THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025 Page 21 HomeBASE | FROM Page 7 grant describes an immigrant from the perspective of the country they are leaving. People emigrate from one country and immigrate to another. The mechanics of HomeBASE are pretty simple. Rental units are rented at market rates with participating families obligated to pay part of the rent depending on a family’s assets and HomeBASE supplying the additional cost. Generally, the tenant will pay 30%, HomeBASE, 70%, with the goal of the burden eventually shifting to families. To ensure that, families must demonstrate economic responsibility and accrue savings before they can access aid. “We make sure they can aff ord an apartment after HomeBASE,” Brice said. “We match tenants and landlords,” Housing Families Associate Director of Shelter Programs and Everett resident Carlos Acevedo added. “We refer families that will make a good fi t. We’ll fi gure out how much they can aff ord. They have to be saving money and we have to be able to see it.” Tenants are also required to work with a Case Manager and are prohibited from accessing future aid if they violate leases. Case Managers will work closely with tenants to prepare them to leave the program, check-in with them monthly and tailor plans for tenants focusing on long-term plans for housing and employment. The program is for families, but landlords can fashion leases as they would with anyone else to prohibit pets or smoking if they want and meet the potential tenants before a lease is signed. “Your property, your rules,” Brice told the landlords in attendance. “We respect landlord rights and teach tenants about things,” Acevedo said. “We do everything we can so we don’t have bad relationships with landlords because those are the people we need. If you don’t want something, we’ll go back and ask tenants if they can abide by the rules, or fi nd someone else. We’ve had to have that diffi cult conversation. You can put things in a lease and break it if tenants are not following them.” Brice doesn’t feel that will be a problem. “Every situation is diff erent, but I’ve never seen a lease broken,” she said. “We have a large majority of tenants who won’t be messing around. They want a home.” Still, she added, “if it’s not working out between landlords and tenants, the Case Manager will prepare for a move. There’s a program to help them move.” Housing Families also informs tenants of their right to a livable apartment, with many communities having housing inspectors to ensure that. Attempts are made to keep families and children in schools in their present community. “People want to stay where they are,” Brice said. However, that is not always possible. Landlords will receive a bonus payment equal to one month rent for joining the program and have HomeBASE help cover moving costs, including security deposits. In some circumstances, HomeBASE will buy a refrigerator if a landlord informs them that they don’t provide one. Housing Families considers the program a win-win for landlords and tenants. Landlords will get reliable tenants and a source to cover costs, and tenants will get support to help them fi nd a home and stay there. Only a handful of property owners attended. Grace Wu of Everett said the program “seems like a great deal with benefi ts for everyone.” “It’s a great program,” Everett’s Aff ordable Housing Coordinator Zerina Grace agreed. “It provides a permanent solution instead of a temporary solution for housing. There are a decent number of people that need this.” ~ School Bus Drivers Wanted ~ 7D Licensed School Bus Drivers Malden Trans is looking for reliable drivers for the new school year. We provide ongoing training and support for licensing requirements. Applicant preferably lives local (Malden, Everett, Revere). Part-time positions available and based on AM & PM school hours....15-30 hours per week. Good driver history from Registry a MUST! If interested, please call David @ 781-322-9401. CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WANTED Compensation: $28/hour School bus transportation company seeking active CDL drivers who live LOCALLY (Malden, Everett, Chelsea and immediate surrounding communities). - Applicant MUST have BOTH S and P endorsements Good driver history from Registry a MUST! - Part-time hours, BUT GUARANTEED 20-35 HOURS PER WEEK depending on experience. Contact David @ 781-322-9401. Lawn and Yard Care SNOW PLOWING *REASONABLE RATES * PROMPT SERVICE * PARKING LOTS USA 781-521-9927 Call Driveways from $35
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