FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 2021
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Patricia Resende (401) 529-3207
City rolls out two initiatives to address residents’ housing needs
PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of East Providence has rolled out two new initiatives to assist residents negatively impacted by COVID-19. Mayor Bob DaSilva, together with the City’s Finance Department and Office of Community Development, has rolled out a Housing Assistance Program and an opportunity for Tax Sale relief.
The Housing Assistance Program will provide assistance to eligible tenants/homeowners who are facing financial hardship, specifically due to the pandemic and are at risk of eviction or foreclosure. (See packet information and application below)
In addition, Mayor DaSilva also signed Executive Order 2021-004, which postpones the annual tax sale process to December 2021. With the tax sale scheduled for May 1, 2022, this will allow the taxpayer additional time to become current and therefore not be subject to the $300 levy fee. (See Executive Order 2021-004 below)
“Our City’s residents are facing challenging times during this pandemic,” Mayor DaSilva said. “With these two initiatives, we are able to provide our eligible resident tenants, landlords/homeowners with some of relief from financial hardship during a difficult time.”
Housing Assistance Program:
Information Packet
The Housing Assistance Program is designed for eligible tenants/homeowners who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19, and are at risk of eviction or foreclosure that might result in becoming homeless. Owner occupied landlords are eligible for this program and may also initiate on behalf of their tenants.
Type of Assistance
Tenants:
- The Housing Assistance Program will provide up to three (3) months in rent to stay in current unit.
- Approved assistance payments will be issued directly to landlords.
Homeowners:
- The Housing Assistance Program will provide up to three (3) months for mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure.
- Payments will be made to the provider of such services on behalf of an individual or family, and not directly to an individual or family.
Eligibility
Tenants:
- Rent an apartment in East Providence
- Be or have been unemployed or underemployed beginning March 1, 2020 or after due to the pandemic (retirees exempt)
- Have been current on rent payments as of March 1, 2020
- Have less than $5,000 in nonretirement, liquid assets. Non-retirement, liquid assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, investments and cash value of life insurance
- Meet household income limits
Homeowners:
- Own a one-to four family property or condominium in East Providence
- Be or have been unemployed, underemployed, or not receiving rent beginning March 1, 2020 or after due to the pandemic (retirees exempt)
- Have been current on mortgage payments as of March 1, 2020
- Have less than $5,000 in non-retirement, liquid assets. Non-retirement, liquid assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, investments and cash value of life insurance
- Meet household income limits
Total Gross Household Income Must Be Under the Limits Below
1 Person -$48,750
2 Person -$55,700
3 Person-$62,650
4 Person -$69,600
5 Person -$75,200
6 Person-$80,750
7 Person-$86,350
8 Person-$91,900
How is Household Income defined?
- Household income consists of current gross income from all sources including social security, pension, salaries, wages, interest income, rent, unemployment benefits, etc.
- Household size is the number of people who live in the home or housing unit regardless of relationship.
Examples of Financial Hardship:
- Household members may have been laid off, terminated, loss of hours, lost wages or business income, or been unable to work due to quarantine or a lack of childcare, or had an extraordinary unreimbursed medical expense exceeding 7.5 percent of one’s adjusted gross income for the year.
- Applicants should prepare a short explanation of how COVID-19 has caused a financial hardship that has put them at risk of eviction or foreclosure.
For more information or to apply:
Call the Community Development office at (401) 435-7536, visit us online at www.eastprovidenceri.gov under Departments/Community Development, or email jcollins@eastprovidenceri.gov or dbachrach@eastprovidenceri.gov
City of East Providence App rec: ___________
HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION
The information requested in this form is used by the Community Development Office to document your eligibility to participate in the Housing Assistance Program, and in the monitoring of program funds. It will not be disclosed outside of our requirements to determine your eligibility.
Certain information (i.e. marital status, race, sex, etc.) is requested solely for the purpose of determining compliance with federal Civil Rights Law. Your response will not affect consideration of your application. The personal information is used for statistical purposes only.
APPLICATION SHOULD BE SIGNED AND DATED ON PAGE 4.
PROPERTY ADDRESS:
Year:
#UNITS:
APPLICANT:
Email:
Street:
City:
Zip:
Phone:
Alt. Phone:
Marital Status:
- Married
- Divorced
- Widowed
- Single
Race/Ethnicity:
- White
- Black
- Portuguese
- Cape Verdean
Check all that apply
- Asian
- American Indian
- Hispanic
- Other:
Female-Headed Household
- Yes
- No
Elderly (over 62)
- Yes
- No
CO-APPLICANT:
Email:
Street:
City:
Zip:
Phone:
Alt. Phone:
Number of people in household:
Number of children under 6 yrs. of age or visiting regularly (at least 14 times per year):
Single Family Household Members (list all additional non-applicant members)
Name:
Age:
Name:
Age:
Name:
Age:
Name:
Age:
Multi-Family/Rental Property Information (a Tenant Information Form must be completed for each unit)
- Is the property rented? Yes_____No ____
- Owner-Occupied? Yes ____No _____
Total # of units:
- Unit #:_____Resident Name: __________Phone:____________
- Unit #:_____Resident Name:__________Phone: ____________
- Unit #: ____Resident Name: __________Phone:_____________
HOUSEHOLD INCOME INFORMATION
Household Member Name:
Currently Employed? Yes___No___
If Yes, Employer:__________________
Employer Address:________________
Employer Phone:__________________
Position:_________________________
Years Employed:__________________
Gross Monthly Income:_____________
Average Overtime Earnings:___________
Part Time/Seasonal Employment:_______________
Other Monthly Income
Social Security Benefits:_________________
Retirement/Pension Income:______________
Child Support/Alimony:__________________
Other:_______________________________
Household Member Name:
Currently Employed? Yes___No___
If Yes, Employer:___________________________
Employer Address:__________________________
Employer Phone:___________________________
Position:__________________________________
Years Employed:___________________________
Gross Monthly Income:______________________
Average Overtime Earnings:___________________
Part Time/Seasonal Employment:______________
Other Monthly Income
Social Security Benefits:___________________
Retirement/Pension Income:________________
Child Support/Alimony:____________________
Other:_________________________________
HOUSEHOLD INCOME INFORMATION, cont.
Household Member Name:
Currently Employed? Yes___ No___
If Yes, Employer:_______________________________
Current or Previous Employer Address:_________________________________
Current or Previous Employer Phone:___________________________________
Position:__________________________________________________________
Years Employed:___________________________________________________
Gross Monthly Income:______________________________________________
Average Overtime Earnings:__________________________________________
Part Time/Seasonal Employment:_______________________________________
Other Monthly Income
Social Security Benefits:______________________________________________
Retirement/Pension Income:___________________________________________
Child Support/Alimony:_______________________________________________
Other:____________________________________________________________
Household Member Name:
Currently Employed? Yes___No____
If Yes, Employer:_________________________
Current or Previous Employer Address:___________________________
Current or Previous Employer Phone:_____________________________
Position:____________________________________________________
Years Employed:______________
Gross Monthly Income:________________________
Average Overtime Earnings:____________________
Part Time/Seasonal Employment:_________________
Other Monthly Income
Social Security Benefits:___________________________
Retirement/Pension Income:________________________
Child Support/Alimony:_____________________________
Other:__________________________________________
BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION
| Types of Account | Balance | Institution |
| Savings: | $ | |
| Checking: | $ | |
| Other: | $ |
| Debts & Obligations | |
|---|---|
| Balanced Owed: | Monthly Payment: |
| Yearly Taxes: | Yearly Insurance: |
| Mortgage Company/Bank |
If you own other properties, please list on a separate sheet of paper the above mortgage information for each.
| Credit Cards OR Other Installment Accounts | |
| Description | Montly Payments |
ADDITIONAL ASSETS
| Please list any additional assets owed, i.e. 2nd house, an investment, gems, jewelry, coin collections, antique cars, etc. |
DESCRIPTION OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP DIRECTLY DUE TO COVID-19
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT’S CERTIFICATION
IMPORTANT: Applicant please read before signing.
I/We understand that if any statement contained in this application is intentionally not true or correct, I/We may be subject to criminal prosecution or, as applicable, my/our application may be denied.
I/We HEREBY certify under penalty of perjury that all information in this application is true and accurate to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.
________________________________________ _________________________________________ ______
Applicant’s Signature Co-Applicant Signature DATE
City of East Providence
HOUSING ASSISTANCE Program
Application Checklist
Tenants
Required Documents as applicable for each adult (excludes full-time students)
- Proof of Income – 2 recent pay stubs, self-employment income statement, and/or statements of gross income received such as: Unemployment, Social Security, Pension, Veteran’s Administration, Worker’s Compensation, Child Support/Alimony, Foster Care, etc. _____
- A current lease agreement or other documentation of rent payment amount _____
- Proof of residency, such as a recent utility bill _____
- Copy of most recent checking and savings account statements _____
- Copy of driver’s license or photo ID _____
- Copy of eviction complaint/notice and/or summons _____
- Certification of Need Form signed and dated _____
Landlords/Owners Required Documents as applicable for each adult (excludes full-time students)
- ·Proof of Income- 2 recent pay stubs, self-employment income statement, and/or statements of gross income received such as: Unemployment, Social Security, Pension, Veteran’s Administration, Worker’s Compensation, Child Support/Alimony, Foster Care, etc. ____
- Completed W-9 form or 2019 Federal Tax Return _____
- Evidence of rent owed, such as demand notices, bank statements, property management reports, or other written correspondence _____
- Copy of driver’s license or photo ID _____
- Copy of current lease agreement _____
- Copy of foreclosure notice and/or summons _____
- Tenant Information/Agreement Form, signed, dated, and returned by each tenant _____
- Certification of Need Form signed and dated _____
Please submit this application along with copies of the above documents to:
City of East Providence Community Development
145 Taunton Ave. East Providence, RI 02914
Please email jcollins@eastprovidenceri.gov or call 401-4357536 for further assistance.
