City of Everett Housing Division

City of Everett First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program

With the receipt of a $400,000 Earmark from the FY23 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City of Everett is proud to announce the establishment of the “Everett First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program”. The First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program aims to provide financial assistance to eligible individuals and families in Everett, helping them overcome financial barriers to homeownership.

The program offers $20,000 in assistance to eligible applicants. The assistance is provided on a first -come, first-served basis based on the date and time of the receipt of completed application.
Click below to download the guidelines and applications. If you prefer a paper application, you can pick one up at the City of Everett Planning Department or either of the two Everett Public Library locations (Parlin Memorial Library – 410 Broadway; Shute Memorial Library – 781 Broadway).

Other Downpayment assistance resources:

The North Suburban Consortium (NSC)

The North Suburban Consortium (NSC) offers Down Payment Assistance loans (DPA) to income-eligible First Time Homebuyers (one who has had no ownership interest in a principal residence during the past 3 years OR a displaced homemaker or single parent who only owned a home with a former spouse while married) (FTHB) purchasing a condominium, townhome or single-family property in an NSC community (Arlington, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Winthrop). DPA can be used to assist with the down payment and closing costs, however, it cannot be used to reimburse previously paid earnest money deposit, funding housing reserve requirements, prepayment of life insurance premiums or to bridge the gap between purchase price and appraised value.

To learn more visit: HOME Program | Malden, MA

Click below to download the application:

Massachusetts Housing Partnership – One Mortgage

Homebuyer Resources – Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Masshousing:

First-Time Homebuyers in Massachusetts

MassHousing Down Payment Assistance Options:

First-Time Homebuyer Education

There are several programs to help you learn about the home buying process. They’ll teach you how to deal with credit issues, work with a Realtor, apply for a mortgage, and more.

The organizations below offer these First-Time Homebuyer classes:

Housing Education & Counseling Agencies | CHAPA – Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association

Workshop Calendar | My Mass Home

In its efforts to preserve the existing housing supply of owner-occupied affordable housing in the City of Everett, the City has created a Housing Rehabilitation Program, funded by the State’s Community Development Block Program (CDBG), administered through the City’s Department of Planning & Development. This Home Rehabilitation Program provides technical and financial assistance to residents who have limited means but wish to bring their residence up to code and make improvements to their home in order to maintain the residence as their primary residence. Additionally, rental units in owner-occupied properties may be brought up to code and improved, with the understanding that the owner shall rent those units to low-income households for an affordable rent for a term of 15 years. Staff in the Department of Planning & Development assist in providing rehabilitation specialist services to determine the repairs, upgrades, and renovations necessary (code compliance), develop work scopes, contracts, bidding support, and provide oversight of the construction process.

Loans awarded through this program are 0% interest, forgivable loans, with no payments required back to the City unless the property is sold within 15 years of receiving the funding. Loan forgiveness is calculated by decreasing 1/15th of the principal loan each year for 15 years. So, if an Everett resident receives $50,000 from the program and continues to own and occupy the residence for 15 years, the loan will be completely forgiven. Conversely, if the recipient sells their residence 10 years after the financial assistance is provided, the applicant would be required to pay the City 1/3rd (or, $16,667) of the principal amount upon selling the residence. In this scenario, no recurring monthly/annual payments would be required; repayment is only triggered if/when the residence is sold.

The City of Everett Rental Assistance Program is designed to provide temporary financial support to eligible residents who are facing financial hardship caused by the pandemic and are struggling to meet their rent payments. This program offers a one-time payment up to $2,000 to assist residents in covering rent payment arrearage, current rent, and/or future rent obligations. The assistance is provided directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis..

To apply:

Click below to download the guidelines and applications.

If you prefer a paper application, you can pick one up at the City of Everett Planning Department or any Everett Public Library location.

Online applications are available at Online Permit Center : Home – ViewPoint Cloud

Other available resources and helpful links for Renters

Emergency Rental Assistance administered by Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD). Residents of Everett may reach out ABCD at [email protected] to begin the application process.

Other services provided by ABCD include:

ABCD Housing Workshop – Malden Location

WORKSHOPS WILL BE ON SELECT WEDNESDAYS EACH MONTH (FROM 10:00AM TO 12:00PM).

Everett residents interested should contact ABCD at [email protected] to sign up.

For more information visit: Housing Workshops – ABCD Action for Boston Community Development.

CONNECT – The Neighborhood Developers and the City of Everett are partnering to offer dedicated office hours for Everett residents in need of rental or utility assistance.

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The City of Everett is currently hosting Housing Families Inc. for legal services office hours for Everett residents.

When: Every Third Thursday of the month from 4:00pm- 7:00pm

Where: Everett City Hall, Room 25, Everett MA 02149

No appointment required; First come-first serve.

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To apply for state-aided public housing and state-funded rental vouchers visit  Home – CHAMP.

To apply for Section 8 program and for State Aided Elderly (CH.667) and Family (CH.200) Housing Programs visit: Everett Housing Authority

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office of the Attorney General  has published the Attorney General’s Guide to Landlord/Tenant Rights which outlines the laws and regulations that govern rental agreement considerations,  tenancy, payment agreements, eviction, habitable living conditions, and housing discrimination. For more information, please visit the Office of the Attorney General or call 617-727-2200.

Due to demographics and development trends, affordable housing needs are expected to continue to increase in the City. The City of Everett’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance was established in 2016 and updated in 2021. The ordinance requires and incentivizes developers to deed-restrict at least fifteen percent (15%) of the units in any development containing at least 10 residential units as below-market rate housing opportunities for renters. This strategy aims to create mixed-income communities, ensuring that new developments provide housing opportunities for a range of income levels promoting diversity and inclusivity in neighborhoods throughout the City of Everett.

In all zoning districts, the inclusionary zoning provisions apply to any project or series of projects that results, in the aggregate, in a total of ten (10) or more dwelling units, whether by new construction or by the alteration, expansion, reconstruction, or change of existing residential or nonresidential space. For all projects subject to Inclusionary Zoning the City applies for the maximum percentage (70%) of Local Preference Units allowed by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). This means that a majority of the deed-restricted units created shall be dedicated to serve existing Everett residents.

Affordable housing produced through this regulation must be in compliance with the requirements set forth in M.G.L. c. 40B §§ 20-24 and other affordable housing programs developed by state, county, and local governments.

2024 HUD Income Limits

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area