the guide and learn more about your next steps as a new homeowner!

Tenant Rent Stabilization Program

We work with the Somerville Homeless Coalition to help residents who are at risk of becoming homeless due to unpaid rent or utilities. We can also help with moving costs, security deposits, and other start-up costs. Our goal is to keep Somerville families stable by helping them stay in their current homes or find attainable housing. To apply, call the Somerville Homeless Coalition at (617) 623-6111.

Section 8 Rentals

Section 8 is a federal program that helps very low-income families find clean and safe private apartment rentals. The assistance is given on behalf of the individual so that participants can rent privately-owned housing. This can include single-family housing, apartments, townhouses, and condos. The Somerville Housing Authority administers the Section 8 program. You can learn more here.

Housing for People With Disabilities

Under federal law, housing providers must not discriminate against people with disabilities. They must also make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. These laws apply regardless of whether the housing is public or private. For more information, contact us at (617) 625-6600 x2577.

Utility Assistance and Energy Efficiency

Also known as Fuel Assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a state-run program to help families pay for winter heating bills. Eligible households may qualify to have a portion of their heating bills paid by the state. They’ll also receive a discounted rate on their utility bills. To see if you’re eligible, contact the City of Cambridge Department of Human Services at (617) 349-6252.

Weatherization Assistance Program

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) offers insulation and repairs to help families stay warm and conserve fuel in the winter. If you qualify for fuel assistance, you’ll also qualify for the WAP. For more information, call (978) 459-6161.

Resource Guide for Homeless People and Very Low-Income Families

This guide is an extensive list of resources for homeless people and those who are at risk for becoming homeless. You’ll find contact information for local shelters, transitional housing, food services, emergency funding, and more. You can read the guide here.