JCHE Applicant Information - Jewish Community Housing for the

JCHE Applicant
Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Ulin House
Leventhal House
Genesis House
Golda Meir House
Coleman House
Shillman House
30 Wallingford Road
Brighton, MA 02135-4753
Tel 617 912-8404
Fax 617 912-8489
www.jche.org
Tha nk you for your inte re st in
Je wish Communit y H ousing for t he E lde rly!
We hope this material will answer your questions
about JCHE housing and the application
process for prospective tenants.
Founded in 1965, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE) builds, owns
and manages affordable and well-maintained senior housing that fosters
independence. JCHE, a non-sectarian organization, provides housing to seniors
of all backgrounds. JCHE’s five buildings, located in Boston and Newton, have
over 1,000 apartments and are home to more than 1,300 tenants. JCHE is
developing a sixth building in Framingham.
Financed and subsidized by government programs, JCHE housing is available on
an equal opportunity basis. The organization’s hallmark programs and services
are made possible through generous contributions from individuals, foundations,
and corporations.
For further information, please contact
JCHE RENTAL OFFICE
Location
Mailing Address
40 Wallingford Road
Brighton, MA 02135
30 Wallingford Road
Brighton, MA 02135
Telephone: 617.912.8421
Fax: 617.912.8429
msheynberg@jche.org
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1. What kind of housing does JCHE offer?
JCHE housing offers an environment where older people can live independently
in complete apartments with full kitchens. JCHE is nationally recognized for its
life-enhancing programs and services. The vibrant and supportive community
that exists within each of the buildings makes it possible for tenants to choose to
live out their lives at JCHE.
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2. How do I know if I am eligible for JCHE’s subsidized housing?
JCHE’s apartments are for individuals age 62 or older, and households where at
least one person is age 62 or older. Tenants must be U.S. citizens or legal
residents, and must meet income requirements set by the federal government.
Disabled adults of any age are eligible for housing in some JCHE buildings.
Currently, HUD’s maximum allowable income for subsidized apartments at Ulin
House, Genesis House and Golda Meir House is:
• For a single person:
$46,300
• For a couple:
$52,950
The maximum allowable income for Coleman House is:
• For a single person:
$31,550
• For a couple:
$36,100
The maximum allowable income for Leventhal House and for subsidized
apartments at Shillman House is:
• For a single person:
$37,860
• For a couple:
$43,320
When determining eligibility for subsidized housing, the federal government looks
at an applicant household’s total gross annual income (including wages,
pensions, social security, etc.) and actual income derived from assets (including
interest earned on checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money
market accounts, IRAs, real estate, stocks, bonds, and the cash surrender value
of whole life insurance, etc). For further information about eligibility, contact
JCHE’s Rental Office at 617. 912.8421.
If you do not meet the income eligibility, refer to question #9 to find out about
JCHE’s market rent apartments.
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3. Where are JCHE’s buildings located?
Ulin House, Leventhal House, and Genesis House: 30 Wallingford Road,
Brighton, MA. These three interconnected buildings are located in an urban
residential area and set in a pleasant outdoor garden. They are within a short
walking distance to markets and other stores, as well as the MBTA’s
Commonwealth Avenue Green Line and bus routes.
Golda Meir House: 160 Stanton Avenue, Newton, MA. Located in a suburb of
Boston near Newton-Wellesley Hospital and the MBTA Woodland Green Line
Station.
Coleman House: at 677 Winchester Street, Newton, MA. (Note that the entrance
to the building is off Nahanton Street.) Located in a Boston suburb, it shares a
park-like campus with the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center.
JCHE’s sixth building, Shillman House, is currently under development at 49
Edmands Road in the Nobscot area of Framingham, MA. (See question #10 for
more information.)
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4. How do I apply for JCHE housing?
If you are interested in living in JCHE housing, you must fill out a rental
application and submit it to JCHE’s Rental Office. The application can be
prepared by prospective tenants or by their family members or friends. There is
no charge to apply for JCHE housing. Prospective market rent tenants for the 60
market rent apartments at Shillman House may participate in a Priority
Reservation Program, in advance of the application process.
There are three ways to get a copy of the rental application:
• Pick up a copy in our Rental Office in JCHE’s Leventhal House:
40 Wallingford Road, Brighton, MA.
Monday through Friday, 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
• Request a copy by mail by calling 617.912.8421 or contacting
msheynberg@jche.org.
• Download a copy of the application at www.jche.org.
If you are interested in more than one JCHE building, you need file only one
application and indicate all of the JCHE buildings to which you are applying.
JCHE updates its waiting lists every two years. If you are on the waiting list, you
will receive a Reconfirmation Form in the mail. To stay active on the waiting list,
you must return the form to JCHE within six weeks. While on the waiting list, it is
your responsibility to notify JCHE’s Rental Office of changes in your address,
telephone, or other contact information.
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5. How much is the rent for a JCHE subsidized apartment?
If you qualify for subsidized housing, your rent will be 30% of your adjusted gross
annual income, which is derived by subtracting approved medical expenses from
your total annual income. JCHE does not charge tenants for heat, water and
other utilities.
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6. What size apartment can I qualify for?
A single person may apply for a studio apartment at Ulin House and Leventhal
House, or a one-bedroom apartment at Golda Meir House or Coleman House
A couple can apply for a one-bedroom apartment at Ulin House, Leventhal
House, Golda Meir House or Coleman House.
Siblings or other related adults (except for married couples) who meet income and
age requirements can apply for one of a limited number of two-bedroom
apartments in Genesis House and Golda Meir House.
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7. How many apartments does each JCHE building have and what are the
dimensions?
Building
Size of Studio
Apartments
Ulin House
Total
Number
of Units
242
365 sq.ft.
Size of OneBedroom
Apartments
506 sq.ft.
Size of TwoBedroom
Apartments
NA
Leventhal House
256
406 sq.ft.
514 sq.ft.
NA
Genesis House
209
NA
590 sq.ft.
730 sq.ft.
Golda Meir House
199
NA
550 sq.ft.
628 sq.ft.
Coleman House
146
NA
535 sq.ft.
NA
Shillman House
150
NA
550 sq.ft.
810-852 sq.ft.
NA = not applicable
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8. Is there a waiting list for JCHE apartments?
Yes, there is a waiting list for all existing JCHE buildings**. Your name will be
added to the waiting list as soon as you have filed your completed application with
the Rental Office. A new applicant’s name is placed on the waiting list in order of
the date it is received. On average, the wait for applicants is:
Ulin House and Leventhal House: 1 – 2.5 years
Coleman House and Golda Meir House: 2 – 4 years
Golda Meir House two-bedroom apartments: unpredictable
** JCHE is not accepting applications for Genesis House at this time due to the
length of the waiting list
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9. If I have too much income to qualify for subsidized housing, can I still live
at JCHE?
Yes. There are 23 market rent apartments at Golda Meir House that are available
to those whose income exceeds the maximum allowable income for subsidized
apartments. The rental rate for the market apartments at Golda Meir House is set
annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and is
slightly less than comparable apartments in the area. In addition, there will be 60
market rent apartments at Shillman House. As with the subsidized units, people
are placed on the waiting list in the order in which their application is received.
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10. How do I apply for Shillman House in Framingham?
JCHE is currently developing 150 units of housing for seniors, with 90 subsidized
and 60 market rent apartments. The application process for Shillman House will
begin shortly before the building is ready for occupancy in 2010. Prospective
tenants or their families can contact JCHE at 617.912.8476 or
kmargolis@jche.org to be placed on the notification list to be informed when the
application process will begin. Potential applicants for market rent apartments can
also call Greg Anderson at 508.788.0849 to begin the reservation process. While
on the notification list, it is your responsibility to notify JCHE if your address,
telephone, or other contact information changes.
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11. What programs and services are available to residents of JCHE
housing?
All locations have:
• Computer centers with instruction
• Fitness centers with staff available to assist tenants with seniorfriendly exercise machines
• Generations Together, JCHE’s innovative intergenerational programs.
• Wellness, social, educational, cultural, and recreational programs
including art, English as a second language, health screenings,
concerts, movie nights, current events, and cultural events
• Wheelchair-accessible transportation for errands, shopping trips,
and recreational outings.
• Resident Services staff to connect tenants with supportive services.
• CaringChoices,a personalized program where tenants request just
the assistance they need. Services available through our community
partners include help with chores, meals, personal care, escorts, or
medication reminders. The cost of the services is based on the tenant’s
income and need.
• 24 hour on-site staff
• Multi-lingual staff is available to accommodate the needs of Russianspeaking and Chinese-speaking tenants, and all resident information is
provided in English, Russian and Chinese.
• Tenant web site
• Convenience store
• Libraries with collections in English, Russian, and Chinese
• Hair salon
• Laundry facilities (coin-operated)
In JCHE’s Brighton buildings only:
• Adult Day Health Center is an excellent resource for JCHE tenants
who need extra support during the day. Club Genesis, located
conveniently in JCHE’s Genesis House, offers bi-lingual
English/Russian staff. Medicaid covers fees for this program for eligible
tenants.
Dining services
• All buildings have convenience stores.
• Golda Meir House residents are required to participate in a Kosher
lunch buffet, and must purchase at least 11 meals monthly.
• Ulin, Leventhal and Genesis House residents who participate in JCHE’s
CaringChoices program may participate in a 7- day/week Kosher
lunch program. All tenants can attend lunch on Fridays for a modest
fee.
• Shillman House will offer a dining program and other food services for
all tenants. For tenants in subsidized apartments, this will be on a
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voluntary basis. The dining program will be included in the monthly rent
for residents in market rate apartments. A Kosher meals option will be
available.
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12. What accommodations are available for residents with disabilities?
All common areas in JCHE buildings are handicapped-accessible. Each location
has several apartments designed for people with mobility impairments. Tenants
with special needs can request reasonable accommodations for apartment
modifications.
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13. What assistance is available in emergency situations?
JCHE staff is available 24 hours/day, 365 days/year in all buildings to respond to
emergencies. Each apartment is equipped with an emergency cord so that
tenants can notify staff if a problem occurs.
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