Help for New Homeowners, Free Museum Entry For Kids, and Protecting Our Ocean

July 12, 2023


 
 

Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues

We are dealing with more dangerously hot weather so be sure to stay hydrated and find a cool place to stay. Below you will learn more about help that is coming for those who are trying to buy a home for the first time, which museums are offering free admission to children, and amazing documentaries about atrocities affecting our planet.

You can click on any of these links to jump to that section of the email:
                   

                  EXPANDED ASSISTANCE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS
                  Great news for first-time homeowners! An additional $20 million has been added to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's (CHFA) Time To Own Program.

                  Funding for the program, which offers down payment assistance to low and moderate-income homebuyers in Connecticut, now stands at $80 million, with more than $21.5 million currently available for loan reservations.

                  Eligibility requirements for the program include:
                  • Meeting financial need specifications
                  • Qualifying for and receiving a CHFA first mortgage
                  • Being a current resident of Connecticut
                  • Demonstrating residency for the most recent three years

                  This program will have short and long-term effects benefiting our state. Not only will there be a new generation of homeowners, but these residents will begin the process of building inter-generational wealth to pass on to the next generation.
                  Other benefits of the program include:
                  • 0% interest rate with no monthly payment required
                  • 10% of the loan balance forgiven annually until it is fully forgiven on the tenth anniversary
                  • Financing for up to 20% of a down payment and 5% of closing costs
                  Learn More About the Time to Own Program
                   

                  FREE MUSEUM ENTRY FOR CHILDREN
                  I'm excited to share that Connecticut Summer at the Museum has returned! This program allows children to get into dozens of museums across the state for free during the summer months. An accompanying adult, who is a Connecticut resident, can also visit participating museums for free. 
                  You have plenty of time to take advantage of the Connecticut Summer at the Museum, which concludes on Monday, September 4th. Below is a list of museums that are participating nearby:

                  The full list of participating organizations and institutions can be found here.
                   

                  BUILDING ONE COMMUNITY NEWS AND PROGRAMS
                  Building One Community (B1C) is ready for the summer with a full slate of programs aimed at engaging the entire community. The mission is to support immigrants and their families to successfully integrate in and around Stamford.

                  Before providing a full breakdown of all the fun things happening in July, it’s important to note that B1C is renovating its space at 417 Shippan Avenue over the next 10-12 weeks. The organization will remain open during construction.
                  Below you will find some of the exciting programs that B1C.

                  Job Search Coaching: Join the program to get free job coaching assistance through virtual sessions or in-person appointments. CLICK HERE to register or call (203) 674-8585 ext. 137 or 116.
                  IT Lending Library: Borrow a Chromebook, headphones, and internet hotspots for free for up to 60 days. For more information contact Miguel Carnero via email here or at (203) 674-8585 ext. 138. 
                  Case Management: Get help and support services from bilingual case managers who can assist you in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole with medical and mental health services, domestic violence and substance abuse, translation, and so much more. For more information email the Family and Individual Service Department at FIS@B1c.org or call at (203) 674-8585 ext. 108.
                  Click here for more information on all B1C programs
                   
                  I urge you to watch "The Cove" as well as "Racing Extinction," which are documentaries that will change your perspective on our world. Louie Psihoyos is an amazing documentary film director and has made it his life goal to expose the truths no one wants to hear or see. 
                  "The Cove" won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2010.
                  I saw the actual cove in Taiji, Japan back in January 2013, where fishermen herd and kill dozens of dolphins in a practice that has been ongoing for half a century. Only a select few dolphins are selected to be trained and sold to aquariums worldwide. I was there with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as a Cove Guardian. Seeing this savagery in person was a life changing experience.
                  Click here to watch full length movie.
                  “Racing Extinction” is about the ongoing mass extinction of species and the efforts from scientists, activists, and journalists to document it. The movie was nominated for an Oscar in 2015.

                  CLICK HERE if you would like to see more of Louie Psihoyos’ work.