What is HomeBASE?
The HomeBASE program helps families in EA Emergency Family shelters transition to stable housing by paying up to $45,000 over 36 months. Specifically, HomeBASE provides up to $30,000 over a two-year period, with the possibility of up to an additional $15,000 for a third year of help.
During this time, the family pays at least 30% of their income toward the rent, and the rest is paid directly to you, the landlord or property manager, by a Regional Administering Agency (RAA).
The exact portion of rent paid by the RAA and by your tenant will depend on the rental price and the needs of the family.
What are the benefits of HomeBASE to Landlords?
- One Month’s Rent Bonus: You can receive up to one month’s rent as a bonus.
- Security Deposits: The program can help families cover move in costs.
- HomeBASE families are supported: Families have a stabilization worker that meets with them regularly to discuss any challenges to their tenancy.
- HomeBASE families have access to time-limited subsidies: Eligible families pay a minimum of 30% of their income and the program helps with the remainder.
Eligibility
Landlords have to be invited to participate in HomeBASE. You might learn about the program from a potential tenant, a broker, or a Housing Search Worker who represents a tenant.
If you’re invited to participate, we will need:
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Your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address
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Copy of a signed lease (please note that we require a minimum 1-year lease commitment)
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Copy of signed W9 for the payee
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Proof of ownership for the prospective unit (for example, a deed or mortgage statement)
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Lead certificate for prospective unit (if it was built before 1978 and the family has children under 6)
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Board of Health Certificate (if unit is in Brockton or Hull)
How to apply
The HomeBASE process begins after you and a tenant agree that they will rent one of your units. They work with a Housing Search Worker, who submits the tenant application for them.
Next, you will receive an email with a link to the state’s HomeBASE website and a code to complete your application.
Go to the website and enter your code. Note: This website is the same for the HomeBASE and RAFT programs. There is only 1 application regardless of program, so you cannot complete the ‘wrong’ application.
There are 3 phases to the landlord application:
- Register your account
- Set up your profile
- Complete the application
Register your account
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You’ll enter your email, preferred language, whether you are a landlord/owner or property manager, and if you operate as an individual or a business. **You can't change your name or email address once you register.** Make sure you enter an email address you can always access.
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Next, we’ll email you a verification so that you can activate your account. The email will be from no-reply-dhs@massmail.state.ma.us. You can't reply to it. Check your junk/spam folder if you don't see the email in your inbox.
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The verification email will have a temporary password that you must change. Once you do that, you are registered and ready to begin your application.
Set up your profile
Your profile has 3 sections: 1. Payee, 2. Properties, and 3. Payment methods. Each of these sections will need to be "validated" as your progress. This means that we'll check that the information you enter matches with other verification systems. If it does, you'll see a green check mark next to the section.
You can only upload non-editable documents, such as PDFs. Word or Excel documents aren't accepted. The maximum file size allowed is 10 MB.
- Payee: The person or company receiving rent. You'll say if you are an individual owner/landlord, a business, or a property manager. You will include details that prove your identity or your business’s identity (such as a social security number, W-9, or IRS tax ID known as an EIN/TIN), as well as contact information and preferred language.
- Property: The property being rented. You'll include proof of ownership (e.g. copy of a deed). When you enter an address, you may see a United States Postal Service (USPS) recommended address format. Use the USPS recommended format unless the address you see is wrong. If the address is wrong, "selected Use the Address You Entered."
- Payment: How you want to receive payment. Payees may receive payments through Direct Deposit to their bank or mailed paper checks. Direct Deposit is a safer and faster option.
Complete the application
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Instructions: When you start the application, you’ll see an Instructions page.
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Tenant and Rent Details: This section will ask about your new tenant, including what types of start-up payments you require. This is the page where you will enter the Tenant Application Code from the email you received. This is an essential step to ensure that your application gets processed.
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Move in date: It's important to have the move-in date listed far enough in advance for this process to finish. It should be at least 5 business days after you turn in your application. For example, if you plan to turn in your application on Friday, August 23, you could set a move-in date of Monday, September 2.
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Payment Details: Next, the application will ask for your payment details. We’ll fill these in from your profile.
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Documents: You’ll upload documents that show the tenancy or lease agreement.
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Submit: Sign and submit the application.
When submitting your application, you'll provide:
- Copy of a signed lease (please note that we require a minimum 1-year lease commitment)
- Copy of signed W9 for the payee
- Proof of ownership for the prospective unit (deed, mortgage statement, etc.)
- Lead certificate for the prospective unit (if the unit was built before 1978 and the family has children under 6 years old)
- Board of Health Certificate (if the prospective unit is in Brockton or Hull)
Remember to write down the Case Number shown on the confirmation page after submitting your application. You'll need it to track progress with your Regional Administering Agency (RAA). You will also receive a confirmation email. If you do not see the email, check your junk and spam folders.
If you are having difficulty completing your application, it could be because your profile isn't finished. Go to your homepage and look for green checkmarks next to Payee, Properties, and Payment Methods.
Application review
Once the tenant and landlord portions of the application are submitted, the RAA will review them within 5 business days. After your application is approved, you will receive an email with the approved payments. If it has been more than 5 days, you can check in with the Housing Search Worker for the tenant. There may be more documentation requested or additional information that they are working on.
To check the status of your application, go to the website's home page and click "resume/track status." You will need to enter your Case Number to proceed.
The possible statuses are:
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Not Submitted – The application has been started, but not submitted.
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You can edit or withdraw an application that you have not submitted. Under the banner and to the right are 3 dots. When you click these, you will see the options to edit or withdraw.
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Submitted – The tenant application has been submitted but is awaiting a match with a landlord-tenant application.
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To review a submitted application, click on the 3 dots and choose "view summary" or "upload documents". Note that you can't edit a submitted application, but you can upload additional documents.
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Under Review – The application has been matched and an RAA is ensuring the case is eligible for payment and has all the necessary information.
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Ready for Payment – The application has been approved for payment, but no payment has been issued.
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Paid – Payment has been issued.
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Closed – The case is finished and can no longer be accessed or edited.
What if I lose my Case Number?
Once you submit your landlord case, a confirmation email will be sent that includes the case number. If you do not see the email, check your junk and spam.
What if it has been more than 5 days and my application is still under review?
If it has been more than 5 days, you can check in with the Housing Search Worker for the tenant. There may be more documentation requested or additional information that they are working on.
How can I track my payments?
In the online portal, there is a ‘Track Payment Status’ option along the top of the screen. Select this to see payments that have been issued to you. These will include the tenant name, amount, and type of payment.
If you need to contact someone
Your first point of contact should be the Housing Search Worker who is working with the tenant. They may refer you to the RAA if you need technical assistance.
If I have completed a RAFT application for a tenant, can I use the same profile?
Yes, if you have already set up a profile to submit a RAFT application, you can use the same profile to submit a HomeBASE application.
What if I accidentally submit a RAFT application?
The landlord HomeBASE application is the same as the landlord RAFT application. It will be assigned to a program based on the tenant application it is matched with. This is why it’s very important to use the application match code from the initial email when completing your landlord case.
Why can’t I complete the application?
If you’re struggling to complete portions of the applications, it may be because your profile isn't finished. Navigate to your homepage and make sure there are green checkmarks next to the Payee, Properties, and Payment Methods sections.
What does it mean when it says my information is "not validated"?
The website where you fill out the application checks your information against other verification systems as you submit it. If the information you enter does not match, it will be flagged. You can still submit the application, but RAA workers may reach out for additional documentation.