Applications are now being accepted for the Lincoln Rental Assistance Program, a collaborative program of the Lincoln Housing Commission and the Lincoln Council on Aging (COA).
A sum of $30,000 has been allocated for the first year of the program, which was approved at Annual Town Meeting in 2019 and is funded by the Community Preservation Act. The town’s CPA account is in turn is funded by a surcharge on property taxes (partially matched by the state) and can be spent on historic, recreational, or affordable housing projects.
The program came about because more and more residents have been coming to the COA and town social worker with housing, financial, and food needs. “Other towns in the area are also seeing increasing needs, so it’s not just Lincoln,” COA director Carolyn Bottum said.
The Lincoln Rental Assistance Program (LRAP) provides monthly subsidies to households who are renting or wish to rent qualifying housing units in the town of Lincoln and need financial assistance to pay for rent and certain utilities. The goal of the program is to provide greater housing stability and housing opportunities to cost-burdened renters in Lincoln.
The town will provide rental assistance in an amount sufficient to ensure that each participating household does not pay more than 30% of the household’s income for rent and certain utilities. Households may be in the program for three years with an annual maximum subsidy of $5,000.
To be eligible for the Lincoln Rental Assistance Program:
- Households must have an annual household gross income of less than 80% of the Area Median Income for the household size. For a household of one, this is $62,450; for a household of two, $71,400; for a household of three, $80,300; and more for larger households.
- The household must spend more than 30% of its gross monthly income towards rental housing costs, which means the rent paid by the household to the landlord and the amount paid for heat, hot water, electricity, water and sewer.
- No household member can own a home or have any other ownership interest in real property.
- The household must occupy the rental housing unit assisted through the LRAP as its primary residence.
- The household must agree to work with the Lincoln Council on Aging or town social worker to develop a strategy that supports a sustainable long-term housing situation through at least four meetings each year.
- The landlord must agree to accept LRAP payments.
If more eligible households apply than can be accommodated, a lottery will be held in a public place to determine who may participate in the program.
Guidelines can be downloaded here. Potential applicants may pick up applications at Lincoln Town Hall, the Lincoln Public Library, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and Bemis Hall; download it from the town website; or contact the Lincoln Council on Aging. Applications are due to the COA by 4:30 p.m. on December 31, 2019.
For more information, call Carolyn Bottum at the COA at 781-259-8811.