HAP, Inc.

"The Region's Housing Partnership"

HAP began providing housing assistance to the people of Hampden and Hampshire Counties in 1973. Originally established to provide innovative forms of assistance to families seeking to rent decent, safe housing, HAP has come to provide a wide range of services to tenants, homebuyers, homeowners, and rental property owners.

HAP is the region's Housing Consumer Education Center

Renters, homebuyers, homeowners, and landlords all come to HAP for the latest information about housing opportunities, housing-related problems/questions, access to a wide variety of housing resources, and education about their rights and responsibilities. Our helpful counselors are available to meet or talk to you on the phone. Additionally we have a Resource Room containing a wide variety of written materials and computers that will provide you with Internet access to apartment listings and a wide variety of housing information. It is HAP's belief that, given good information, people can make good decisions about their housing.

You can contact HAP's Housing Consumer Education Center directly at 413-233-1600. You may also email questions to Luz Alvarado at lalvarado@haphousing.org or Damaris Segarra at dsegarra@haphousing.org

Anyone in Massachusetts can call 1-800-224-5124 to connect with the Housing Consumer Education Center that serves their region. Information about a wide variety of housing topics is available through the "Find Information" feature of the masshousinginfo.org web site and a list of upcoming workshops for tenants, homebuyers, homeowners and rental property owners is available through that web site's Calendar of Events.

HAVING TROUBLE MAKING MORTGAGE PAYMENTS?

HAP, Inc. is pleased to announce the establishment of the Western Massachusetts Foreclosure Prevention Center. The Center is a collaboration of 15 nonprofit agencies in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties working together to help homeowners avoid mortgage foreclosure.

Call HAP at 413-233-1622 during regular business hours for individual counseling assistance at an agency near you. Please call as soon as you start to get behind. We may be able to help you avoid mortgage foreclosure. All counseling services are free and completely confidential.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program is a joint project of HAP and the Housing Discrimination Program, funded with a HUD grant. The goal of the program is to increase the understanding of fair housing rights among members of protected classes, housing providers and providers of support services in Hampden and Hampshire Counties through a variety of outreach, education and counseling activities. Contact: John Fisher, Fair Housing Counselor, 233-1609

Tenant Services

Rental Assistance Programs: HAP is perhaps best known for its rental assistance programs that have assisted thousands of families and individuals over the past 30 years. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and other programs allow families with very low incomes to be able to rent decent, safe housing at an affordable rent. Although the statewide waiting list is long, you are encouraged to apply if you believe that you may be eligible. Eligibility is primarily based on household income; you must also meet other program preferences. Please call 413-233-1530 for application information or stop by the HAP office during regular business hours. For other waiting list information, call 413-233-1520. The Rental Assistance Department's general number is 413-233-1510 and the Northampton office's number is 413-584-8495.

The Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT) Program is designed to help families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with short-term, limited financial assistance to enable them to keep their housing or obtain new housing.

As of May 5, 2008, HAP has committed all of the funds available for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition ("RAFT") Program. HAP is no longer able to accept RAFT applications. The Massachusetts state legislature has included additional funds in next year’s state budget but at this time, we do not know when those funds may become available. Please check this web site for updated information.

Those who have already submitted a RAFT application will hear from us by the end of May.

Emergency Shelter and Transitional Assistance: For more than 20 years, HAP has operated Prospect House, an emergency shelter for homeless families. More than 2,000 people have called Prospect House "home" at some time in their lives. Families must be homeless, and DTA eligible; referrals are accepted through the Department of Transitional Assistance. Prospect House can be reached directly at 413-737-5518.

The Safe Step Program provides transitional housing and supportive services to victims of domestic violence. The Turning Point Program has nine units of transitional housing for pregnant and parenting teens. Eligibility requirements vary by program.

Rental Property Management: HAP manages more than 400 affordable apartments in Hampden and Hampshire Counties. Ranging from single person occupancy facilities to larger family apartments, HAP developments are located in Springfield, Chicopee, Holyoke, Amherst, Hadley, Northampton, and Wales. Be sure to ask our Rental Property Management staff for listings and applications. Call 413-233-1700.

Homebuyer, Homeowner, and Landlord Services

First-Time Homebuyer Education and Assistance: HAP's comprehensive homebuyer education course is offered regularly throughout the year; please see HAP's home page for a current listing. Our FIRST HOME staff can assist you through the process of buying a house, helping you to understand how to choose a house and how to successfully apply for a mortgage that meets your needs. Graduates of the program have access to special mortgage products such as the Massachusetts Housing Partnership's Soft Second Loan Program and down payment assistance programs such as the new American Dream Downpayment Initiative. The course is taught in Spanish as well as in English. For more information, call 413-233-1610.

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Individual counseling is available for homeowners having trouble making mortgage payments or in danger of default. Counseling services are free and absolutely confidential. Foreclosure and loss of the home can often be prevented if owners seek assistance early in the process. Call 413-233-1622.

Homes for Good HAP handles the resales of affordable homes in Hampden and Hampshire Counties as part of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Housing Association network. For a current listing of homes for sale, please see www.homesforgood.org or contact Debi McPartlan at 413-233-1731 or dmcpartlan@haphousing.org. Also see our home page for homes built by HAP that are for sale to income-eligible first-time buyers.

Lead-Based Paint Hazard Abatement: HAP administers MassHousing's "Get the Lead Out" Program that provides low-cost financing to owners of 1-4 family properties to remove lead-based paint hazards. Call Donna Cabana at 413-233-1614.

The Home Modification Loan Program provides deferred payment and low interest loans for physical modifications to the homes of elders, adults with disabilities, and families with children with disabilities. HAP administers the program in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, Westfield, West Springfield, Northampton, and Agawam. Pioneer Valley Planning Commission administers the program in the remainder of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties. Contact: Deborah Broaden, Homeownership Service, 233-1611

Post-Purchase Workshops for Homeowners To help first-time buyers succeed, HAP provides a series of workshops that cover such topics as protecting your investment, home maintenance, financing home repairs or improvements, budgeting and managing credit, insurance, home safety, record keeping, and tax planning. Through good financial planning and sound budgeting, your family can avoid the dangers of default and foreclosure.

Property Management Training Services: Being a landlord is a hard business. For many years, HAP has provided workshops designed to assist rental property owners to manage their properties well. Workshops cover many topics including Massachusetts Housing Laws, tenant screening, landlord/tenant relations, the eviction process, and lead paint. Call 413-233-1560 for a listing of landlord workshops.

HAP's Property Management Manual for Massachusetts Rental Owners is must reading for new rental property owners and is an invaluable resource to all rental property managers and owners. Covers all important topics and includes sample forms and letters. An updated and revised version, include a CD with all relevant sample forms, is available. To purchase a copy, landlordbook@haphousing.org or call 413-233-1610.

Affordable Housing Development

There is not enough decent, affordable housing available to meet the demand in our area. For that reason, HAP has participated in the development of 38 completed projects and a total of 851 units, including:

• 160 elderly housing units
• more than 500 affordable rental units for families, including transitional housing, a limited equity cooperative that has units for people with developmental disabilities, and premanent housing for those who have experienced homelessness
• 86 single person occupancy units
• 9 group homes for a total of 34 clients of the Department of Mental Retardation
• rehabilitation or new construction of more than 70 one and two-family homes for sale to low and moderate-income first time homebuyers.

Construction is now underway on several homeownership units in Springfield's Old Hill and Six Corners neighborhoods and to convert the old Church Street School in Ware into 29 rental units for seniors. HAP's affordable housing development activities are often undertaken in partnership with other community-based organizations or service providers. There is a strong emphasis on neighborhood revitalization.

For more information on homes for sale, see our home page or contact Debi McPartlan at 413-233-1731 or dmcpartlan@haphousing.org. Apartments built or rehabilitated by HAP are offered for rent through our Rental Property Management department.

Green Affordable Housing Initiative

With funds awarded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the Home Depot Foundation, HAP, Inc., in partnership with Rural Development, Inc. (RDI) of Franklin County, to promote and finance alternative energy technology and “green building” techniques in affordable housing projects developed by HAP and other nonprofits throughout western Massachusetts. In addition to installing renewable energy systems on about 90 units of affordable housing, the program will provide training and technical assistance on renewable energy system design, green building and energy efficient construction techniques.

Nonprofit affordable housing developers will be able to use these funds for renewable energy systems and the incremental costs associated with green building upgrades for homes that meet or exceed Energy Star standards in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire Counties. The goal is to produce units that are not just affordable to buy or rent but will be affordable to maintain over the long term. For more information, contact Craig Marden at 413-233-1732 or cmarden@haphousing.org.