October 9, 2020
Currently, there is an eviction and foreclosure moratorium in effect in Massachusetts until October 17th, 2020. Despite this temporary ban, you would still have to pay rent/mortgage.
If you are experiencing trouble managing to pay your rent or mortgage, there are ways to receive help. The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development offers two programs specifically that assist low-income households. These programs are the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and the Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA). These two programs provide income-eligible households with up to $4,000 to pay overdue or future rent or mortgage costs.
Landlords would also be affected by tenants not being able to pay rent. To assist, when a tenant is approved for assistance, RAFT and ERMA will send overdue or future rent payment directly to the landlord.
You can use the link here to find your regional agency and see the income limits for eligibility.
If you are facing eviction, foreclosure, or are a landlord with a tenant who cannot pay rent, and are in need of legal assistance, email us a request for a lawyer at lrs@bostonbar.org or be referred to a lawyer online instantly here.
