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Bright in Your Own Backyard Application

Thank you for your interest in applying to participate in Bright in Your Own Backyard! Your application will (1) determine your initial eligibility (2) provide Hello Housing with some basic information about your second unit vision and your readiness and (3) ask you to affirm your understanding of what Bright in Your Own Backyard can and can’t do for you. This should take about 15-20 minutes, and you can save & return to your application form by providing an email and password if needed. Please note that until you press "Submit" on your completed application, Hello Housing will have no record of your email address and no visibility into your application in progress.

Let's get started!

Section I. General Information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Phone

Street

City

State

Zip Code

Hello Housing believes that fair and equal access to housing opportunities and programs is critical to supporting diverse communities where people thrive. To know how we are doing, we need to collect demographic information of our applicants. And, we need to collect this information in a way that can be compared with other publicly-available information. The format and choices of the following questions mirror how these questions are asked by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Please be assured that this information is only used in the aggregate and is not used in any way to determine your household’s eligibility for any program offering. By providing this information, you are helping us better understand the reach and impact of our programs in the communities we serve, which in turn leads to more effective housing solutions.

Applicant Demographics

Please enter information about the primary applicant below.

Gender

Is this person under 18 years of age?

YesNo

Employment Status

Marital Status

Education

Are you a Veteran

YesNo

Race (Check all that apply)

American Indian or Alaska NativeAsian IndianBlack or African AmericanChamorroChineseFilipinoJapaneseKoreanNative HawaiianSamoanVietnameseWhiteOther RaceI understand the reason for asking and I still choose not to respond

Other Race

Hispanic (Check all that apply)

Not of Hisp., Latino, or Spanish originMexican, Mexican Am., ChicanoPuerto RicanCubanAnother Hisp., Latino, or Spanish originI understand the reason for asking and I still choose not to respond

Other Hispanic origin

Primary Language

Your answers below help us make the program more accessible to applicants who speak different languages. Your answers will not be used in any way to determine your eligibility for this program.

How well do you speak English?

Do you speak a language other than English at home?

Yes No

What is this language?

Other Language

Are there additional members in your household?

YesNo

Household Member Demographics

Please enter information about any additional household members below.

First Name

Last Name

Gender

Is this person under 18 years of age?

YesNo

Employment Status

Marital Status

Education

Are you a Veteran

YesNo

Race (Check all that apply)

Other Race

Hispanic (Check all that apply)

Not of Hisp., Latino, or Spanish originMexican, Mexican Am., ChicanoPuerto RicanCubanAnother Hisp., Latino, or Spanish originI understand the reason for asking and I still choose not to respond

Other Hispanic origin

Primary Language

Your answers below help us make the program more accessible to applicants who speak different languages. Your answers will not be used in any way to determine your eligibility for this program.

How well do you speak English?

Do you speak a language other than English at home?

Yes No

What is this language?

Other Language

Program

Campaign Name

Campaign ID

Section II. Basic Eligibility

1. Bright in Your Own Backyard is currently only available in select jurisdictions in San Mateo County. In which city or community are you a homeowner?

Unincorporated Area

2. Do you own and occupy the home that you are adding a new unit to?

YesNo

3. Is your primary home a single-family home?

YesNo

Participants must be willing to rent the new second unit for a period of no less than 3 years. Units may be rented to family member or a friend as long as there is a bona fide lease in place. Alternatively, participants can move into their new unit and rent out the main home. The newly-created second unit will be subject to a rent limit based on the median income rent limits used by San Mateo County, which are typically adjusted on an annual basis. As an example, rent limits for 2019 are as follows: $2,822 for a studio unit, $3,022 for a 1-bedroom unit, and $3,626 for a 2-bedroom unit.

4. Are you comfortable with the above requirements as a condition of participation?

YesNo, not at this time

5. Participation in the pilot will require that you have a plan in place to pay for your second unit. Do you have a plan in place to pay for your unit?

YesNo

How do you anticipate paying for the second unit based on what you know today? (please check all that may apply).

With cash/personal savingsHome equity loanHome equity line of creditRefinance of the main homeBorrow from retirement account (401K, Pension, IRA, etc)Loan from family or friendsGift from family or friendsOther

If "Other", please provide additional information:

Section III. Informational Survey Questions

Please complete each question below to the best of your ability. Answers to these questions will help Hello Housing learn more about your project and your goals.

As mentioned in the previous section, participants in the pilot must be willing to rent out the new second unit for no less than 3 years. Units may be rented to a family member or a friend as long as there is a bona fide lease. Alternatively, participants can choose to move into the new second unit and rent the main home for this same minimum period.

1. Please indicate the response that best fits your intended participation strategy.

I plan to rent the second unit for the minimum period.I plan to move into the second unit and rent the main home for the minimum rental period.I am not sure at this time if I will rent the second unit or move into the second unit and rent the main home, but I am willing to meet the minimum requirements as noted above.

2. During the minimum rental period please indicate your intended plan for meeting the rental requirements.

I plan to rent to a family memberI plan to rent to a friend of the familyI plan to rent to the open marketI am not sure at this time who I plan to rent the unit to, but I am willing to meet the minimum requirements as noted above.

3. Long-term, (after 3 years), what is your intended use of an additional unit on your property? (please indicate all that may apply)

I want to house a family member, like a parent, child, or siblingI want a second unit to downsize to as I age in placeI want to have space for a caregiverI am primarily interested in a second unit as an investment and wealth building opportunity I want to house a community member pressured by high housing costs, like teachers, at affordable rentsNone of the aboveOther

If "Other", please provide additional information:

4. With what you know today, please check the box of the type(s) of secondary unit you are interested in adding to your property. (please check all that may apply)

Detached, free-standing cottage in the backyardAttached, new addition to the main homeConversion of an existing space within the home resulting in a separate entry to the unit, an efficiency kitchen and access to a bathroomConversion of a garage attached to the main homeConversion of a garage that is detached from the main homeBasement ConversionOther

If "Other", please provide additional information:

5. What is the estimated size of the second unit desired?

Studio ~250-500 sq. ft.One Bedroom ~550-750 sq. ft.Two Bedrooms ~750+ sq. ft.
I am not sure at this time

6. What is your approximate annual household income?

< $50,000Between $50,001 and $80,000 Between $80,001 and $100,000Between $100,001 and $135,000Between $135,001 and $165,000Between $165,001 and $195,000Between $195,001 and $225,000Greater than $225,001

7. Based on what you know today, how much are you prepared to spend to add a second unit?

$75,000 to $100,000$100,000 to $150,000$150,000 to $200,000$200,000 to $250,000$250,000 to $300,000$300,000 to $350,000$350,000+

8. Have you consulted with a lender?

YesNo

If so, please indicate which lending institution(s) you have spoken with.

Section IV. Participant Readiness

9. Have you ever met with a professional (General Contractor, Architect, City/County staff) about your project before?

YesNo

If yes, what may have prevented you from moving forward with your project?

10. How far into the development process are you with your second unit project? (Please check all that may apply)

Haven't begunStarted talking with lendersStarted looking at designsHired a designerPlans drawn but no yet submitted for reviewDesign is currently being reviewed by the CityBidding out the project to general contractorsHired a General ContractorAbout to start construction

11. When we work with households, we find that there are times that decision makers have very different visions of when and how to proceed with a project, which is expected and normal. Are all of the decision makers in you household in agreement about the type of project and readiness to start? (Please select the statement below that most applies to your current experience).

We have had initial conversations but have not been able to find agreement yetWe have started this conversation and have agreement in some areasWe have talked about our vision and have agreement in most areasWe have agreement and share the same vision

12. Tell us about any circumstances that may be driving a date by which you need the second unit to be ready? (i.e. an aging family member in need of care, a space for a caregiver is needed by a certain date, an adult child moving back home or being displaced from current housing, etc...). If there is not a specific issue driving your project's timeline, simply indicate this below by typing "N/A."

13. Have you undertaken a major home improvement project before? (i.e. permits were required, project costs of at least $25,000).

YesNo

If yes, please tell us about the project and what your experience was like.

14. Do you have young children, family members with limited mobility, pets or family household members who have environmental sensitivities to dust or debris that might have trouble during construction?

YesNo

If yes, please tell us more about the situation.

15. Are you ready to give up certain parts of your home during the construction period? (i.e. driveway, yard, street parking, garage etc...)

YesNoI am not sure

16. Have you ever been a landlord before?

YesNo

If yes, please tell us about your experience.

In an effort to ensure that the project moves smoothly through each phase, there may be times on a weekday where the project team will need to meet with you. In some cases, this meeting will need to take place on site, but in many cases these meetings can take place through both phone or video conferencing for ease in everyone's schedules.

17. Do you have flexibility to meet with the team on weekdays to advance the project?

Yes, I have some flexibility to connect on weekdays.No, I am only available to commit time during the evening or weekends

Section V. Site Conditions

Conditions at the home can impact the costs and the type of second unit you hope to build. Please answer each question below to the best of your ability to help us better understand what some of these conditions might be so that we can help you to plan accordingly.

18. Do you know of any un-permitted work completed on your home that may need to be addressed?

YesNoI am unsure

If yes, please describe.

19. Are there any open code violations on your property?

YesNoI am unsure

If yes, please describe

20. Is your property located in a FEMA-designated flood zone (100-year floodplain)?

Yes, my home is located in a flood zoneNo, my home is not located in a flood zoneI am unsure

21. Is your lot generally flat, modestly sloped in one direction, or on a steep hillside or cliff?

If "Other", please provide additional information:

22. Will the location of your second unit require the removal of large trees or rocks?

YesNo

If yes, please describe.

23. Will the location of your second unit require the removal of any man-made structures (shed, detached garage, etc...)?

YesNoI'm not sure

If yes, please describe.

24. Do you have a septic system on your property?

YesNo

Section VI. Program Disclosure Form

HELLO HOUSING - BRIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

SAN MATEO COUNTY "ONE STOP SHOP" PROGRAM

As part of my application, I have read and agree to the following terms of the Program. I certify that the statements included herein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. (Please check each box as an indication that you have read and affirm each statement.)

I own and occupy my home as my primary residence. After I build a second unit on my property through the Program ("Second Unit"), I intend to live in one of the units and rent the other out to a 3rd party tenant, which may be a friend or family member.

I understand that my second unit must receive all necessary government approvals and that un-permitted dwellings are not eligible under the Program.

I understand that if I rent out the second unit, it will be subject to a rent limit for 3 years to prevent price gouging. Rent limits are those used by the County of San Mateo, based on annual median income for San Mateo County and typically adjusted annually. As an example, median income rent limits for 2019 are as follows: $2,822 for a studio unit, $3,022 for a 1-bedroom, and $3,626 for a 2-bedroom unit.

I understand that a requirement for participation in the Program is financial capacity to afford the cost associated with designing and constructing my second unit. I understand if my application is selected to move forward in the Program, I will be asked and expected to provide documentation of my financial resources. Examples of acceptable documentation include, but are not limited to, a loan pre-approval letter from a lender, bank statements reflecting adequate cash savings, gift letter and current mortgage statement balance (if refinancing). Failure to provide documentation when requested will be a basis for declining to approve an applicant or removing an applicant from the Program.

If I build a Second Unit, I agree to participate in a landlord and fair housing training approved by Hello Housing prior to entering into a lease with a tenant for either the Second Unit or the primary home.

I understand that an important aspect of this pilot Program is evaluating what worked well for homeowners and what aspects could be improved. I agree to participate in evaluations activities, such as completing written and verbal surveys.

I understand that as part of the application process, I may be contacted to schedule a follow-up phone interview and/or site visit during business hours. Once an appointment is scheduled based on my stated availability, I agree to give 24 hours' notice to cancel a phone interview and 48 hours' notice to cancel a site visit. I understand that if I cancel two of these scheduled appointments, the Program will move on to other applicants.

I will make a concerted effort to include all household decision-makers in my household in any initial site visit with Hello Housing and in all decisions that need to be made regarding our Second Unit and the Program.

I understand that developing the proposed Second Unit on my property may not be feasible for a variety of reasons. I also understand that the purpose of site visits by Hello Housing and other contractors and consultants is to assist me in evaluating my conditions related to my property, the proposed Second Unit, and the Program. I understand and acknowledge that Hello Housing makes no representation or guarantee at any time that I will be able to participate in or finish the Program or complete the Second Unit.

I understand that my participation in the Program will be subject to a lottery process.

I understand that my participation in the Program is voluntary.

I understand that my selection for and participation in the Program is subject to the discretion of Hello Housing.

I acknowledge I have read the following non-discrimination statement: Hello Housing, San Mateo County and the Cities of East Palo Alto, Pacifica and Redwood City do not discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, source of income, genetic information, medical condition, physical disability or mental disability, or any other category protected by law.

How did you hear about us?

If "Other", please provide additional information:

Would you like to subscribe to The Bright Spot?

Yes please! By checking this box, you agree to receive periodic emails from Hello Housing and our trusted partner, the Second Unit Resources Center, with resources and announcements related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Junior ADUs and lot splits. You may unsubscribe at any time.Not at this time.

Acknowledge by typing your name below:

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