The Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC)Important Emergency Rental Assistance Update - Federal Program Will Stop Taking New Applications Soon; Targeted State Program Will ContinueThe federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will stop accepting new applications on or around April 15, 2022. Households will still be able to apply for rental assistance from the more targeted, state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. Applications for rental assistance received after April 15th will be considered for assistance under the more targeted state-funded RAFT program, subject to funding availability. Households can apply by submitting an online application. 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. For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a notice to quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. 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. Discrimination by a landlord is prohibitedLandlords 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. A landlord's 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.
Program Description/ServicesThe Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) provides a variety of services to tenants, landlords, homeowners, future homebuyers, homeless individuals and families along with individuals and families facing eviction, foreclosure, who are not eligible for DTA services. This service is provided through information and referral, individual counseling, homelessness prevention programs, workshops, and seminars. Service AreaActon, Ashland, Boxborough, Canton, Carlisle, Concord, Dedham, Dover, Foxborough, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lincoln, Littleton, Marlborough, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Sherborn, Stoughton, Stow, Sudbury, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, Westwood, Wrentham. Eligibility Requirements
The HCEC works with state and federally funded homelessness prevention grants including:
Financial assistance is limited based on funding, eligibility and service area. Application ProcessImportant Information prior to submitting online RAFT application:
Completion of this online process does not guarantee eligibility, approval or payment. Enrolling in RAFT:For all clients unable to submit an online application and wishes to request that a paper application is mailed/sent out to them, please contact our HCEC Hotline at 508-872-0765 OR email us at HCEC@smoc.org with subject line: Request for paper app. Completion of this online process does not guarantee eligibility, approval or payment. Please check your email to respond to the follow-up questions. **RAFT does not have an immigration status requirement and households of any immigration status are welcome to apply. However, the following pre-application requires the Social Security Number field to be filled in for all household members. The software will not allow you to submit your pre-application without something filled in in those fields. If someone in your household does not have a SSN, please submit 888-88-8888 as their SSN.* Contact InformationHCEC Department – Framingham HCEC Department – Marlborough Workshops
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