Report of the Housing Authority 2009
The purpose of the Southwick Housing Authority is to determine public housing needs for persons of low income, to develop such housing, and to manage public housing programs under its jurisdiction within the Town of Southwick. In the absence of a redevelopment agency in Southwick, the Authority shall also act as the town's redevelopment authority when there is a specific need for redevelopment activity. The Authority consists of a board of 5 members – four elected in town elections and one appointed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Southwick Housing Authority was established at the annual town meeting on 16 March 1970. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issued the charter for the Authority on 24 July 1970. It is a separate corporation from the Town of Southwick, similar to the Regional School District. The Authority and its tenants receive services from the town in the same manner as other businesses and town residents. In recognition of those services the Authority pays to the Town payments in lieu of property taxes and water and sewage fees at the standard rates.
The Authority is funded by the rents it receives and by grants received from the Commonwealth and the Federal Government. Rents cover day-to-day operations, and grants are used to fund major repairs and renovations. By state law, 10% of Southwick's Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds must be used to help provide affordable community housing. Such funds are used by the Authority on a project-by-project basis when approved by the town meeting. The Authority has decided to use CPA funds to make existing public housing more affordable to the tenants by increasing their energy efficiency.
MEETINGS:
Regular meetings are normally held at 5:00 PM on the third Wednesday of each month in the activity room of the Depot Court project, 12 Depot Street, Southwick, MA. The regular meeting for the month of May is normally the annual meeting of the Authority. Special meetings are held as required. All meetings are posted at least 48 hours in advance on the town bulletin board at the Town Clerk’s Office.
ADMINISTRATION:
Executive Director - | Henry C. Engelhardt III |
Administrative Assistant - | Phylis Petronino |
Office Address - | 12 Depot Street |
Southwick, MA 01077 | |
Office Phone - | 569-3161 |
TENANTS ASSOCIATION:
President - | Phylis Petronino |
Apt #3, 14 A Depot Street | |
Southwick, MA 01077 |
Tenant Association meetings are held at 1:30 PM on the third Friday of each month in the activity room of the Depot Court housing project, 12 Depot Street, Southwick, MA.
REPORT:
The authority manages the following housing programs:
515/Section 8 - This federally-aided public housing program provides 40 apartments for elderly and handicapped persons at Fred Ahrend Circle. They are owned by the Southwick-Granville Senior Citizens Housing Corporation, and managed by the Southwick Housing Authority on a no-fee basis. The project has 30 one-bedroom apartments for the elderly, 6 two-bedroom apartments for the elderly, and 4 two-bedroom apartments for the handicapped. To be eligible for housing at this project, the household of the applicant must have no more than three members, have one or more members of the household who is at least 62 years of age or handicapped, and have a gross household income not greater than $43,450.001 per year. The rent charged is 30% of the net household income, and utilities are included in the rent.
Chapter 667-l - This state-aided public housing program provides 48 apartments for elderly and handicapped persons at 12-16 Depot Street. The project has 44 apartments for the elderly and 4 apartments for the handicapped. To be eligible for this program, the household of the applicant must have no more than two members, have one or more members who is at least 60 years of age or handicapped, and have a net income not greater than $43,450.001 per year. The rent charged is 30% of the net household income, and utilities are included in the rent.
Chapter 689-1 - This state-aided public housing program provides group living for 6 mentally retarded persons at 212 Sheep Pasture Road, Southwick, MA. The median age of residents is 50 years. Full-time care for the residents is provided by the Berkshire County Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. under the supervision of the state Department of Developmental Services. To be eligible for this program, the applicant must be mentally retarded, be at least 18 years of age, and have an income not greater than $43,450.001. You may direct inquiries concerning eligibility and selection for this housing/educational program to the Berkshire County Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc., 395 South Street, PO Box 2, Pittsfield, MA 01202 or call (413) 499-4241.
Chapter 689-2 - This state-aided public housing program provides group living for 8 mentally ill and mentally retarded elderly persons at 18 Depot Street, Southwick, MA. Full-time care for the residents is provided by the Center for Human Development, Inc. under the supervision of the state Department of Mental Health. To be eligible for this program, the applicant must be mentally ill, be at least 60 years of age, and have an income not greater than $43,450.001. You may direct inquiries concerning eligibility and selection for this housing and educational program to the Carson Center for Human Services, 20 Broad Street, Westfield, MA 01085. Telephone: (413) 572-4108 or FAX: (413) 572-4137.
Chapter 705 - This state-aided public housing program provides 6 units of rental housing for low-income families. To be eligible for this program, the household of the applicant must have no more than eight members, and have a net income not greater than $62,1002 per year. The rent charged is 27% of the net household income. Water is included in the rent, but tenants pay all other utilities.
Activities during 2009:
In conjunction with contract inspectors and planners from the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Authority prepared an updated a list of long-term capital needs for repairs and modernization of low income public housing. Priorities for future projects at Depot Court are: Replacement of locksets, replacement of countertops and sinks, installation of emergency lights in hallways, and miscellaneous electrical system replacements.
Engineering and Land Solutions completed plans and specifications for the renovations of the porch enclosures at Ahrend Circle. The enclosures are 30 years old and need to be replaced. It is planned that the project will go to bid in March 2010. The estimated cost of the project is $65,000.00 to be paid for from project reserves.
The Authority applied for a USDA federal grant in the amount of $200,000.00 to repave the sidewalks, driveways and parking areas at Ahrend Circle. The project also includes repair of one sewer manhole, adding a leaching pit for driveway runoff, and installing a dry sewer pipe to the rear of the project for future connection to the Southwick sewage system.
Energy savings insulation improvements were installed in one of the Authority's family housing units using an energy improvements program funded through the Valley Opportunity Council. This is the second round of improvements provided from that source.
PLANS FOR 2010
The Authority is planning to use a portion of its share of Community Preservation Committee funds for installing new energy-efficient furnaces and improvements in insulation in some of its family housing units. At the end of 2009, the work to develop plans and specifications prior to bidding was nearly complete. Other sources of energy savings funding will be combined with the CPC funds to support this project.
Due to the exponential increase in administrative requirements imposed by the central government, the Authority reviewed the cost effectiveness of continuing the management of the Ahrend Circle Apartments. It was determined that continued management by the authority would require the hiring and training of at least one more administrator to handle the project paperwork load. To do so would require a large budget increase and would not be cost effective. Because of this, the Authority is working with USDA, HUD, and HAP, Inc. to transfer management of the project to HAP, Inc. HAP is a non-profit corporation that manages other public housing units in the Town of Southwick. It also manages other 515/Section 8 projects in the area. It is anticipated that transfer of project management will occur on or after 1 April 2010. Transfer of management to HAP, Inc. will enable the Authority to reduce the size of its administrative staff from two to one. The reduction in force will be accomplished through retirement attrition.
Respectfully submitted,
Henry C. Engelhardt III