Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund now accepting proposals in two categories: Rental assistance programs or development projects creating affordable housing units

The Somerville Affordable Housing Trust (SAHT) invites local residents, organizations, and businesses to submit applications for the funding of eligible affordable housing programs or projects via its annual distribution of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds.  A total of $1,200,402 in fiscal year 2018 CPA funds have been designated by the Somerville Community Preservation Committee for allocation by the Affordable Housing Trust to benefit residents of Somerville. These CPA Community Housing funds are available through two competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) processes to provide funding for:

1)      The creation, acquisition or preservation of affordable rental or home-ownership units in Somerville by developers of affordable housing.

2)      The support of affordable housing in Somerville by housing program providers (rental assistance programs, etc.).

The submission deadline for proposals is Wednesday, May 23, at 10 a.m. for Programs, and Thursday, May 24, at 10 a.m. for Development Projects. 

The RFP documents are available for download at the City of Somerville’s website at http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/affordable-housing-trust-fund by clicking on “Funding and Opportunities”. More information about eligible uses and funding priorities is available in pages 1-2 of each of the RFPs.

Via a separate funding process with a pre-application submission deadline of May 17, up to $2.3 million in CPA funds is also available for projects that preserve Somerville’s historic resources and expand and improve Somerville parks and recreation land, including $710,000 earmarked for open space acquisition.  For more information, please visit www.somervillema.gov/cpa.

Questions about these RFPs can be directed to Heidi Burbidge, Housing Programs Coordinator, City of Somerville, (617) 625-6600 x2587 or by email athburbidge@somervillema.gov.

For more information on the CPA, sign up for the CPA Email Newsletter by visiting the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa and clicking “Sign Up Now for CPA News” at the right-hand side of the page.

— City of Somerville