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The Belmont Housing Authority manages four developments with a total of 256 units of state-aided public housing. Belmont Village, built in 1950, has 100 units for veterans and families (that include 50 two-bedroom and 50 three-bedroom apartments) in twenty-five four-unit buildings. Sherman Gardens Apartments, built in 1971, with a total of 80 one-bedroom units and Waverley Oaks Apartments, built in 1976, with a total of 74 one-bedroom apartments provides housing for seniors (age 60 or older) and people with disabilities. Clark Lane, a two-unit group home,
provides housing for eight people with developmental disabilities.
The Authority also oversees two rental assistance programs that provide subsidies to 49 households so they can rent private apartments in Belmont and in other communities. Two are assisted by the state-funded Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and 47 by the Federal Section 8 Rental Assistance Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Dedham Housing Authority handles day-to-day operations and issues Certificates for the Section 8 program under a contract with the Belmont Housing Authority.
The Belmont Housing Authority has six employees: the Executive Director, two administrative staff members, and the Maintenance Superintendent and two maintenance personnel. A five member Board of Commissioners is responsible for establishing policies.
Waiting lists for the family and elderly/disabled developments as well as the Section 8 Voucher Program are currently open and applications may be obtained Monday through Thursday between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. and on Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 12:00 noon at the main office located at 59 Pearson Road or by calling (617) 484-2160. Applicants must have incomes at or below state-established income limits. The selection of tenants for openings is based on family size, position on the waiting list, and emergency status. Among non-emergency applications, preference is given to veterans and Belmont residents. The current annual income limits are:
Household size Income
One Person 46,300.00
Two People 52,950.00
Three People 59,550.00
Four People 66,150.00
Five People 71,450.00
Six People 76,750.00
Seven People 82,050.00
Eight or More People 87,350.00
Rents for the elderly/disabled developments at set at 30% of net income and include all utility costs (heat and electricity). Rents at Belmont Village are set at 27% of tenant net income but do not include utilities (i.e. tenants pay their own heat and electricity). As of January 1, 2008, the waiting list for Belmont Village include 1,201 families waiting for a two-bedroom unit and 61 families waiting for a three-bedroom unit. There were 135 elderly households and 129 non-elderly households on the waiting list for units at Sherman Gardens and Waverley Oaks Apartments.
Although the routine operations are partially funded from tenant rents that are based upon a percentage of the tenant's income, the Authority also continues to implement significant property improvements that are funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Among the projects that were initiated during 2007 were the design work for the replacement of the fire alarms at Sherman Gardens Apartments; design work for the repair and replacement of all exterior steps at Sherman Gardens Apartments; a paving project to increase the available parking for residents at Waverley Oaks Apartments; and a preliminary study of the insulation at Belmont Village. The Authority also completed some additional upgrades to the fire alarm systems at Sherman Gardens Apartments and continued to work with the Town of Belmont to
improve accommodations and access for the elderly and handicapped and disabled residents living at Waverley Oaks and Sherman Gardens Apartments. As part of a new initiative, the Authority applied to the Department of Housing and Community Development and was approved for funding under the Accelerated Emergency Response Pilot Program. The funding will be used to replace a retaining wall at Sherman Gardens Apartments.
The Authority further renewed its contract with Springwell to provide in-home services and care management to the residents of Sherman Gardens and Waverley Oaks Apartments through the Care Connections program that includes an on-site Housing Care Coordinator.
The Authority would like to express special thanks to Representative Will Brownsberger and to his legislative aide, Barbara Miranda, for their successful efforts on behalf of the Housing Authority in obtaining funding from DHCD for maintenance and modernization projects; and to the Board of Selectmen, Police and Fire Departments, Community Development Office, Health Department, Highway Department, Light Department, Water Department and the Council on Aging for their assistance and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald L. Becker, Chairman
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