Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. 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. It will take between four and seven weeks to process all applications. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Some page levels are currently hidden. A RAFT application was the primary way to access the safety net for the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. Find out whether your tenant has already submitted an application for rental assistance. Submitted lets the landlord or tenant know that the application has been submitted but is still waiting for the other party to match with the application using the specialized code. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Once someone receives initial approval, they can complete an application. Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boston is approximately $1,927 (taken from a combination of averages calculated by listing rental agencies Zumper and apartmentlist.com). Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. All Rights Reserved. Starting Nov. 14, landlords or tenants in these areas were able to file new RAFT applications through the portal. Please wait at least 10 business days before calling to check on your application. ?kB9z As discussed earlier, families who receive RAFT funding can use that money for a variety of purposes to avoid becoming homeless or to find housing if they are currently homeless. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. If an individual needs assistance in completing their form, mass.gov reports that the regional agencies can provide help. ,h^$dXcbM/0&4EcTg$H]^A/H][LE1y The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Search Eviction Records by Address (Beta). For more information, visit the states RAFT guidance page. fhousing@lhand.org If youown a 1-4 family home and are having trouble paying your mortgage, you may also be eligible for mortgage assistanceunder the states Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) program which includes assistance for eligible owner-occupants of 1-4 family homes. RAFT does not serve homeowners. 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. However, there is a $10,000 cap in funding, and any money that a family has received from RAFT counts towards that. You can find more information on RAFT and other housing resources by dialing 2-1-1, contacting your local Housing Consumer Education Center(HCEC), or at the following links: Emergency Housing Payment Assistance during COVID-19, Report fraud, waste, or abuse of the RAFT program, Please listen for phone menu options for DHCD divisions. Not submitted means an application has been started, but not completed and turned in. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can also help youfind a housing counseling agency (HCA). If you have already submitted an application, you can use this portal to upload additional documents and see which RAA is processing your application: If you are unable to upload additional documents to the portal, you may also provide them in ONE of the following ways: Please include the applicants name and Application ID# on all documents. Though mass.gov is not completely clear on whether current participants in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) or Section 8 are RAFT-eligible, wording from the 2020 RAFT administrative plan states that If a family is using RAFT to move into a unit with a subsidy, proof of the total contract rent and of the tenants rent share must be provided. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5c456cd3303e18db58e64ae9037f11f" );document.getElementById("gb405c62cf").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Either a landlord or a tenant may begin the RAFT application process by going to the existing landing page. If a family is eligible at this point, they must prove that the assistance they receive from RAFT will stabilize the current housing situation. In other words, a family applying for RAFT must show that after the funds are applied, they have enough income to either obtain new housing, remain in their current housing or otherwise avoid homelessness. MassLandlords interprets this to mean that a family who was facing eviction could, for example, obtain RAFT funding to get current on their rent and remain in housing, rent a new place, or use the money to pay court-ordered debts and then move in with family. Some page levels are currently hidden. Charlie Baker recently announced $100 million . 2598 0 obj <>stream You can find more information below. Because the eligibility standards for this program are evolving, tenants who may not have previously been eligible for RAFT are encouraged to re-apply. If youbelieve your tenant may be eligible for rental assistance, you should: Here is the information and documentation you need to provide: Tenant consent form: All adult household members must signtenant consent form, Landlord information: Address and contact Information, Reason for Application: Include documentation of housing crisis. Monthly updates, smart and relevant articles, and free premium content. Open the email and click on the link provided to create your Landlord application. }. Applications processed on or after Aug. 1, 2022, are eligible to receive up to $10,000 in RAFT funds. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. ONLY a court order can force you to leave your apartment. Applying online is the most direct and efficient way to apply for financial assistance. Program administrators will determine if your application qualifies for ERMA or RAFT. Homeowners in need of mortgage assistance or other housing assistance may apply for the new Homeowner Assistance Fund (MA HAF) Program. 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. You cannot save and return to an application, so you must complete your application in one sitting. Please do not include personal or contact information. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Homeowners may access mortgage and other assistance through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). Families living in emergency shelters are not eligible for RAFT funds, and in theory, RAFT is the superior program, as the goal of the Commonwealth is to keep families out of shelters in the first place. RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) is a state-funded homelessness prevention program. The wait time in some cases has been months.. States that did not use all of the federal money they were allocated were at risk of having that money "clawed back" by the U.S. Treasury. 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. 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 provides qualifying households with up to $10,000 per household in a 12-month period to preserve current housing or move to new housing. Why would a landlord be required to accept less than full rent for a tenant who receives RAFT? Your email address will not be published. Therefore, going through a regional Housing Consumer Education Center to complete an intake assessment is the first step to accessing RAFT funding. Be sure to provide contact information for your landlord/property owner in your RAFT application. There are two additional tools for landlords and tenants to prevent an eviction. In August 2022, the limit was changed again. A renter can apply once they have received a court summons or a notice to quit for owed rent. During COVID-19, the sustainability requirement was removed (Jan. 11, 2021), and then after it was reinstated. Landlords can begin the application process . The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Other funding would need to be lined up first. The administering agency could require a handrail to be installed, even though this would cause the landlord to lose money on the Section 8 rental compared to a market rental, which would not necessarily trigger enforcement of that part of the code (ignoring, for the sake of argument, that the handrail should be provided regardless of an inspection). The short answer is: No. Landlords can apply for RAFT! One of the biggest features is the addition of a save and resume function. Homeowners may be eligible for mortgage or other assistance under the states Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). 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. 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. 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. 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). Massachusetts' Rental Assistance for Families in Transition program, or RAFT, offers funds for eligible households facing eviction, loss of utilities or other housing . h[.wi343h7XMnh~74s9Jz=(WosJFY'*[ We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. In that case, a landlord who has exercised the option to turn down RAFT COVID funding for a tenant, who then began or continued an eviction process for that tenant, may be vulnerable to a discrimination claim. This would seem to suggest that RAFT can be refused when it does not fully cover arrears. 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. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. These deadlines were shared with MassLandlords and others by a state official over the March 25, 2021, stakeholder zoom. The RAFT COVID programs stated optionality may leave landlords who opt out exposed to litigation. If you are unable to assist your client in completing the online application, printable applications can be found below. This could be in the form of emergency rent assistance to avoid eviction (or help paying rent going forward, if the family applying is in search of housing or has already been evicted). Our staff will call back to assist you in the order your message was received. 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 program allows renters whose income has been affected by COVID-19 and the economic response to receive up to $10,000 in public assistance to cover rent payments, past, present and/or future. Learn about rental assistance programs available to eligible tenants. Administrators will also look at why the family is homeless or at risk of becoming so. Appropriate uses of funds include, but are not limited to: Financial Assistance Application Haitian Creole, Financial Assistance Application Portuguese, Financial Assistance Application Vietnamese, Financial Assistance Application in Chinese, Metro Housing|Boston They may also drop off the applications at our offices between the hours of 9:00 AM 3:00 PM. CC BY-SA 4.0 MassLandlords. The long answer is a bit more complicated. 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. A households income must be at or below 50 percent. However, if COVID RAFT is mandatory and must be accepted for eligible renters, it presents a serious financial hardship for some owners who are not in position to forgive arrears or forswear termination. Toll-Free: 800.272.0990 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. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Massachusetts Community Mediation Centers also offer free pre-court mediation between landlords and tenants for COVID-19 related lease disputes in addition to the summary process cases referred through the courts. Open to all. Log in or join today and gain access all presentations and videos. Its possible that this legally linguistic contradiction may not be addressed until litigation is brought forth. +8(!a]FJ@J3D8OzF@F@@AOaGJh pC4z Consent is implied when the tenant fills out their portion of the application. It will include enhanced features expected to create a more user-friendly experience and increase processing efficiency. RAFT provides qualifying households with maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program may provide income-eligible households with up to $10,000 to pay utilities or moving costs, overdue rent, or future rent in limited situations, and once approved, these payments are sent directly to landlords. We will use this information to improve this page. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance, is, Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance. oSSx3xg=]z3|3|1Y|L8fu?|O>w~>~~o>j~Vc~_yw|yw/k7w/xwq&-Gd[WW? In other words, no, your tenant did not just keep their RAFT funds. Homeowners may be eligible for assistance through the Homeowners Assistance Fund. Language Assistance Plan (LAP) | Reasonable Accomodations, function googleTranslateElementInit() { I have one tenant who applied [to RAFT] and didnt receive a call back at all, she said. Suppose an inspection finds that a handrail is needed on a staircase. Phone: 617.859.0400 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). A Notice to Quit is NOT an eviction. Monday 8 AM 4 PM Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If the tenant is the one applying, the application will ask them for their landlords contact information (email or phone number). Step 2: Your LANDLORD/PROPERTY OWNER, must also submit a landlord application. Some regionals are releasing funds within three weeks of receiving a complete application. A landlords refusal to accept emergency rental assistance, that covers the entire amount owed to the landlord, may, in some circumstances, constitute a violation of Chapter 151B. Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advice before declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Fair Housing Policies & Procedures | Privacy Policy, Lynn HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Community Forum Information. LAS VEGAS (KSNV) The City of Las Vegas is taking applications once again for its newly re-funded Rental Assistance for Tenants (RAFT) program. (May only be requested if connected to one of the housing crises listed above). Does it matter whether RAFT COVID would cure or not? However, if you are unable to complete the application online, please emailhc@cmhaonline.orgor call508-752-5519, ext. Visit this page to understand what to expect when you or your tenant applies for emergency housing payment assistance. We can help. Since RAFT monies can be used for more purposes than just late rentwhat may have happened in situations where the tenant got RAFT support but the landlord never saw any money was that the tenant directed the payment to an additional vendor as well as to a new landlord.. RAFT, which has been around since 2005, has helped many families with things like security deposits, rent and furniture since its inception. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Please let us know how we can improve this page. General Law 151B, the states discrimination law, bars discriminating against anyone receiving public assistance, including rental assistance. RAFT helps families who are behind on rent, mortgage payments, or utility bills. Owners, managers, and service providers sustain our nonprofit trade association with membership dues. The answer is no, RAFT funding can be spent on any housing needs that will keep someone from becoming homeless. Our assessment is that claims are less likely where RAFT would not fully cover arrears and future shortfall, but more likely where RAFT would. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent, as well as forward rent in limited situations. Applications already in progress continued to be processed through the system already in place. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, How Landlords Can Apply for RAFT, is, Upload Documents or Check Application Information, Call Massachusetts 2-1-1, Informational and referral hotline at, Landlords must obtain and submit asigned tenant consent form beforeapplying for assistance., determineincome eligibility for themetro area of your property. }w~W. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. (781) 581-8600, Hours Lynn, MA 01902 Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. RAFT became the primary housing safety net during COVID-19. John Fisher, author of the Massachusetts Rental Owners Property Management Manual, said that RAFT regional agencies make direct payments to participating vendors (meaning landlords, utility companies, etc.). Say a tenant has applied for RAFT, but the landlord, unable to wait, starts eviction before receiving RAFT response. DHCD's federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Subsidized Housing Emergency Rental Assistance (SHERA) stopped taking new applications on April 15, 2022. A lawyer can help advise you before a case gets to court or if a case is in court. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Are your tenants behind on rent? Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. If additional income documentation is needed, the organization processing your RAFT application will reach out to you to request it. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. If a tenant does not have an email address or access to a computer, they can still go to their regional administering agency (RAA). Depending on which agency or housing authority administers the voucher or subsidy, this may take the form of a lease or a rent share letter.. The RAFT Program is a homelessness prevention program funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. The program started Nov. 14 in two regions, with statewide rollout expected sometime in mid-December. Additional documentation that backs up the applicants claim for needing funding may also be required. Section 8 requires an inspection, to certify a rental units health and safety suitability. However, applications received after Aug. 1, 2022, will only be considered if the applicant has received a notice to quit, eviction notice or court summons related to rent arrears. contact the Housing and Community Development. Since such a family is beyond stabilization with RAFT alone, such a family would likely not be eligible for any RAFT assistance at all. Those administering the screening have some discretion in determining eligibility based on the tool. Mass. Some page levels are currently hidden. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. There does not appear to be a clear answer for when funding is received, however, the first payment of the benefit must be used within 60 days of an applicant being determined eligible for RAFT money (barring documented administrative delays or extenuating circumstances). This funding source no longer matters. Thank you! 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. The program can also be used to help families who are already homeless pay for necessary costs to get into a house or apartment. Program funds can be used for housing-related expenses only. 24th Annual Mulligan Tournament Friday, June 9th, 2023 8:00AM Purchase Tickets and Sponsorships RAFT For Tenants, Landlords & Utilities Important Rental Assistance Update New RAFT Applicant? RAFT sends payments to your landlord or mortgage company. Please limit your input to 500 characters. The CM will review all documents and will follow up with the service provider by email or phone if they are in need of additional documents. 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. If the landlord accepts, they forfeit the right to evict for six months or until June 2021. Mediation is a confidential, voluntary and non-judgmental process where a neutral third party (the mediator) helps people resolve differences based on what is important to them.
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