| The City of Boston-SEIU Local 888 Housing Trust will provide members with up to a maximum of $5,000 to pay for home improvement related expenses. The award consists of a grant portion of a maximum of $2,500 and a 0% interest loan up to a maximum of $2,500. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home Improvement Application: Home Improvement (Version 1.0) |
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| I. | Explanation of Benefit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This benefit is designed to pay for housing related home improvements, which may include but are not limited to: kitchen updates, bathroom updates, masonry, carpentry, painting, windows, electrical work, plumbing, roofing, HVAC repair, and fencing. Documentation of the housing related home improvements will be required at the time of the application and may include repairs estimates, work proposals and/or invoices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You may be eligible for other home repair programs through the City of Boston. More information can be found at www.thebostonhomecenter.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| II. | Member Qualification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a) | Member must be part of one of the following departments: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| b) | SEIU Local 888 member must be in good standing for one year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c) | Member must be a resident of the City of Boston. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| d) | Member’s yearly income is less than or equal to $79,300. (subject to change to reflect 120% of the “Boston Metropolitan Area” median income as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| e) | Application must be made within 90 days of the emergency. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| f) | To apply for the loan portion of a maximum of $2,500 you must be a member in good standing with the credit union and with no outstanding Housing Trust loan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| g) | Homeowners can qualify for home improvement funds to cover housing related expenses. Homeowners who have been awarded any housing trust funds must wait one (1) year from the date of their receipt of said benefit before they are eligible to apply for the home improvement funds. Exceptions to the one year period may be made upon approval of the Trustees, provided that funds are available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| h) | The maximum amount of funding (for those who qualify) depends on program funding and may change monthly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| III. | The maximum amount of funding (for those who qualify) depends on program funding and may change monthly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a) | The Home Improvement Assistance funds will be in the form of 0% interest loan up to a maximum of $2,500. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b) | The loan must be repaid within two years. However, the Credit Union may extend the repayment period up to a maximum of three years if the two year repayment schedule would create a hardship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c) | The SEIU member agrees to repay the loan in its entirety regardless of his/her employment status with the City of Boston. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| d) | All loans become due and payable if the member leaves SEIU Local 888 and/or leaves City of Boston employment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| e) | Default of this loan prohibits the undersigned from receiving any other benefits from the Trust for five years or upon payment in full of the loan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IV. | Loan Application Process | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a) | As a first step, member must pick up an application form, which is available at the Union Hall or can be downloaded from www.SEIU888.org/htf/. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| b) | Member completes the application form. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| c) | Member submits application by:
Mail to: Or Fax to: |
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| d) | The Trust Program Administrator reviews the application for completeness and forwards the application and letter of good standing to the Trustees. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| e) | The Trustees review the application upon receipt of a complete, accurate application along with any necessary supporting documentation. Depending on the type of assistance you are requesting, it may take approximately 3 to 6 weeks for funds to be made available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| f) | Inaccurate, incomplete applications, or missing supporting documentation, may result in denial of application. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| g) | If the application is not approved, the Trustees inform the member in writing of the reasons the application was denied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following only applies for approved applications: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| h) | If the application is approved, the Trustees will issue a Determination of Eligibility letter to the member. A copy of this letter will be sent to the Credit Union by the Trust. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| i) | The grant portion of a maximum of $2,500 will be issued by the City of Boston Treasury Department. Please note: the Treasury Department can take up to 2 to 3 weeks to mail your check. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| j) | The loan portion of a maximum of $2,500 will be disbursed by the Credit Union to the member. Visit any Credit Union location to complete your loan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| V. | Credit Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Once approved, if the member belongs to the Credit Union, he/she will complete the Credit Union application. If the member does not belong to the Credit Union, he/she must join. There is a $25 minimum balance requirement. The Credit Union will work with the member to develop a repayment plan and the member will arrange for a payroll deduction to repay the loan. The check is issued by the Credit Union, payable to the member. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
