Affordable Housing Projects Funding Available in Pittsfield

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) is seeking applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that have been allocated to the Trust for the purpose of creating affordable housing opportunities for Pittsfield residents.

The AHT has $500,000 in ARPA funding that it is seeking to award to affordable housing projects in Pittsfield that are eligible based upon the requirements.

The application process is a two-part process. Interested parties should submit a letter of interest to the Board to be reviewed at a meeting of the Trust. The initial review will determine the project's eligibility. If the Board determines the project is eligible, a full application for funding must be completed.

The Letter of Interest should provide a brief description of the proposed affordable housing project, how the project will meet the ARPA requirements, and a timeline for completion.

American Rescue Plan Act funds can be used for affordable housing production and preservation
of affordable housing. There are four core requirements:

1. Resident income restrictions:
a. 80 percent AMI or lower for projects located in the City's Qualified Census Tracts (See attached map- census tracts 9001, 9002, 9006)
b. 65 percent AMI or lower for projects located outside of the City's Qualified Census Tracts

2. Projects must be deed restricted as affordable housing for a minimum of 20 years
3. Tenant Protections
4. Housing Quality Standards

Funds can be used for new construction, substantial rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, predevelopment and site work, and land acquisition for affordable housing.

Either non-profit or for-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate a capacity to create or preserve affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate income households. Eligible projects must be located in Pittsfield.

Proposals that address priority needs, as described in the Affordable Housing Needs Assessment, will be given a strong preference. Other considerations include projects that demonstrate community support, capacity of the development team to complete the project within the proposed timeline, projects that leverage other sources of funding and projects that address an identified need in the City of Pittsfield. Projects that incorporate sustainable development principles and
design that matches the character of the neighborhood are strongly encouraged.

The Trust will review Letters of Interest at their monthly meeting(s). These meetings occur on the third Wednesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. If the Board determines that the project meets both the requirements of the ARPA funds and priorities for the Trust, applicants will be invited to submit a full application to the Board. Full Applications will be reviewed at the Boards's monthly meeting and applicants may be invited to present their project to the Board. The Trust expects to begin reviewing Letters of Interest at their meeting on July 17, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. This process will occur at each meeting until funds are awarded.

If awarded funds, ARPA funds must be fully expended their ARPA funds by the end of 2026. Letters of Interest should be submitted to housing@cityofpittsfield.org. For more information about the Trust, please see the City of Pittsfield's website www.cityofpittsfield.org under the Community Development tab.

 


Tags: community development,   

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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