Inclusionary Housing Program

Alert (10/30/2018): 353 Davis Applicants Will Receive Lottery ID Numbers Prior To November 15th By Email

Alert (10/11/2018): 15 Income-Restricted Homeownership Condos at Alloy at Assembly Row

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Street Realty Inc. are pleased to announce 15 income-restricted homeownership units located at Alloy, Assembly Row 275 Foley Street, Somerville. Units will be ready for occupancy upon purchase. 

Review this flyer for qualification details:  English,  Portuguese,  Spanish,  Haitian

If you are a Somerville resident seeking language assistance in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole for the Alloy Information and Pre-Lottery Application Packet, please contactSomerViva. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

If you live outside of Somerville and seeking language assistance in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Creole for the Alloy Information and Pre-Lottery Application, please contact SEB at [email protected] or at 617-782-6900.

Si w se yon rezidan Somerville, epi ou bezwen tradiksyon an kreyòl Ayisyen pou aplikasyon sa a tanpri rele 617-625-6600 EXT.2622. Si w bezwen aksede sevis sa a tanpri rele pou yon randevou.

Si w abite an deyò Somerville epi ou bezwen tradiksyon an panyòl,pòtigè, oubyen kreyòl ayisyen pou enfomasyon sou applikasyon Alloy la oubyen lotri a tanpri kontakte SEB nan[email protected] oubyen nan 617-782-6900.

Si ud. es residente de Somerville buscando asistencia lingüística para el Paquete de Información y Solicitud para Alloy, contacte al: 617-625-6600 EXT. 2122. SOLO CON CITA PREVIA.Si ud. viva afuera de Somerville y buscando asistencia lingüística para el Paquete de Información y Solicitud para Alloy, contacte SEB a: [email protected] o 617-782-6900. 

Se você é residente em Somerville e precisa de assistência em Português para informações sobre o Edifício Alloy e o pacote de informações da pré-loteria, por favor ligue para 617-625-6600 extensão 2123. ATENDIMENTO SOMENTE COM HORA MARCADA.

Se você reside fora de Somerville e e precisa de assistência em Português para informações sobre o Edifício Alloy e o pacote de informações da pré-loteria, por favor entre em contato com a SEB pelo email [email protected] ou telephone 617-782-6900.

Information and Application Packets

• English
• Español
• Português
• Kreyòl Ayisyen

Information Sessions

Info Session no. 1

                Date: Thursday, Oct. 11^th 2018

                Time: 6:30 PM-7:30 PM

                Place: ESCS Auditorium

Info Session no. 2

                Date: Tuesday, Nov. 13^th 2018

                Time: 10:30 AM-11:30 AM

                Place: VNA 405 Alewife Brook Parkway (please park in Dilboy Field lot)

Open House no. 1

                Date: Wednesday, Oct. 24^th 2018

                Time: 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM

                Place: Alloy Condominium Complex

Open House no. 2

                Date: Saturday, Nov. 10^th 2018

                Time: 12:00 PM -2:00 PM

                Place: Alloy Condominium Complex

Application Deadline

                Date: Monday, December 10^th  2018

                Time: 2 PM

Applications must be completed and submitted before 2 PM via one of the following means;

In person: SEB at 257 Hillside Ave in Needham, MA 02494; or

City Hall Annex 50 Evergreen Ave Somerville, MA 02145; or

Email: [email protected]; or

Fax: 617-782-4500

Lottery

                Date: Wednesday, January 9^th 2019

                Time: 10:30 AM

                Place: City Hall Aldermanic Chambers on 2^nd Fl. 

                Or online at https://www.youtube.com/user/SomervilleCityTV

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
Alerts: Sign Up Now

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Lacourt Enterprises, LLC. are pleased to announce two (2) affordable rental units located at the Chadwick in Davis The Chadwick is a 28 unit, four-story brick building with an elevator located at 131 Orchard Street. Two (2) units, including a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom, will be offered to income-qualified households at an affordable rent via an application and lottery process through the City of Somerville’s Inclusionary Housing Program.

*Minimum incomes are not applicable to Section 8 or other voucher holders

**Rents do not include the cost of electricity, heat is electric

Flyers

• English
• Español
• Português
• Kreyòl Ayisyen

Application Timeline

1. Open Application Begins: After the conclusion of the 1^st Info. Session.
2. 1^st Info. Session: 6:30PM, Thursday, October 4, 2018 @ East Somerville Community School (ESCS) Auditorium located at 50 Cross Street in Somerville
3. 2^nd Info. Session: 10:30AM, Wednesday, November 7, 2018 @ Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) 4^th Floor located at 405 Alewife Brook Pkwy. in Somerville (please park at Dilboy Field)
4. Application Deadline: 2:30PM, Monday, December 3, 2018 at 50 Evergreen Ave. in Somerville
5. Lottery Date: 10:30AM, Monday, December 17, 2018 @ Aldermanic Chambers City Hall located at 93 Highland Ave. Somerville

Application Packet (PDF)

If you have any other questions please contact Andres Bueno, Program Specialist at 617-625-6600 ext.2584 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. 

Affordable Housing
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