HUD Archives: News Releases

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $19.7 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON - More very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Massachusetts will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $19,688,200 in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants will help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The grant funding awarded under HUD's Sections 202 and 811 Supportive Housing programs will kick start
construction or major rehabilitation for more than 170 housing developments in 42 different states and Puerto Rico.
In Massachusetts, more than 115 elderly households and persons with disabilities will be affordably housed with access to needed services. A detailed summary of the Massachusetts grants is included below.

"The Obama Administration is committed to helping our senior citizens and persons with disabilities find a decent, affordable place to live that is close to needed healthcare services and transportation," said Barbara Fields, HUD New England Regional Administrator. "Recent bipartisan changes to these two supportive housing programs will allow us to better serve some of our more vulnerable populations who would otherwise be struggling to find a safe and decent home of their own."

Enacted early this year with strong bipartisan support, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act and the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act provided needed enhancements and reforms to both programs. Nonprofit grant recipients will now receive federal assistance that is better leveraged and better connected to state and local health care investments, allowing greater numbers of vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals to access the housing they need even more quickly.

Section 202 Capital Advances will provide $545 million nationwide to 97 projects in 42 States and Puerto. In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section 202 program
will also provide $54 million in rental assistance so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes. Section 202 provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to frail elderly resident.

Section 811 Capital Advances will provide $137 million nationwide to assist very low-income persons with disabilities through 92 projects in 35 states. An additional $12.6 million will be available for project rental assistance contracts. Most of the housing supported through the Section 811 Program will be newly constructed, typically small apartment buildings, group homes for three to four persons, or condominium units that are integrated into the larger community. Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest.

HUD's Section 811 program provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability. Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to live
independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

HUD provides these funds to non-profit organizations in two forms:

• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years for (under Section 202) or very low-income persons with disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project Rental Assistance Contracts. This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.
  

Residents must be "very low income" with household incomes less than 50 percent of their median for that area. However, most households that receive Section 811 or Section 202 assistance earn less than 30 percent of the median for their area. Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $13,500.

MASSACHUSETTS GRANTS

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Location: Boston, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services Inc
Capital Advance: $6,204,100
Three-year rental subsidy: $639,000
Number of units: 40
Project Description: 
Funds will be used to construct 40 one-bedroom units for very low income elderly in Boston, MA. The site is conveniently located near shopping, public transportation and many other amenities conducive to the needs of the residents. The design incorporates accessibility features, it allows for the provision of services and it allows the elderly to age in place.

Project Location: Tewksbury, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Elder Sevices of the Merrimack Valley, Inc.
Capital Advance: $5,390,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $511,200
Number of units: 33
Project Description: 
The sponsor, Elder Services of Merrimack Valley Inc., will use the funds to build 32 new apartments for very low income elderly persons plus a resident manager's unit. The common areas and apartments will include barrier free/accessible design features and green features such as energy efficient windows and ENERGY STAR appliances. Residents will have access to a supportive services program which will allow them to age in place.

Project Location: Winthrop, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: EBCDC, Inc.
Capital Advance: $4,298,600
Three-year rental subsidy: $431,400
Number of units: 27
Project Description: 
These funds will be used to rehabilitate and construct 23 one-bedroom units and four efficiency apartments for very low-income elderly persons in Winthrop, MA. The site is conveniently located near shopping, public transportation and other amenities conducive to the needs of the residents. The design incorporates accessibility features, it allows for the provision of services and it allows the elderly to age in place.

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Location: Haverhill, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: Career Resources
Capital Advance: $657,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $80,100
Number of units: 5
Project Description: 
The funds will be used to construct a group home with 5 one-bedroom units for persons with disabilities. Located in
an urban area, the project will allow the residents to live as independently as possible within the community. A van service provided by the sponsor will shuttle residents to their necessary destinations.

Project Location: Westfield, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: The Association for Community Living
Capital Advance: $657,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $80,100
Number of units: 5
Project Description: 
The funds will be used to construct a group home with 5 one-bedroom units for persons with disabilities. Located in
a rural area, the facility will allow for the residents to live in a spacious and peaceful environment. A van service provided by the sponsor will shuttle residents to their necessary destinations.

Project Location: Westfield, MA
Non-Profit Sponsor: The Association for Community Living
Capital Advance: $657,800
Three-year rental subsidy: $80,100
Number of units: 5
Project Description: 
The funds will be used to construct a group home with 5 one-bedroom units for persons with disabilities. Located in a rural area, the project will allow the residents to live in a spacious and peaceful environment. A van service provided by the sponsor will shuttle residents to their necessary destinations.

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