HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984 Reading Housing Authority Annual ReportREADING HOUSING AUTHORITY
(W ANNUAL REPORT
1984
Following is a report of the Reading Housing Authority for the year 1984.
The Authority consists of a five - member Board, four elected by the voters of
the Town and one appointed by the State. They meet on the second Monday of each
month, with the Annual Meeting in April. The Board currently is comprised of he
following members:
Chairman Richard S. Dempster
633 Summer Avenue
Vice- Chairman Leonard F. Westra
11 Copeland Avenue
Treasurer William F. Rand, Jr.
104 Belmont Street
Asst. Treasurer Patricia J. Swain
256 West Street
Asst. Secretary Philip R.. White, Jr.
97•Prospect Street
Term Expires 198
Term Expires 198$
Term Expires Mayf1986
State Appointee
Term Expires 1986
Term Expires 198
tor At the Annual Meeting in April 1984, the above members were elected to Their
respective positions on the Board. Mrs. Janet Pierce was re= appointed Exe cut i�e
Director and therefore, Secretary of the Authority in accordance with the By -1,4ws.
The Authority administers an 80 -unit Housing for the Elderly Project, completed
in 1970, at Frank D. Tanner Drive which is funded through the Commonwealth of Massach-
usetts. To be eligible, a person must be 65 years of age or older, or, in the case of
a couple, one party must be at least 65. Handicapped, or disabled persons who are
unit. The new income limits
younger are also eligible if they can live in a standard
are $14,476 for a single person and $16,544 for a couple. The asset limit is 15,000.
The Authority also provides rental assistance with Federal funds througu the
HUD Section 8 Program to 48 families and 27 elderly in scattered apartments throughout
the Town. This Program has been in effect since 1975 and is now fully leased with 75
units. In conjunction with this Program, the Authority participates in the Section 8
Mobility Program with 77 other communities, whereby each honors the certificate'of
another through a reciprocal arrangement, giving an applicant more flexibility'in find-
ing suitable housing. In order to be eligible for this Program, the gross annual income
of families cannot exceed the new lower income limits, as follows:
1 Person
2 Persons
3 Persons
4 Persons
5 Persons
6 Persons
$11,300
$12,900
$14,550
$16,150
$17,450
$18,750
I
„
There
is no asset limit for this
Program, but
the interest
on any savings must
be added to
the income
of a participant,
and that
figure cannot exceed the income level
requirement.
Mrs. Patricia Renzello is
the Administrator
of the
Section 8 Program un-
der the supervision
of
the Executive Director and
the Authority.
The Authority also is funded through the State under the Chapter 707 Program
for rental assistance for 10 units for elderly and families. At this time there are
L� my two units, one family and one elderly, leased under this Program inasmuch as the
rents allowed are too low for the Reading market. Appeals to the State for increases
in the rents have not been satisfied as yet.
In March of 1984, the Authority made application to the State for funding under
the Chapter 705 Program for low- income family housing. Under this Program, tie Hous-
ing Authority may acquire ownership of existing 3 -4 bedroom units, or construcjt new
units on preferably Town -owned land. In May, the Governor's office announced jthe
award of $390,000.00 for 6 units of family housing to the Reading Housing Authority.
Since that time the Authority has been considering several directions in which to
take this Program, and some definite plans should be underway shortly after the first
of the new year.
Progress has been very slow on the Authority's Chapter 689 Program for conver-
sion of their house at 74 Bancroft Avenue to a Community Residence for retarded adults.
This has mainly been the result of changes in the original plans by the State's Archi-
tect. However, plans and specifications are now in the completion stage, and will be
ready for the bidding process early in the new year and the renovations should',, be
underway by Spring.
All Financial Statements for the above -named Programs are available forj inspec-
tion at the Authority's office at 22 Frank D. Tanner Drive.
The Housing for the Elderly Project at Frank D. Tanner Drive is continually
being improved and the Authority has taken advantage of State funds available for the
purpose of energy conservation in this all- electric development.
The tenants at Tanner Drive make good use of their Recreation Hall for their
monthly activities and the Council on Aging also uses the Hall for their Programs which
are open to all the elderly in the Town. The use of the Hall is also permitte d for
many social, educational, and health- related events by Town groups.
1984 has been a year of continuing progress in meeting the housing need's of
Reading's elderly and families, and the Authority looks forward to completion of their
newer ventures in the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
anet Pierce, Executive Director
and Secretary