Revere trust board expands senior home-repairs program with $5,000 boost

The City of Revere Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board voted Nov. 12 to authorize an additional $5,000 for its senior home‑repairs program to cover closely timed applications and provide limited funds for applicants on the wait list.

Chair Joe Gravalese told the board the program drew 26 applications within a week. "We have 12 that are conditionally approved," he said, and reported that five awards totaling $19,525.19 have already been paid. Six additional applications have signed contracts but have not yet been paid, representing $28,548 in authorized reimbursements; combined, those authorizations total $48,073.

Gravalese described practical hurdles the program encountered: many contractors are busy, making it difficult for seniors to obtain the professional quotes required by the program. "They've called seven roofers or seven plumbers and they've had trouble getting someone scheduled," he said, summarizing applicants' experiences. The board acknowledged the requirement for professional quotes but discussed possible ways to smooth the process for small-dollar projects.

Board members also discussed equity and process issues. Gravalese said eight applicants remain on a wait list and eight were declined—seven because required documentation (typically a contractor quote or income verification) was not submitted, and one because the home did not meet program age requirements. The program reimburses the household up to $5,000 or the cost of the project, whichever is less; recipients sign a contract to submit a final contractor invoice for reimbursement upon project completion.

During a brief discussion about publicizing the program, board members agreed staff would contact beneficiaries before sharing photos or stories. Gravalese recounted one beneficiary who told staff, "I never thought I'd live long enough here to have to fix my roof three times," a remark he shared to illustrate the program's impact while emphasizing the need for participant consent before publicity.

The motion to authorize an additional $5,000 was made by Chair Joe Gravalese, seconded, and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will continue processing payments, contact beneficiaries for possible publicity with consent, and report back on remaining payouts at the next monthly meeting.