The Department of Housing and Community Development provided vital aid to families in need during the COVID-19 health crisis.
- This page, Emergency Housing Payment Assistance during COVID-19, is offered by
- Housing and Community Development
Emergency Housing Payment Assistance during COVID-19
DHCD's federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and Subsidized Housing Emergency Rental Assistance (SHERA) stopped taking new applications on April 15, 2022. Applications received by April 15th, 2022 will be considered for ERAP until all funds have been allocated. Applications for rental assistance received after April 15th will be considered for assistance under the more targeted state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, subject to funding availability. Households can apply by submitting an online application. The state RAFT program may provide up to $10,000 for rent and other housing costs, including moving expenses. Homeowners can continue to access the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF).
Free legal aid is available to assist low-income tenants with referrals, legal information, and legal representation for evictions statewide. More information is available here, or you can go to https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/ to find a legal aid program near you. 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.