H3988 — An Act relative to establishing the Barnstable home center for housing resources

Summary

An Act relative to establishing the Barnstable home center for housing resources

Bill Text

• Full text Current

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This bill establishes the Barnstable Home Center and Barnstable Home Resource Fund, providing financial support and resources for housing stability targeted at seniors and first-time homebuyers in Barnstable.

• Chapter 23B

  Section 37. (a) For the purposes of section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: “Center”, the Barnstable Home Center. “Executive office”, the executive office of housing and livable communities. “Safe senior home program”, a program offering grants of up to $5,000 for eligible homeowners aged 60 and older earning less than 80 per cent of area median income to replace aging heating systems. Additional costs can be covered through 0 per cent interest deferred loans. “Senior loan repair program”, a program to provide 0 per cent interest deferred payment home repair loans for seniors aged 62 and older earning less than 80 per cent of the area median income. Eligible repairs shall include minor fixes and critical safety upgrades, with loan amounts based on health and safety necessity.

  This addition establishes definitions for terms used in the new section regarding housing support programs.

• Chapter 23B

  (b) There shall be established within the executive office the Barnstable Home Center, which shall provide financial resources, training and counseling services to support housing stability and access for residents of the city known as the town of Barnstable.

  This creates the Barnstable Home Center to offer housing stability resources for the town of Barnstable.

• Chapter 23B

  (c) The center’s services shall include: (i) financial resources for homebuyers and homeowners, including: (A) grants and low-interest loans for first-time homebuyers, including income-eligible seniors seeking to downsize or relocate to accessible housing; (B) emergency repair grants for income-eligible homeowners to address urgent safety and health hazards; and (C) financial support for qualified first-time homebuyers through the city known as the town of Barnstable homes initiative to ensure homes are affordable and meet specific income guidelines;...

  This details the services the Barnstable Home Center will provide for homebuyers and homeowners.

• Chapter 23B

  (d) The center shall maintain a transparent application and reporting process for all grants and loans issued.

  This mandates transparency in the application and reporting of grants and loans from the center.

• Chapter 23B

  (e) The center shall, in consultation with the executive office, promulgate rules and regulations to implement and develop operational guidelines for the center and this section.

  This allows for the development of operational guidelines for the center.

• Chapter 23B

  (f) The executive office shall prepare an annual report on the center that shall include: ...

  This requires an annual report on the center's activities and effectiveness.

• Chapter 29

  Section 2KKKKKK. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund, to be known as the Barnstable Home Resource Fund. It shall consist of amounts credited to the fund in accordance with this section. The secretary of the executive office of housing and livable communities shall be the custodian of the fund.

  This establishes the Barnstable Home Resource Fund to support the financial resources for the Barnstable Home Center.

• Chapter 29

  (b) The fund shall consist of: (i) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) interest earned on money in the fund; and (iii) federal grants and other gifts, grants and donations.

  This defines the sources of funding for the Barnstable Home Resource Fund.

• Chapter 29

  (c) Money in the fund shall be expended to carry out the goals of the Barnstable home center established in section 37 of chapter 23B...

  This states how the money in the fund will be used to support the goals of the Barnstable Home Center.

• Chapter 29

  (d) The city known as the town of Barnstable shall annually, not later than December 31 of each year, report on the activity of the fund to the executive office of housing and livable communities.

  This mandates an annual report on the fund's activities to ensure oversight.

Sponsors

• Kip A. Diggs · Primary

Subjects