RCAP Solutions, Inc.

RCAP Solutions provides rental assistance/subsidized housing services that help tenants pay for rent/avoid homelessness. This includes the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), which helps us serve 3,000+ low-income families in Central MA. HCVP is operated through a contract with the MA Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), It is funded by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). RCAP administers the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), a program combining Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. RCAP Solutions also administers financial assistance programs such as Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA), and Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). These programs are designed for renters and homeowners of all household sizes to prevent homelessness.

RCAP Solutions provides individual, pre-purchase counseling to assist first-time homebuyers with one-on-one preparation and workshops to purchase. We offer certification workshops as required by HUD and CHAPA funding and other lenders for some low-interest, low down-payment mortgage products. Preparing to buy a home brings many challenges including, creditworthiness, down payment savings, knowledge about the steps in the process, etc. Our Housing Counselors continue to provide support to new homeowners and existing homeowners. The challenges of homeownership continue after the closing. Through our Counseling and workshop session, homeowners will learn about mortgage sustainability, options and when to re-finance, foreclosure prevention, etc. RCAP Solutions also runs the HomeBase program, which offers flexible financial resources to families who are eligible for the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA) Program.

The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) provides financing to people living with physical/ambulatory, cognitive, developmental, and other disabilities and their households. Borrowers must reside in the home being modified. Funds are available to make access and egress improvements, enable individuals to remain independent, and make structural improvements affecting the safety of individuals and caregivers. Funding is provided through a state-funded loan program of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission in collaboration with the Community Economic Assistance Corporation (CEDAC). RCAP Solutions is the direct administrator of this program for all of Worcester County and portions of Norfolk and Middlesex Counties.

RCAP Solutions’ Real Estate and Property Division oversees 10 RCAP Solutions-developed properties and one U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development rental housing development in Central Massachusetts. Through these 11 developments, RCAP Solutions provides 386 affordable rental units in our region. The properties are located in Athol, Bolton, Boylston, Groton, Hubbardston, Northbridge, Townsend, Webster, and Worcester. Elderly/older adults, people with disabilities, families, and other vulnerable populations are prioritized at these locations. Residents are also offered resources through RCAP Solutions’ Resident Services Coordinator (RSC) Program, which connects residents with the services and support they require to continue to live independently and safely.

RCAP Solutions partners closely with small communities by providing them the tools and resources they need to maximize their potential. We offer community education, training, technical assistance, and consulting services that foster public, environmental, and economic vitality. RCAP Solutions is the Northeast affiliate of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, a national network of regional nonprofit organizations that provide free or low-cost community development services. RCAP Solutions serves all six New England states, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We provide comprehensive, on-site technical assistance, training, consulting, and community development services. This includes assisting small and rural low-income communities in development, operation, and funding search. Our efforts often leverage millions of additional dollars annually for the communities we assist.

RCAP Solutions offers comprehensive and customized GIS (Geographic Information System) solutions designed to provide the latest web and mobile technologies to small, rural water, and wastewater utilities. In addition to our full-time staff, we utilize a newly developed multi-tenant approach and are able to provide a high level of service at an affordable cost for small utilities. Our GIS and mapping services include:
• GPS data collection
• ESRI ArcGIS Online Solutions
• Development of Asset Management Plans and Inventories
• GIS Maintenance and Support
• Large format GIS map printing and scanning
• GIS and Asset Management Training

RCAP Solutions is continually engaged in helping communities and regions with the installation and/or improvement of drinking water, solid waste management, and environmental protection infrastructure with:
• Watershed Management and Protection
• Water and Wastewater Facilities Development
• Solid Waste and Brownfield’s Management
• Asset Management
• Compliance Oversight

RCAP Solutions manages a Private Well Program through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to RCAP National that includes all six regional RCAP member agencies. Through our partnerships with affiliated agencies, we have developed a private well assessment tool. Through workshops in our region, we educate participants on how to use the well assessment toll to inspect the elements of their system and determine well maintenance needs. Well vulnerabilities are then evaluated based on local conditions including environmental threats, geology, and contamination issues. Our technical assistance staff offer on-site well assessments and identify potential threats to the user’s drinking water.

The Open for Business program is an economic development initiative that aims to support small business development. RCAP Solutions offers self-guided online workshops, monthly webinars, and one-on-one consulting (which are all provided in English and Spanish). All of these services are provided at no cost to participants. Current business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs intending to establish, purchase, or grow an existing business are eligible and encouraged to participate. RCAP Solutions provides services throughout the Northeast and Caribbean. The Open for Business Hub is the landing zone for those interested in this program. The hub is constantly updated with resources and a list of upcoming webinars. A link to the hub can be found on our website.