
This house at 3 Baylor Ave. is among the projects under the supervision of the Affordable Housing Trust. (Photo/Maureen Sullivan)
WESTBOROUGH – The Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) has two programs available for those needing help paying their rent.
The Westborough Rental Assistance Program (WRAP) is an emergency rental assistance program for eligible residents. The program is administered by Metro West Collaborative Development and is fully confidential.
WRAP provides financial assistance for costs associated with rental housing for households with incomes: less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI); or at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
WRAP provides two forms of assistance.
Stabilization assistance, which provides up to two months rental assistance for households experiencing a temporary financial setback, like illness or job loss. According to AHT member Allen Edinberg, the program is meant as a bridge until the household can enter into state programs.
First introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, Edinberg said the program proved to be very effective.
The second is rent increase mitigation, which provides assistance for households facing financial hardship or eviction resulting from significant increases in their monthly rent. This assistance provides up to $500/month for four months to households paying more than 50% of their income on rent due to a recent rent increase.
“It’s to prevent people from getting evicted,” said Edinberg. “It gives them time to renegotiate with their landlord, or to f ind another place.”
WRAP is currently a one-year pilot program funded by the AHT. Edinberg said, “There is a significant need” for such programs; the AHT is currently seeking grants or other longterm financial sources to maintain the program.
To learn more about WRAP and other assistance programs, visit https://www.westboroughma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=258
Down payment program
The AHT will soon launch a program to assist qualified first-time home buyers with down payment and closing costs.
According to Edinberg, the AHT would provide up to $30,000 toward down payment and closing costs. There would be three tiers — deferred payment loan, where the owner would repay should they sell the house; deferred payment loan with forgiveness, where a portion of the loan would be forgiven depending on how long the applicant owns the home; and a grant, with no repayment required.
Edinberg said this is a pilot program to augment other down-payment programs available.
Affordable Housing Trust projects
The AHT is engaged in converting several properties in town into affordable housing.
3 Baylor Road – In 2022, the AHT obtained the property from the town, which had seized it through a tax taking. The house has been torn down; a new affordable house will be constructed.
6 Beach St. and 45 High St. Extension – the AHT is in early stages of developing both properties for starter homes.
18 and 30 Lyman – The AHT is planning to provide a subsidy to provide more affordable units at 18 and 30 Lyman St. The developer, Colangelo Massachusetts Real Estate LLC, is planning to convert the two buildings into a mix of retail and housing.
For information on the AHT, go to https://www.westboroughma.gov/839/Affordable-Housing-Trust