A lock icon ( A RAFT application was the primary way to access the safety net for the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Please limit your input to 500 characters. oSSx3xg=]z3|3|1Y|L8fu?|O>w~>~~o>j~Vc~_yw|yw/k7w/xwq&-Gd[WW? If you are facing imminent foreclosure within the next 7 days, the Massachusetts Division of Banks may be able to help by reaching out to your mortgage servicer to grant an extra 60 days to work out an alternative to foreclosure. RAFT sends payments to your landlord or mortgage company. They can also provide a copy of their application for unemployment insurance, documentation of loss of insurance or documentation of the death of a household member who contributed to the households income. Landlords can apply directly for rental assistance on behalf of eligible tenants. Therefore, going through a regional Housing Consumer Education Center to complete an intake assessment is the first step to accessing RAFT funding. Presentation: RAFT (How to Apply on behalf of Renters), DHCD Announces New RAFT Application Portal Pilot Began Nov. 14, literature published by Metro Housing Boston, Housing Assistance Corporation RAFT Application, Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority RAFT Application, Berkshire Housing Development Corporation RAFT Application, Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance, Find your regional agency and income eligibility, The Housing Assistance Application Reference Guide, Statewide Rental Real Estate Networking and Training, Community Teamwork RAFT Application for North Shore, Lowell, Lawrence link coming soon, South Middlesex Opportunity Council RAFT Application for MetroWest link coming soon. RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $10,000, within a 12-month period, to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. The state RAFT program may provide up to up to $10,000 per household in a 12-month period for rent and other housing costs, including moving expenses. It is very important landlords coordinate with tenants before they apply for rental assistance. Tenants and landlords can use mediation to resolve their problems without any court filing, or through court referrals. Before you begin your application, be sure you have the following documents ready to upload: ID for Head of Household (expired or international forms of ID are acceptable), Verification of current housing (example: your current lease or rental agreement), Verification of eligible housing crisis and arrears (examples: a Notice to Quit from your landlord; eviction notice; or documentation showing an inability to stay in your current home due to health, safety, or other reasons). Landlords can apply directly for rental assistance on behalf of eligible residents. A map of DHCDs regional administering agencies throughout the state with names in key.CC-BY SA 4.0 MassLandlords. Alandlord's refusal to accept emergency rental assistance,thatcoversthe entire amount owed to the landlord,may,in some circumstances,constitute a violation of Chapter 151B. Landlords will be able to log in and see all applications for their properties at once, as well as check application statuses in real time. 3. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. If the landlord decides to go ahead with eviction, are they on shaky legal ground? RAFT and ERMA are Massachusetts programs that provide financial assistance to eligible households facing a housing crisis, and can be used for things like paying rent in the future, paying rent owed (overdue rent or "arrears"), or for some other housing-related costs. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. RAFT does not serve homeowners. We pointed out that RAFT has expanded to a point where it has become a primary safety net, and with that status it receives a high level of scrutiny similar to that of Section 8, the states Housing Choice Voucher Program, administered by DHCDs Division of Rental Assistance. A renter can apply once they have received a court summons or a notice to quit for owed rent. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please let us know how we can improve this page. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as forward rent in limited situations. If none of these are available, the applicant can self-certify. Landlords and property owners can (a) begin the RAFT application process for their tenants who may need to request financial assistance for overdue rent OR (b) complete the application once the tenant has submitted their application. First, according to mass.gov, families must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Your email address will not be published. Office of Housing Stability - City of Revere, Massachusetts Of the approximately $400 million allocated to Massachusetts in the December 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA 2021), 65% had to be spent by Sept. 30, 2021, to avoid clawback. Open the email and click on the link provided to create your Landlord application. Discrimination by a landlord is prohibited. The time between submitting a RAFT application and receiving a RAFT award or denial varies. RAFT was first piloted in 2005, with a budget of $2 million for that first year. If you have questions regarding how to complete the application, please contact Metro Housings Housing Hub at 617-425-6700 or via e-mail at ResourceLine@MetroHousingBoston.org. Households that already receive income-based rental subsides are ineligible for prospective payments, and payments may not exceed the maximum benefit limit. If you are a landlord and you believe your tenant may be eligible for rental assistance, you should: Learn about the RAFT program and other available resources. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. Landlords should be aware that Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination by a landlord against any tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies . The process for referrals from partner agencies has several steps: For greatest efficiency and to ensure the swiftest process, please provide all required documents and explanation of the housing crisis. LAS VEGAS (KSNV) The City of Las Vegas is taking applications once again for its newly re-funded Rental Assistance for Tenants (RAFT) program. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $10,000 per household, within a 12-month period, to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. Toll-Free: 800.272.0990 Proceed with caution if you are a landlord considering declining RAFT COVID funding, especially in cases in which the funds would fully cover rent arrears, could cure nonpayment, and/or stabilize the tenancy. Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded You can find information of HAFhereorcall 2-1-1 for more information. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Landlords can apply for RAFT! An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded Rental Assistance, is, Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded Rental Assistance. This was much higher than previously and since. Starting Nov. 14, landlords or tenants in these areas were able to file new RAFT applications through the portal. This would seem to suggest that RAFT can be refused when it does not fully cover arrears. A step-by-step guide on how to apply for RAFT is available here. +8(!a]FJ@J3D8OzF@F@@AOaGJh pC4z Landlords can apply directly for rental assistance on behalf of eligible residents. Landlords should be aware that Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination bya landlord against anytenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rentalassistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient. Paper applications will still be available at RAAs if tenants need them. RAFT Emergency Assistance - HRA - fcrhra If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Please limit your input to 500 characters. RAFT became the primary housing safety net during COVID-19. Families must meet income guidelines as well: as of April 16, 2022, this was 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), or 60% of AMI for those at risk of domestic violence. The RAFT COVID program is very new and RAFT administrators are flooded with applications as households struggle with job and income losses. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Applying for Rental Assistance in Massachusetts to Avoid Eviction, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. :If your tenant has already submitted an application for rental assistance, please do not reapply. Chinese and Khmer applications are not fillable at this time and need to be scanned. Homeowners may access mortgage and other assistance through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). We can help. Email to hc@cmhaonline.org. To apply to Mass HAF, visit www.massmortgagehelp.org. More information is available here, or you can go to https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/ to find a legal aid program near you. They were eligible to reapply after that time, but had to wait 12 months from their first received payment. Log in or get access for as little as $3. It can provide funds for the same housing-related expenses that RAFT covers. If your renters are in a tough spot, it is worth checking to see if RAFT funds are available and if your renters qualify. The two pilot regions are Way Finders in the Greater Springfield region and the Housing Assistance Corporation, serving Cape Cod and the islands. During(or after)the RAFT benefit period, the tenant violates a lease clause that is unrelated to payment of rent. Forgiveness of arrearages or acceptance of reduced rent are not program requirements. Other funding would need to be lined up first. Required fields are marked *. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. hV\YZ^c3p*p #? We will use this information to improve this page. The final four steps are pending final approval, approved pending payment and then approved or denied. Tenants will be able to see why their application was denied. Landlords will see it was denied but will not be given tenants private information. Landlords should beware of a potentially problematic legal gray area built into the language of the RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) COVID $10,000 option. endstream endobj 2600 0 obj <>stream Owners, managers, and service providers sustain our nonprofit trade association with membership dues. Fair Housing Policies & Procedures | Privacy Policy, Lynn HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Community Forum Information. Use this button to show and access all levels. Households composed of any of the following:Individuals, families with older children, couples without children, unaccompanied youth, and households of any size. People applying for RAFT must do so in the region where they intend to use their RAFT benefits. For more information on the federal ERAP, SHERA, and ERMA programs, please visit this page. RAFT can pay up to $10,000 in back rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, future rent, mortgage payments or moving costs if: You are homeless or about to become homeless, and Your income is less than 80% of Area Median Income. IMPORTANT: If you have multiple tenants completing applications, please make sure to respond to EACH landlord invitation email. The largest non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate. A lock icon ( Legislative Affairs Counsel Renters who are in arrears may qualify for one or more subsidies, e.g., Rental Assistance for Families in Transition ( RAFT ), Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance ( ERMA ), and Emergency Assistance Rental Program ( ERAP ). Please do not include personal or contact information. Interpreter services are available in multiple languages. How to Apply for RAFT | Mass.gov Open to all. The state is relying on RAFT to help renters during the pandemic, and the nonprofit is being criticized for long delays and mounting uncertainty. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The following documentation is required to apply: Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance One way of proving eligibility can be by providing a months worth of pay stubs, or self-certification that this source of income is gone. Thank you! The landlord contacted VLP to seek legal advice. Other landlords, especially mom and pops who rely on rental income for their livelihood, are simply not in the position of Winton Corp to wait several months to find out if assistance from RAFT will cover back rent owed. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. If the landlord accepts, they forfeit the right to evict for six months or until June 2021. Landlords should be aware that Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination by a landlord against any tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient. The short answer is: No. You are entitled to a legal proceeding in which you can defend against an eviction. Log in or join today and gain access all presentations and videos. At this time, the MA Emergency Housing payment Assistance Application is not accepting applications from homeowners. )0OP[S{ Current Laws A Landlords Guide to Massachusetts Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. No, the agreement signed by the tenant and landlordremainsin effectfor its stated term,unless the parties agree to amend it. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Community-based organizations will also get training in how to use the new portal. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fax . For instance, prospective rent payments are capped at one month's payment, as long as the household communicates this need on the application or to the person processing the application. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. LANDLORD JOURNEYS: Understand what to expect when you or your tenant applies for emergency housing payment assistance. No eviction action was filed. Friday 8 AM 12:30 PM. fhousing@lhand.org Does it matter whether RAFT COVID would cure or not? In actuality, renters have racked up back rent owed of well over $20,000. Language Assistance Plan (LAP) | Reasonable Accomodations, function googleTranslateElementInit() { Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Emergency Rental Assistance: Landlord Journeys. Phone: 617.859.0400 RAFT / ERMA - FAQ Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Both the RAFT and RAFT COVID programs are using a new application launched on October 19 (the first day of business after the states eviction moratorium expiration), which features: As part of the RAFT COVID application and in order to receive RAFT funding in excess of the traditional $4,000, up to $10,000 a landlord must agree not to evict, for nonpayment, a tenant who has received program funding for six months, or, in the case of a family with school-aged children, through June 2021, whichever date is later. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. 6 Institute RoadWorcester, MA 01609 > Google Mapsphone: (508) 752-5519fax: (508) 752-5009, Staff Web MailSecure Delivery LoginSystem StatusHope for Housing Login, WALK photography by Joe Santa Maria - Kill the Ball Media. 1. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Why would a landlord be required to accept less than full rent for a tenant who receives RAFT? The RAFT COVID program is presented as an option to landlords, who may, according to its language, decide whether or not to accept the funding in excess of $4,000. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) is a state-funded homelessness prevention program. Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. HomeBASE is a program for families who are experiencing homelessness and are living in shelters. Each assistance application will have two parts, one for landlords and one for tenants. _U#!R!NZd& Can a renter get RAFT directly and then not give it to the landlord? This could include loss of income or increased expenses for those families in the higher income group (3080% AMI depending on funding source). Say a tenant has applied for RAFT, but the landlord, unable to wait, starts eviction before receiving RAFT response. }w~W. In 2020, this limit was increased to $10,000, but was decreased to $7,000 within a rolling 12-month period on Jan. 1, 2022. Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application. Some page levels are currently hidden. If the link above does not work (please notify us using the "Need a Hand" widget below and right), then go to the regional directly. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. On December 12, 2022, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) launched a new online application portal for tenants and landlords to submit RAFT applications and required documents. For more information about how to apply, please visit our landlord page. RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $10,000 per household to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $10,000 per year to preserve current housing or move to new housing. Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), RAFT is described as a homelessness prevention program[that] provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In other words, it is flexible funding that can be used for a variety of housing-related expenses, depending on the needs of the individual family. RAFT Program - 5 Things to Know Sage Jankowitz | Cambridge Real Estate RAFT does not serve homeowners. There are two additional tools for landlords and tenants to prevent an eviction. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), a short-term Massachusetts rental subsidy program, is designed to help families who are at risk of becoming homeless transition into stable housing. The same might apply to a landlord who initiated or continued eviction while a RAFT application is pending. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Section 8 is permanent (as long as the recipient remains eligible for funding), and it guarantees the landlord will receive rent. E-mail: info@metrohousingboston.org. Both programs can be used in coordination with short-term rental assistance such as RAFT or local sources of financial aid, but it is not necessary to apply for RAFT in order to participate. Tenant income eligibility limit forassistanceis 50%of the Area Median Income(AMI), or 60% of AMI for households who are at risk of domestic violence. You must have your application number in order to submit documents or to determine which agency is processing your application. RAFT/ERMA Landlord Application Instructions - Massachusetts Initially, families accessing RAFT funds received between $1,500 and $3,000 as a one-time payment, according to literature published by Metro Housing Boston. The RAFT program helps families secure and maintain stable housing by providing them with a rent subsidy, case management services, and support services. 2021 Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development. RAFT is a one-time or as-needed subsidy currently in vogue, with none of the long-term stabilizing power of permanent rental subsidy, but with more responsive application timeframes. contact the Housing and Community Development. No definition of the legality of opting out of RAFT COVID assistance emerged from these correspondences. Find your regional agency and income eligibility data, Find Spanish language resources for landlords, FAQs for landlords about accepting state funded rental assistance. Use this button to show and access all levels. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Learn about rental assistance programs available to eligible tenants. While many of the special protections for homeowners impacted by COVID-19 are no longer in effect, owner-occupants of 1-4 family properties still may be able to seek relief. Visitors to these websites are encouraged to contact agency representatives, listed on the websites, to help with navigation, clarifying information and applying . As a landlord, get answers to questions about accepting state funded rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. (781) 581-8600, Hours Household must provide documentation/proof that they are currently experiencing a housing crisis: Utility arrearages (with utility shut off/termination notice). Prior to COVID-19, families could obtain no more than $4,000 from RAFT within a 12-month period. Mass. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. RAFT - Metro Housing Boston The tenant should contact the landlord and rental assistance agency. Youve been added to our list. Despite statements from the Baker-Polito administration and our best efforts at clarification, we are unable to verify that the expanded limit of RAFT COVID will be declared legally optional by a court. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Join us! Since such a family is beyond stabilization with RAFT alone, such a family would likely not be eligible for any RAFT assistance at all. Therefore, landlords in these situations might opt not to accept the RAFT COVID extension beyond $4,000 for their tenants, in order to retain the right to evict and find new tenants. Search Eviction Records by Address (Beta). The RAFT COVID program appears to be presented as an option for landlords to accept or decline. A lock icon ( During(or after)the RAFT benefit period, the tenant does notmeet themonthly rent payment obligationthat is stated in the agreement. Some page levels are currently hidden. The CM will sometimes follow up directly with the family with clarifying questions. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The program can also be used to help families who are already homeless pay for necessary costs to get into a house or apartment. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. RAFT may be used for the following costs: One prospective (future) rent payment (stipend) in limited situations, Moving-related expenses (first/last/security, moving trucks, and furniture). If you do not provide the required information within two weeks, your application will be timed out. It is very important to submit a complete application. Section 8 is a housing subsidy, and RAFT is meant to be a short-term cash infusion to help families in a temporary difficult spot. Please wait at least 10 business days before calling to check on your application. The landlord will receive a special code they must enter in the portal before completing their portion of the application. This funding source no longer matters. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent. If a tenant does not have an email address or access to a computer, they can still go to their regional administering agency (RAA). As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and response, the state of Massachusetts initially made an additional $5 million available for RAFT. Owners, managers, and service providers sustain our nonprofit trade association with membership dues. Either a landlord or a tenant may begin the RAFT application process by going to the existing landing page. Some regionals are releasing funds within three weeks of receiving a complete application. DHCD's federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Subsidized Housing Emergency Rental Assistance (SHERA) stopped taking new applications on April 15, 2022. To check which agency is processing your application, visit theCentral Application Portaland click Application Information. You can also use the Central Application Portal to upload additional documents after your application is submitted. RAFT can assist families with emergency rental situations, but it lacks the long-term stability of permanent rental subsidies. If the landlord accepts, they forfeit the right to evict for six months or until June 2021. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition could pay for moving costs, paying owed rent or utilities, security deposits or first/last months rent, among other uses. Free legal aid is available to assist low-income tenants with referrals, legal information, and legal representation for evictions statewide. All calls are free and confidential. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Use this button to show and access all levels. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). The consequences for noncompliance are potentially severe, up to $50,000. These twelve organizations process RAFT applications, request additional documentation as needed, and administer RAFT benefits (directly to the landlord or utility provider). Households can still apply for rental assistance from the more targeted, state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. The landlord may file for eviction under the following situations. The system will automatically match the codes and bring the two parts together. If the landlord applies on behalf of the tenant, the tenant will receive the code and a prompt to begin their part of the application.
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