raft program for landlords

The program can also be used to help families who are already homeless pay for necessary costs to get into a house or apartment. Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application. 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. A lock icon ( . 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 you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. 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. RAFT gives short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. A households income must be at or below 50 percent. C( QA%TD2*HTpA2EVHST0 QHH-W$2PgAEVA 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. 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. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Landlords of any size may now apply for emergency rental assistance on behalf of their tenants. Also, in order to qualify for RAFT COVID funds, tenants household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. 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. new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en', includedLanguages : 'sq,am,ar,zh-CN,zh-TW,fr,de,es,ht,it,km,fa,pt,ru,so,sw,vi', layout: google.translate.TranslateElement.InlineLayout.SIMPLE}, 'google_translate_element'); (May only be requested if connected to one of the housing crises listed above). The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The North Shore Housing Action Group (NSHAG) is financial assistance program that specifically focuses on the needs of 18-24 year olds that are experiencing housing Landlord/Property Owner Portal Reference Guide, MA Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal (mass.gov), Housing Assistance Application Reference Guide (mass.gov), RAFT Public Resource and Training Portal | Mass.gov. When calling, please leave your name, call back number and application number. Forgiveness of arrearages or acceptance of reduced rent are not program requirements. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If you are unable to assist your client in completing the online application, printable applications can be found below. They can also use the money for utility bills, or to get current on owed rent/utilities. To apply to Mass HAF, visit www.massmortgagehelp.org. Refusing RAFT = Discrimination? Yes, Says Attorney General Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application. Gov. We will use this information to improve this page. RAFT funds could go towards paying a security deposit, first/last months rent, even furniture, though there are caps on how much RAFT money can be used for those purchases. hV\YZ^c3p*p #? h[.wi343h7XMnh~74s9Jz=(WosJFY'*[ 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.. The earlier you contact a lawyer the better. Prior to COVID-19, RAFT monies were only awarded if the applicant could demonstrate a way to remain in housing after the RAFT funds has been expended. 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. G.L. The following documentation is required to apply: 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. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. %PDF-1.6 % This could include loss of income or increased expenses for those families in the higher income group (3080% AMI depending on funding source). 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. 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. The application will also require property owner documents if requesting arrears or start-up costs. RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program ended on December 31, 2021. 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. 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. Thank you! RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent. 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 your tenant is behind on the rent - or . The two pilot regions are Way Finders in the Greater Springfield region and the Housing Assistance Corporation, serving Cape Cod and the islands. Prior to COVID-19, families could obtain no more than $4,000 from RAFT within a 12-month period. HomeBASE is a program for families who are experiencing homelessness and are living in shelters. 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). Please do not include personal or contact information. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. ***Your account must have info entered for the Payee, Properties, and Payment Methods sections on your profile before you can apply. No eviction action was filed. Household must provide documentation/proof that they are currently experiencing a housing crisis: Utility arrearages (with utility shut off/termination notice). Monthly updates, smart and relevant articles, and free premium content. To begin the landlord/property owner application process, you must first register an account as a new user if you have not already done so here: User Registration (mass.gov). Some regionals are releasing funds within three weeks of receiving a complete application. Fair Housing Policies & Procedures | Privacy Policy, Lynn HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Community Forum Information. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. Fax . RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) is a state-funded homelessness prevention program. First, according to mass.gov, families must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In these cases, a landlord accepting the terms of the increased RAFT COVID limit would be extending a tenancy deep in arrears while forfeiting the ability to recoup any losses for at least six more months. You can apply for RAFT online through the Commonwealths Central Application. Landlords will see it was denied but will not be given tenants private information. by Nomer Caceres. Open to all. Open to all. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Homeowners may access mortgage and other assistance through the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The rental assistance agreementincludes the following line: If the Participant's tenancy is terminated prior to the period for which any monthly rental stipend payments were made, I agree to return the unused balance of said funds to the Agency.. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The intake form does not need to be completed in person, however. Landlord Advocacy - Volunteer Lawyers Project Please do not include personal or contact information. It is important to submit a complete application for RAFT to receive support quickly. 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. (MassLandlords data, compiled through a rent survey as part of the Individual Claims Council initiative, shows that average arrears are $4,169 among 59 respondents, representing 765 rental units. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. If both parties are amenable to changing the agreement, the tenant would not have to reapply, butthey would need to executea new agreement. A step-by-step guide on how to apply for RAFT is available here. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. 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. Even if that tenant began paying full rent again in September, they would have tallied $11,562 in rent arrearages. As of April 16, 2022, the state also allowed for partial payments on behalf of the primary tenant to the landlord or utility company, for those entering co-housing situations. More information is available here, or you can go to https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/ to find a legal aid program near you. Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. 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. Subsidies resulting from RAFT applications during the COVID-19 pandemic were capped at 15 months total benefit. 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). The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the pilot program for its new application portal for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). These twelve organizations process RAFT applications, request additional documentation as needed, and administer RAFT benefits (directly to the landlord or utility provider). CC BY-SA 4.0 MassLandlords. If the landlord decides to go ahead with eviction, are they on shaky legal ground? You are entitled to a legal proceeding in which you can defend against an eviction. As of Aug. 1 2022, households can obtain up to 12 months of assistance, capped at $10,000. fhousing@lhand.org Proceed with caution: opting out of RAFT COVID funding could render landlords vulnerable to discrimination litigation. This was much higher than previously and since. Note that you as the landlord must provide information for the RAFT application. The RAFT COVID program appears to be presented as an option for landlords to accept or decline. Financial Assistance for Renters and Homeowners - Way Finders The extra RAFT funds from the federal government were meant to be used within a specific amount of time. Language Assistance Plan (LAP) | Reasonable Accomodations, function googleTranslateElementInit() { Landlords Should Take RAFT. It's the Law - Banker & Tradesman 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. 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. 2598 0 obj <>stream During(or after)the RAFT benefit period, the tenant violates a lease clause that is unrelated to payment of rent. 1411 Tremont Street 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. 172. A lock icon ( RAFT - Lynn Housing Authority The RAFT COVID programs stated optionality may leave landlords who opt out exposed to litigation. Is RAFT COVID $10k Optional for Landlords? . RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as forward rent in limited situations. They may be eligible for assistance from the state that will send rent payments directly to you, the landlord. 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 RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a notice to quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. On the other hand, in certain conditions, Section 8 might cause the landlord to lose money. 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. Community-based organizations will also get training in how to use the new portal. Paper applications will still be available at RAAs if tenants need them. 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. 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. The system will automatically match the codes and bring the two parts together. A lawyer can help advise you before a case gets to court or if a case is in court. Open the email and click on the link provided to create your Landlord application. This additional funding program had slightly different eligibility standards than the regular RAFT program, and was used for mortgage foreclosures and loss of utilities, not just evictions. If additional income documentation is needed, the organization processing your RAFT application will reach out to you to request it. Please let us know how we can improve this page. The tenant does not receive funding directly. 4CN|DtA$1 EG>JR ` 4pF :GI6*ozq}GGv|wK}xl7YR{S1!e/y''gOa[5eW?|ni_lwok_k/>_n~@>?n._*^m7wl?YxRSDxN.vsKWUI,VKz0?1S#j?^^7?Pi^SWBoRG\>Ai,EDHieYu-y/3o[K/dom~I_~ZsN}{L=MWi|92}e |Mg_:lW?b1ZK}AGJn]/9fT+E -gS&r%a9Yc9jd+Yl>{q\thE=oV~cWj)~X6O ~*%O9%# ? 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. RAFT provides qualifying households with maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. Please wait at least 10 business days before calling to check on your application. RAFT provides qualifying households with maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. Applicants who have not already done so will be prompted to create a new profile and account. RAFT / HAF - Home Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance 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. Use this button to show and access all levels. Program administrators will determine if your application qualifies for ERMA or RAFT. You skipped the table of contents section. 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). 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. You skipped the table of contents section. Either a landlord or a tenant may begin the RAFT application process by going to the existing landing page. The wait time in some cases has been months.. RAFT/ERMA Landlord Application Instructions - Massachusetts However, Fisher went on, there doesn't appear to be any language to the effect that an existing landlord with an arrearage would have any priority over a successor landlord if the tenant chose to move into a new property. The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) stopped accepting applications on April 15, 2022. Charlie Baker recently announced $100 million . A renter can apply once they have received a court summons or a notice to quit for owed rent. Applying online is the most direct and efficient way to apply for financial assistance. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. Or acceptance of reduced rent for the period of the agreement? The best way to apply is online. Residents can call 702-229-5935 if they are facing an eviction or need help applying for the RAFT program Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can use it for first and last months rent, a security deposit or even furniture (furniture expenses are capped at $1,000). Step 3: Program staff will review your funds application and will contact you asking for further documentation, if needed. 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 a tenant does not have an email address or access to a computer, they can still go to their regional administering agency (RAA). If you think RAFT could help your renter and you apply on their behalf, you will need to provide their email address. The long answer is a bit more complicated. This verbiage implies that families who receive rental vouchers may also receive RAFT funds, at least under certain circumstances. Updated April 14th, 2023 Thank you for your website feedback! Your email address will not be published. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can also help youfind a housing counseling agency (HCA). 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 People applying for RAFT must do so in the region where they intend to use their RAFT benefits. Since each HCEC has its own website, we have tried to list the RAFT application links here: If any link doesn't work, visit the Housing Consumer Education Centers site, find the regional HCEC page, and then tell us which link to change. A lock icon ( No, the agreement signed by the tenant and landlordremainsin effectfor its stated term,unless the parties agree to amend it. In those cases, landlords may seek to evict before the RAFT process has begun. Upon application submission, you will be asked to provide: Signed W-9 in the name of the property owner, Housing verification (Examples: a lease, tenancy agreement, or tenancy at will agreement). 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. When you submit the application, you give consent to DHCD to search other state agency databases to see if your income has already been verified by another qualifying program. This gives applicants 21 days to complete and submit their application once it has been started. Website Design by Compete Now. After coordinating with your tenant and determining that they are eligible and have not already applied, you can start the application process by through the Central Application. 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. 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. RAFT provides qualifying households with maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. The short answer is: No. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent, as well as forward rent in limited situations. If all the required documents are uploaded, the CM will not need to contact the applicant and will instead contact the referring agency. The landlord contacted VLP to seek legal advice. Click here for Applicant Portal First Time Home Buyers who currently live in one of these communities may be eligible for a Home Read More ?kB9z A tenant who is late on rent could sign up for the program, receive funds, and use it to put down a security deposit on another housing unit elsewhere. contact the Housing and Community Development. Home / Tenants / Landlords / Helping People Apply / FAQ /. Low-income tenants may be eligible to receive help with paying their rent through the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and regional administering agencies. Homeowners may be eligible for mortgage or other assistance under the states Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). The RAAs can either assist the tenant with setting up an email address or can act as a tenant advocate to get the application process started. 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. Note that it will likely take 5 business days to hear back due to high volume. Lynn, MA 01902 Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. The RAFT Program is a homelessness prevention program funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). If the landlord accepts, they forfeit the right to evict for six months or until June 2021. 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. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Applying for Rental Assistance in Massachusetts to Avoid Eviction, contact the Housing and Community Development. . The following documentation is required to apply: If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. What Happens If I Can't Pay Rent? How to Avoid Eviction in Mass. - NBC Applications already in progress continued to be processed through the system already in place. A lock icon (

Who Killed Griselda Blanco, Articles R