The state of Massachusetts passed an eviction moratorium bill, with the current end date of August 18, 2020 - meaning no one can be evicted between now and August 18, 2020.
Massachusetts Residents, if you won’t be able to pay your rent, send this form to your landlord within 30 days of the missed payment. Instructions on how to fill out the form are here. If you have any questions about the form, contact your local HCEC (you can find your local HCEC here). One form must be filled out for each month of the missed payment. If you’re having trouble accessing the form, send a letter or email to your landlord with the same information and documentation. This will protect you from rental late fees and reporting under the MA Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium Act. If your landlord is holding your last month’s rent, they can use it to pay their own mortgage and expenses related to your apartment or building but cannot ask you to pay last month’s rent again.
The City of Somerville has passed an eviction moratorium banning the physical act of eviction until the Massachusetts Board of Health determines that the public health emergency no longer exists. The eviction prohibits “levying,” the physical removal of persons and belongings, but does not prevent owners from filing new eviction cases. It also does not protect tenants from eviction once the State determines that the public health emergency no longer exists. Additionally, any missed rent payments will still be due at the end of the moratorium. Tenants should call 617-666-3111 immediately if they are experiencing an eviction. Tenants should contact Lydia Lopez, Housing Specialist at the Somerville Office of Housing Stability, at 781-254-2285 if they are concerned about paying rent after the moratorium is lifted. Tenants can also call the Community Action Agency of Somerville at 617-623-7370 and Just-A-Start at 617-494-0444 for emergency rental assistance. Somerville Residents can view this important resource document provides phone numbers and information that assist in protecting your rights, professional advice/legal representation, and valuable FAQ regarding evictions. Landlords MUST provide this document to the tenants if they want to start the eviction process.
Students who live outside of Somerville can visit this COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Protections Tracker to determine whether their city has passed any laws to prevent evictions.
If you live in Cambridge you can also visit Enroot's Cambridge Housing page.
Somerville residents can seek rental assistance by calling Lydia Lopez, a native Spanish speaker and Housing Specialist at the Somerville Office of Housing Stability at 781-254-2285 (leave a message and Lydia will call back), AND by filling out a referral for housing assistance form. Students and families should let Teresa or Sophia know when they contact Lydia and Teresa will contact Lydia to let her know an Enroot student has reached out.
Somerville Residents, individuals who work in Somerville, and families with children enrolled in Somerville Public Schools can seek rental assistance through the Somerville Cares Fund. Application is found here and is available in English, Spanish, Portuegese, Haitian Creole, and Nepali. Applicants may receive up to $250 per person, and up to $1000 per family. Undocumented residents are eligible as well.
Students living in Somerville, Cambridge, or Boston can apply to the RAFT program through the Metro Boston Office of Housing at this link. **Note this application suggests that applicants must have an SSN to apply, but Metro Boston confirmed with Sophia that applicants only need to submit an SSN if they have one.**
CASLS (Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services) provides free legal assistance to low-income households in the city. They have expertise in eviction, affordable housing preservation, and more.
Students living in Cambridge, Somerville, or Boston can apply to the RAFT program through the Metro Boston Office of Housing at this link. **Note this application suggests that applicants must have an SSN to apply, but Metro Boston confirmed with Sophia that applicants only need to submit an SSN if they have one.** Applicants can also call 617-625-6600 ext. 2581 to request OHS (Office of Housing Stability) assistance in receiving RAFT benefits.
Students living in other areas of MA can consult this directory to locate the regional housing authority through which they can apply to RAFT.
All Massachusetts residents can apply for the Covid-19 Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program to receive up to $4,000 in rental assistance over 12 months. When applying for this state-level program, applicants can put N/A instead of a social security number. Tenants will face no public charge consequence for receiving residential assistance. Money will go directly to landlords.
All Massachusetts residents, there is a new statewide fund named ERMA, which will provide direct funding and expand eligibility for rental payment assistance. Similar to the RAFT program, ERMA will provide up to $4,000 for payments that were due April 1st, 2020. Beginning in July 1st, applicants can reach out to the 11 agencies that administer RAFT, which are the nine Housing Consumer Education Centers, LHAND, and the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance.