Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 24, 2020 Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Spring Season?!! AC SPECIAL Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2010 FORD FUSION SE 4 Cyl., Auto., 1 Previous Owner, Most Pwr. Options incl. Keyless Entry, & Pwr. Sunroof. Only 70K Miles! ALL TRADES WELCOME! $5,995 Easy Financing Available! Loaded with Leather Interior, Moon Roof, Only 106K Miles, Warranty! PRICED TO SELL! $4,995 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! 2011 MERCURY MILAN PREMIER CPC approves funds for rental assistance By Barbara Taormina T he Community Preservation Committee (CPC) voted to recommend the Malden Redevelopment Authority’s (MRA) application for $250,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for the city’s rental assistance program to the City Council for approval, but members had questions about how the program will work. The CPA money will be combined with $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID-19 funding to pay one month’s rent for about 350 Malden households. MRA Community Development Director Alex Pratt joined the CPC’s remote meeting Monday night to answer questions about the program. CPC member Inna Babitskaya asked about the budget and said it would be good to see some details about the program. Pratt said the MRA expected thousands of Malden residents to apply for the assistance, which will be done through housing service providers or agencies that assist residents with housing. The housing service providers will review applications and documentation that verifies incomes, rental leases and other sources of assistance that applicants receive. Housing service providers will forward applications of those who are eligible for assistance to the MRA, which will review them and collect additional fi nancial information from landlords. Once applications are DELAYS | FROM PAGE 1 505 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Tel: 617-387-1120 www.gkdental.com • Family Dentistry • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers/Lumineers • Dental Implants • All on 4 Dental Implants • Emergency Dentist • Kid Friendly Dentist • Root Canals • Dentures • Invisalign Braces • Snap On Smile • Teeth Whitening We are the smile care experts for your entire family approved by the MRA, checks will be cut and sent directly to landlords. The MRA expects each applicant to receive an average of $2,000 for one month’s rent. Pratt said that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which oversees the CDBG program, allows 20 percent of a grant to be spent on administrative costs but the MRA is committed to keeping its costs at or below 15 percent. He was not sure what the housing service providers would expect to be paid for application intakes and eligibility reviews. CPC members asked about the administrative costs, which Pratt said would cover salary for staff reviewing applications, translation costs, fi nancial reviews and collecting W-9 tax forms and other documentation. Still, 15 percent on overhead means that $112,500 will be spent on administering a $750,000 assistance program. CPC member Lisa Sulda asked if CPA money could be used exclusively for rental assistance, but Pratt said the application process and review is to make sure funds could be used according to guidelines. Pratt was not sure when the MRA would receive the $500,000 from HUD. Malden belongs to an aff ordable housing coalition with seven other communities, and they must all submit amendments to their annual action plan before the money can be released. “It could be two weeks, it could be four weeks,” said Pratt, who, nevertheless focused on midThe councillors said they would have preferred moving forward considering each item individually, but they joined other councillors who voted to adjourn. They stressed their votes did not affect the city’s ability to establish a rental assistance program and the proposal being considered would only serve a few hundred households, not the thousands that need the help. The rental assistance program being considered would combine $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID-19 funds with $250,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) money. It is expected to assist more than 300 Malden households with one month of rent. “We demand more funding for In House Dental Plan for $399 (Cleanings, X-Rays, Exams twice a year and 20% OFF Dental work) Schedule your FREE Consultations today this program, and a public process to achieve it,” the councillors wrote. “With a larger allocation from our Community Preservation Act account, which has millions of dollars on hand and is funded with taxpayer money, Malden is poised to create an immensely bold and broadly eff ective rental May as the approximate time rental assistance checks would start going out. The greatest concern among CPC members was that $750,000 is not enough to meet the need in Malden. “I think the $250,000 is a worthy thing,” said Sulda. “I’m just trying to think if it should be more and if we can aff ord it.” CPC Treasurer Ken Antonucci said the community preservation fund could cover this year’s affordable housing initiatives that include $510,000 for the affordable housing component of Bread of Life’s Under One Roof project, $100,000 for a security deposit assistance program and the $250,000 for rental assistance. “If the MRA came back for a second round of funding, there is FY20 money in reserve that we could use, and FY21 money is right around the corner,” said Antonucci. CPC Chair Julie Orsino said once the committee sees the metrics of the rental assistance program, they will have a better idea on how to move forward, particularly by collaborating with the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board. She added that there should absolutely be a way to amend the MRA application to provide another round of funding. CPC members urged Pratt to have the MRA prioritize applicants who are unemployed or those who have school-age children. They also asked if the program could include reaching out to landlords for discounts on rent. assistance program, on par with the true need in the community. We want to hear more about how much CPC [Community Preservation Committee] money is available, and to discuss with the public how best to maximize it.” On Wednesday, the CPC posted a response to the councillors on its Facebook page. “The Malden CPC has worked collaboratively with city leadership to streamline an application for rental assistance so the committee can present it to the city council,” wrote the committee. “The impact of disrupting last night’s council meeting meant the City Council was not able to take action to fund three aff ordable housing initiatives for Fiscal Year 2020 (which ends June 2020) totaling over $860,000.” In addition to $250,000 for rental assistance, this week’s agenda included the CPC’s recommendation to approve $510,000 for the housing included in Bread of Life’s Under One Roof project and DELAYS | SEE PAGE 11
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