Somerville Community Corporation Inc

THE SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY CORPORATION (SCC) IS A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR SUSTAINING THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE AS A VIBRANT, DIVERSE AND TOLERANT COMMUNITY. WE OFFER SERVICES AND LEAD COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THAT SUPPORTS LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND INCREASE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.

RENTAL PROGRAMS - SIX OF SCC'S RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ARE OWNEDDIRECTLY BY SCC: THE 12 ONE AND TWO-BEDROOM UNITS AT 110 WALNUTSTREET; THE 6 THREE-BEDROOOM UNITS AT 109 GILMAN STREET; THE 18 TWO,THREE AND FOUR BEDROOM UNITS AT 33 BOW STREET; THE 14 SINGLE ROOMOCCUPANCY UNITS ON SEWALL STREET; THE 42 UNITS AT LINDEN STREET; AND THE 8 ONE AND TWO-BEDROOM UNITS AT 75 CROSS STREET. ALL OF SCC'S RENTAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING 161 UNITS OWNED THROUGH LLCS, ARE MANAGED BY WINGATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, UNDER CONTRACT WITH SCC. THIS PROGRAM IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING HOUSING FOR RESIDENTS, HOWEVER THE DEPRECIATION ON THESE BUILDINGS IS $849,054 CAUSING A NON-CASH LOSS TO SCC.

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT - SCC DEVELOPS AND PRESERVES AFFORDABLE RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP UNITS AND COMMERCIAL SPACE IN SOMERVILLE TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY OF THE CITY. IN TOTAL SCC MANAGES 117 SCATTERED SITE AFFORDABLE UNITS DIRECTLY, WHILE CONTRACTING WITH A THIRD-PARTY PROPERTY MANAGER TO MANAGE ANOTHER 219 UNITS IN LARGER MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES.HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REAL ESTATE TEAM'S 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: -ADDING 8 ADDITIONAL AFFORDABLE UNITS TO OUR PORTFOLIO, DUE TO OUR ACQUISITION OF 35/37 LINDEN STREET AND REHAB OF 72 MARSHALL ST.-CLOSING SALES ON 6 OF THE 11 UNITS DEVELOPED AT 163 GLEN ST (WITH THE REMAINING UNITS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022).-ADDING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST TO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM TO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF SERVICES AND ENGAGEMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR PROPERTIESSCC'S REAL ESTATE WORK-IN-PROGRESS CURRENTLY INCLUDES SERVING AS A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER ON THREE LARGER MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE. THE LARGEST AND FURTHEST ALONG OF THESE IS THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CLARENDON HILL, AN EXISTING SOMERVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY (SHA) SITE. SCC IS PARTNERING WITH SHA, PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING (POAH), AND REDGATE TO DEVELOP 591 TOTAL UNITS OF NEW HOUSING: 216 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, 80 NEW MODERATE-INCOME UNITS, AND 295 NEW MARKET RATE UNITS. CONSTRUCTION ON THE AFFORDABLE UNITS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN MID-2022.

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY - SCC WORKS TO PRESERVE THE CITY'S SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND COUNTERS YEARS OF UNEQUAL OPPORTUNITY BY OFFERING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE FIND GOOD LOCAL JOBS, ACHIEVE FINANCIAL STABILIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND MAKE THE DREAM OF AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP A REALITY.IN 2021, THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TEAM HAD THE FOLLOWING ACHIEVEMENTS:FIRST SOURCE PROGRAM-SERVED 247 JOB SEEKERS-PLACED 73 JOB SEEKERS INTO NEW JOBS-HELD 58 JOB WORKSHOPS AND REACHED 433 JOB SEEKERS-AVERAGE STARTING WAGE AT INTAKE WAS $16.80-AVERAGE HIRED WAGE WAS $19.80ASSET BUILDING PROGRAM-HELD 11 HOMEBUYER EDUCATION SESSIONS WITH 410 PARTICIPANTS-312 OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS EARNED LESS THAN 80% HUD MEDIAN INCOME-HAD 52 ONE-ON-ONE INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL COACHING SESSIONS ON TOPICS THAT INCLUDED FAIR HOUSING, BUDGETING, FINANCES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND MORE.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING - SCC HELPS TO MAKE SOMERVILLE MORE LIVABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND INCLUSIVE BY INCREASING AND DIVERSIFYING HOUSING OPTIONS, AS WELL AS ORGANIZING IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICIES.-WE REGULARLY ORGANIZE TENANTS OF "EXPIRING USE" PROPERTIES TO ENSURE THAT RENTS STAY AFFORDABLE. WE HAVE LED EXPIRING USE CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND HELPED TO PRESERVE MORE THAN 200 AFFORDABLE UNITS-WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE AND THE HOUSING OF OFFICE STABILITY, WE HAVE SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO PASS THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE AT A STATEWIDE LEVEL TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE PRODUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACROSS THE STATE-WE CONTINUE TO ADD OUR NAME AND SUPPORT TO TOPA (TENANTS OPPORTUNITY PROTECTIONS ACT), WHICH IS LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS TENANTS IN HAVING "RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL", WHEN A BUILDING IS GOING TO BE SOLD, THUS ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY DISPLACEMENT-EARLY DURING THE YEAR, WE SIGNED THE "GUARANTEED HOUSING STABILITY ACT" THAT CREATED AN EVICTION MORATORIUM, SO THAT FAMILIES COULD REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES DURING THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC-LAUNCHED A COALITION WITH SEVERAL LOCAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING MAHA, IN SUPPORT OF ARPA FUNDING FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERSCOMMUNITY ORGANIZING & TENANT OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS ALSO INCLUDE:-ASSISTED 25 TENANTS WITH OBTAINING SUBSIDIZED HOUSING EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE (SHERA)-KEPT 164 TENANTS CONTINUOUSLY INFORMED REGARDING THE CLARENDON HILL REDEVELOPMENT-REACHED THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AT EVENTS SUCH AS BOYNTON YARDS JOB FAIR, OKTOBERFEST, AND SOMERVILLE WINTER FARMERS MARKET-DELIVERED OVER 170 GIFT CARDS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON-FACILITATED THE DONATION OF OVER 200 POUNDS OF FOOD TO SOMERVILLE HOMELESS COALITION