City of Newton, MA
Home MenuCovid-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program
Location:
Citywide
Goals:
To provide short-term rental and mortgage payment assistance to Newton households who have been negatively impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The program pays up to 70% of a household's monthly rent or mortgage payments (up to $2,500 per month, $7,500 over three months) for households who are below 80% AMI. While the program is primarily focused on rental assistance, it may also provide mortgage assistance to households who own existing affordable deed-restricted units.
Funding:
|
Additional CPA Funding approved February 2021 to extend program through June 2021 |
$1,200,000 |
|
Initial CPA Funding Appropriated for Rental and Mortgage Assistance for households below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) (May 2020) |
$2,000,000 |
|
Total of Federal CARES Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)Funds allocated to the program for Rental and Mortgage Assistance for households below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) |
$500,000 |
| Total Program Funding | $3,700,000 |
| Actual CPA Funding Spent by Project: |
$2,724,123.86 |
| Unused CPA Funding Returned to Undesignated Fund: |
$475,876.14 |
Contacts:
Barney Heath, Director
Planning and Development Department
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
bheath@newtonma.gov 617.796.1120
Jennifer Van Campen, Executive Director
Metro West Collaborative Development
79-B Chapel Street
Newton, MA 02458
jvc@metrowestcd.org 617.923.3505
Funding Process
April 14, 2020 - Pre-Proposal Presentation to the CPC
April 27, 2020 - Full Proposal submitted for CPC review at joint public hearing on Monday, May 4, with the Planning and Development Board. The Full Proposal includes the following:
- Cover Letter from Planning Director Barney Heath
- Full Proposal Application
- Draft Guidelines for Covid-19 Emergency Housing Relief
- Proposed Program Budget
- Draft Application for Program Funding
- CDBG FY21 Budget
- Letters of Support (8 letters)
April 30, 2020 - Public Comment Received to date (Updated with additional Comments on 5/4/20)
May 4, 2020 - Project Presentation given at the joint meeting of the CPC and Planning Board. The CPC recommended approval of the project with revisions.
May 11, 2020 - City Council "Council of the Whole" to meet and review the CPC Recommendation and the following updated materials:
- Updated Project Proposal (as of May 8, 2020)
- Updated Draft Project Guidelines (as of May 8, 2020)
- Updated Draft Project Application (as of May 8, 2020)
- Councilor Questions and Answers - Responses to previously submitted questions from Councilors Albright, Laredo, and Malakie
May 18, 2020 - City Council "Council of the Whole" approves $2 million in CPA funding for the project in Council Order #250-20(A). The following updated materials were submitted to the Council for this meeting:
- Answers to Councilor Questions - A memo responding to the written questions submitted by City Councilors following the May 11 discussion.
- Letters of Support Received by May 18, 2020
June 5, 2020 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
June 26, 2020 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
July 31, 2020 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
September 1, 2020 - Emergency Housing Relief Program Memo submitted to CPC requesting to extend length of funding from three to six months. The CPC reviewed and approved the project change at their September 15, 2020 meeting.
September 4, 2020 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
November 12, 2020 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
December 18, 2020 - New Proposal submitted for additional funding to extend Emergency Housing Assistance Program through June 2021. Proposal Attachments are available in a separate document and include the following:
- Cover Letter
- Financial Projects for extending the program through June 2021
- Summary of Program Financials (12/18/20)
- Monthly Budget Projections for Assistance (December 2020 - May 2021)
- November Update on existing program
- Letters of Support from the Newton Housing Partnership, Newton Housing Authority, City Councilor Bill Humphrey, and Newton residents
January 12, 2021 - Presentation to joint meeting of the CPC and Planning and Development Board. CPC unanimously recommends the additional funding for the program.
January 19, 2021- CPC Recommendation for additional funding sent to City Council for review and approval.
February 4, 2021 - Presentation to joint meeting of the Finance and Zoning and Planning Committees.
February 16, 2021 - City Council approves additional funding. Two City Council Orders were issued at this time - Council Order #52-21(A) approved the additional funding, while the second, Council Order #52-21(B) recommended that federal funding be used for the program if possible and that job search information be provided to program participants.
May 21, 2021 - City of Newton COVID-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program Update
December 14, 2021 - Final Report presented and unanimously approved by CPC
Additional Information
The Community Preservation Coalition and Massachusetts Housing Partnership have developed Emergency Rental Assistance Program guidance documents for CPA programs statewide to use when considering these programs.