Lynn Housing Coalition

06/24/2022

ATTENTION: Please take the time to complete the ARPA Project Selection survey if you have not done so already.

Also, on Tuesday, June 28th at 6:00pm there will be a public meeting at the City of Lynn Auditorium. Please attend if you are able. It is so important to have pro-housing voices in the room to ensure it is prioritized in the final plans.

The City has identified 10 areas in which it proposes to spend more than $35 million in this first phase of funding obtained from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

We want to hear your feedback on the projects that could be funded. These projects are live on the City’s ARPA website and include parks, roads, housing, early childhood programs and public safety, among others.

➡️ To learn more or to take the survey, visit https://lynnarpa.com/arpa-project-selection-survey-2/

04/22/2022

MORE HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INTRODUCED

As affordability continues to decline in most U.S. counties, the Q1 2022 Homeownership Program Index revealed an increase in homebuyer assistance programs available to support home purchases.

The report indicated a 2.1% uptick in the number of programs available, and 84.9% of programs had funds available for eligible homebuyers. Make sure to check out the full report for a breakdown of program types and other notable trends.

The Q1 2022 Homeownership Program Index reveals an increase in homebuyer assistance programs available to support home purchases.

01/11/2022

Hello Fellow Lynners!

Just a friendly reminder that our monthly meeting is tonight (Tuesday, January 11th 2022), at 6:30pm.

You can register at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEpf-6gpz4tE9ykAC4IsQ3t1fswql-y-Uoo (if you have not already).

Looking forward to seeing you all tonight!

Recurring Lynn Housing Coalition meeting

01/11/2022

MassHousing now offers down payment assistance of up to $25,000 for qualified homebuyers in Massachusetts!

"We’re breaking down barriers to homeownership by offering as much as $25,000 toward your down payment.

We know how difficult it is to save for a down payment on a home. MassHousing’s Down Payment Assistance gets you over the down payment hurdle, gives you more buying power and helps you become a homeowner faster!

Up to $25,000 for Boston and Gateway City Homebuyers

Buying a home in the City of Boston or one of the Commonwealth's 26 Gateway Cities*?

You may be eligible for down payment assistance of 5% of a home's purchase price, up to $25,000 along with a number of other benefits!

*The Gateway Cities are Attleboro, Barnstable, Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Westfield, and Worcester."

MassHousing now offers down payment assistance of up to $25,000 for qualified homebuyers in Massachusetts!

01/09/2022

NHPF Releases Report on Impacts of “Financial Cohabitation”

The NHP Foundation (NHPF) released a report on the mental impacts of cohabitating primarily to afford rent. This report finds many Americans (44% of those surveyed) with low to middle incomes move in together out of financial need rather than personal choice, often inflicting an emotional and physical toll.

Survey: 44% of Americans Forced Into “Financial Cohabitation” Respondents living together to primarily afford rent report mental stress, depression, physical an

01/08/2022

The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is in the process of creating a new Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

"We plan to publish it in 2022. Before that, we have a lot of work to do."

The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) is in the process of creating a new Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. We plan to publish it in 2022. Before that, we have a...

01/05/2022

"People of color in Boston make much less than white people because of the combined forces of economic inequality and systemic racism. So not only does using high AMI’s exclude many Boston residents, but it discriminates against people of color. This is another reason that the IDP must redefine affordable housing to truly reach low- and moderate-income households!

Many Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander households make $0-25,000 or $25,000-50,000 a year. In the language of “area median income” or “AMI” (you can read more about the definition of AMI and its problems here), more than half of households of color make 0-50% AMI.

But the current IDP requires apartments at the 70% AMI income level, and home ownership units at the 80-100% AMI levels — discriminating against people of color who are disproportionately lower-income and burdened by housing costs.

It’s time to change the IDP’s definition of “affordability”! Rental units should be affordable at an average of 40% AMI, with a range of 30-70% AMI. Ownership units should be affordable at a range of 50-100% AMI."

People of color in Boston make much less than white people because of the combined forces of economic inequality and systemic racism. So not only does using high AMI’s exclude many Boston residents, but it discriminates against people of color. This is another reason that the IDP must redefine aff...

01/05/2022

En 2021, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (CSNDC) celebró su 40 aniversario sirviendo a Codman Square y South Dorchester.

Codman Square NDC ofrece cupones de cursos para compradores de vivienda de Framework al 50% de la tarifa de registro normal.

Compre ahora para obtener el descuento, tome el curso en línea y reciba un certificado de comprador de vivienda por primera vez al completar los requisitos del curso.

Cómo obtener el descuento y registrarse:

Haga clic en el botón "Comprar cupón" para comprar un cupón con descuento de $ 37.50 AHORA, hasta agotar existencias.

Espere un correo electrónico con su código de cupón con descuento.

Una vez que reciba su código de cupón, siga las instrucciones en el correo electrónico para acceder al enlace de registro de CSNDC Framework y use su código de cupón para registrarse.

Comuníquese con [email protected] si no ha recibido su cupón dentro de los 2 días hábiles posteriores a la compra.

Nota: los cupones vencen el 30 de junio de 2022.

One of the most important goals of CSNDC’s Real Estate Development efforts is to enable residents to purchase a home. We offer a wide variety of services to give people the knowledge and resources necessary to buy and maintain a home. We also help families stay in their home. From educational prog...

01/05/2022

In 2021, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (CSNDC) celebrated its 40th year serving Codman Square and South Dorchester.

Codman Square NDC is offering Framework homebuyer course coupons at 50% the normal registration fee.

Buy now to get the discount, take the online course, and receive a first-time homebuyer certificate upon completion of course requirements.

How to get the discount and register:

Click the “Purchase Coupon” button to buy a $37.50 discounted coupon NOW, while supplies last!

Wait for an email with your discounted coupon code.

Once you receive your coupon code, follow the directions in the email to access CSNDC’s Framework registration link and use your coupon code to register.

Please contact [email protected] if you haven’t received your coupon within 2 business days of purchase.

Note: Coupons expire on June 30, 2022.

One of the most important goals of CSNDC’s Real Estate Development efforts is to enable residents to purchase a home. We offer a wide variety of services to give people the knowledge and resources necessary to buy and maintain a home. We also help families stay in their home. From educational prog...

01/04/2022

"In addition to requiring developers to make 1/3 of new housing affordable, we need the IDP to redefine “affordable” to make sure that new housing is truly affordable. The current requirement is building housing that is out of reach for our communities and many Boston residents, including most people of color.

The IDP uses an extremely broken income statistic: “area median income,” or AMI. Rather than looking at incomes in Boston and in neighborhoods here, the AMI measures a typical household income based on cities all around Boston — including Brookline, Newton, and even part of New Hampshire. Using all these wealthy cities to calculate the AMI gives an income of $113,300 for a household of 4. Most households in Boston make nowhere near that amount!

Because the AMI is so far removed from Boston residents’ reality, affordable housing is often built for different income levels based on a “percentage of AMI.” (Further below are two visual aides for how to translate between “AMI levels” and incomes.) This gives the City of Boston the power to design its affordability requirements to truly reach low- and moderate-income households."

In addition to requiring developers to make 1/3 of new housing affordable, we need the IDP to redefine “affordable” to make sure that new housing is truly affordable. The current requirement is building housing that is out of reach for our communities and many Boston residents, including most pe...

01/03/2022

Despite an expected slight deceleration of housing prices nationally, many Mass. communities are predicted to still see large increases in 2022.

01/03/2022

""It's [landlords] responsibility to maintain their buildings, [and] landlords can afford to maintain their buildings," he said.

Technically, Adelaar, Gray, and their neighbours are not required to begin paying the hike until it's approved by the LTB.

Both of their buildings are owned by Starlight Investments, a large real estate company that's made headlines in the past after tenants complained about poor condition in their buildings."

Applications to increase rent above the legal guideline rose sharply last year, despite a provincial rent freeze.