Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 22, 2022 Everett partners with American Red Cross M ayor Carlo DeMaria recently announced that the city is partnering with the American Red Cross to hold the Sound the Alarm Event on Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will be installing free smoke alarms to those who make an appointment. Seven people die every day from a home fire, and working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a fire in half. The City of Everett is hoping to help change that by installing free smoke alarms in as many homes as possible. Preparing for an unpredictable disaster like a house fire by ensuring your home has properly working smoke alarms is an important precaution to take. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800564-1234, or you can learn more by visiting www. SoundTheAlarm.org/MA for English speakers and www.ActivaTuAlarma.org for Spanish. AUTOTECH $$ CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! $$ GET YOUR VEHICLE SPRING READY! Our Spring Service includes: • Complete Safety Check • AC Check • Engine Light Check • Suspension Check with Oil Change Special 2006 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 2015 HYUNDAI TUSCON Only $39.95 Town Car, Signature Series, Every Option, Only 140K Miles, Warranty. TRADES WELCOME! $5,995 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! family since 1958 • 64 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! (Most vehicles) Warranty, Only 89K Miles! 4X4, Most Power Options, Heated Seats, Back-Up Camera, Heated Seats, Back-Up Camera, Warranty, Only 89K Miles! PRICE REDUCED! $13,900 We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! City receives another $825K in CDBG funding F By Christopher Roberson or the second time this year, the city has received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) totaling $825,000. The fi rst CDBG grant for the same amount was awarded in February. Therefore, Everett has received a total of $1.6 million in CDBG funding this year. Planning Director Matthew Lattanzi said $40,000 will go to Housing Families Inc., $60,000 will go to Bread of Life, $35,000 will go to For Kids Only and $30,000 will go to Mystic Valley Elder Services. The remaining $438,000 will be used to support the Housing Rehabilitation Program. “Assuming an average allocation of $36,500 per unit, this equates to twelve units eligible for rehabilitation,” said Lattanzi. “Residents can apply for zero percent interest loans COUNCILLOR | FROM PAGE 1 lo DeMaria, said the Planning Department always informs new developers of the city’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. “We’ve had conversations with developers to make sure that they understand the number of units that they’re required to do,” she said, adding that there have been no major violations. “We haven’t had any pushback when they understand what that is going to be.” In terms of enforcement, (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 1236 EasternAve • Malden Deveney said the Inspectional Services Department is responsible for monitoring each property to ensure that the affordable housing requirement is fulfi lled. “The goal is to encourage smart development in the city,” she said. In addition, she said the city is looking to hire an affordWard 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins recently called attention to the number of affordable housing units in the city. (Photo Courtesy of ECTV) able housing coordinator by the end of the month. Deveney said that individual will be responsible for working for home repair projects and, if the property owner continues to own and live on the premises for a certain number of years, the loan is 100 percent forgivable.” Like the February grant, the city received the maximum amount available from the state Department of Housing and Community Development. “These funds go a long way in supporting organizations, which utilize the funds to directly benefi t Everett residents,” said Lattanzi. He said CDBG funds are used for projects and programs that are not included in the city’s annual budget. One example of this use is the Homeowner Rehabilitation loan program. “This provides a direct benefi t to homeowners who occupy the houses that they own,” said Lattanzi. “The loans are dedicated solely to income-qualifi ed individuals. They are completely forgivable if the individual remains in the house for a certain amount of years, thus encouraging our longtime residents to apply for the grant, rather than investors capitalizing on the grant.” He said that in prior years CDBG funds have been used for aff ordable housing projects, Housing Production studies and small business assistance. CDBG money can also be used to defray the cost of projects even if they are funded by the city. Although this is not the case for this year’s budget, Lattanzi said the funds have been used to reduce of the cost of budgeted items, including park designs, beautification projects and an awning program for Broadway businesses. “By funding these, it helps to mitigate the total city budget, which means the fi nancial burden is lessened on the taxpayer,” he said. with state offi cials and nonprofit organizations to find funding sources for aff ordable housing. “We have an organization that is going before the Planning Board right now because they want to do 100 percent aff ordable development,” said Deveney, adding that such a project is a prime example of how aff ordable housing funds could be used. Regarding lottery information, Deveney said the lottery for the Townhomes at St. Therese has ended. However, she said the lottery for The 600 Apartment Complex will be held in the coming months. “I’m not aware of any other lotteries going on right now,” she said. The committee voted unanimously to refer the matter to the Mayor’s Offi ce. Spring is Here!
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