Under the current system, landlords applying on behalf of their tenants must include a signed tenant consent form, but the dual nature of the new portal application removes the need for this. If a family is eligible at this point, they must prove that the assistance they receive from RAFT will stabilize the current housing situation. In other words, a family applying for RAFT must show that after the funds are applied, they have enough income to either obtain new housing, remain in their current housing or otherwise avoid homelessness. MassLandlords interprets this to mean that a family who was facing eviction could, for example, obtain RAFT funding to get current on their rent and remain in housing, rent a new place, or use the money to pay court-ordered debts and then move in with family. Better Communities. Forgiveness of arrearages or acceptance of reduced rent are not program requirements. The following documentation is required to apply: 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. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Landlord struggling because your tenant cant pay the rent? The program started Nov. 14 in two regions, with statewide rollout expected sometime in mid-December. Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advicebefore declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears. If additional income documentation is needed, the organization processing your RAFT application will reach out to you to request it. 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. Sign up with to receive important news and updates. Thank you for your website feedback! The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Homeowners in need of mortgage assistance or other housing assistance may apply for the new Homeowner Assistance Fund (MA HAF) Program. Please do not include personal or contact information. Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Boston is approximately $1,927 (taken from a combination of averages calculated by listing rental agencies Zumper and apartmentlist.com). RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $10,000 per year to preserve current housing or move to new housing. The new agreement would still need tocomply with all RAFT requirements. To view all of this presentation, you must be logged-in and a member in good standing. The tenant may then file an answer and all tenant/landlord information is sent to the CHAP program and to Home Means Nevada, the administrator of the Eviction Mediation Program . Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), a short-term Massachusetts rental subsidy program, is designed to help families who are at risk of becoming homeless transition into stable housing. Signed W-9 in the name of the property owner. %PDF-1.6 % 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. The long answer is a bit more complicated. RAFT helps families who are behind on rent, mortgage payments, or utility bills. Massachusetts' Rental Assistance for Families in Transition program, or RAFT, offers funds for eligible households facing eviction, loss of utilities or other housing . Each assistance application will have two parts, one for landlords and one for tenants. Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Learn about rental assistance programs available to eligible tenants. RAFT may be used for the following costs: One prospective (future) rent payment (stipend) in limited situations, Moving-related expenses (first/last/security, moving trucks, and furniture). Not submitted means an application has been started, but not completed and turned in. They can also use the money for utility bills, or to get current on owed rent/utilities. You can apply for RAFT online through the Commonwealths Central Application. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. 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. Applicants who have not already done so will be prompted to create a new profile and account. The federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) stopped accepting applications on April 15, 2022. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. Housing verification (Examples: a lease, tenancy agreement, or tenancy at will agreement) Proof of Identity of the property owner. RAFT can provide up to $10,000 per household within a 12-month period to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. Administrators will also look at why the family is homeless or at risk of becoming so. In August 2022, the limit was changed again. This verbiage implies that families who receive rental vouchers may also receive RAFT funds, at least under certain circumstances. This funding source no longer matters. Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $10,000 per household to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. Charlie Baker recently announced $100 million . Better Lives. This was much higher than previously and since. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. The new application portal is designed to replace the current central application process. The RAFT COVID program is presented as an option to landlords, who may, according to its language, decide whether or not to accept the funding in excess of $4,000. Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Funds Still Available Please limit your input to 500 characters. fhousing@lhand.org An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded Rental Assistance, is, Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded Rental Assistance. Better Policy. In case you cannot afford counsel, a provision of the governors Eviction Diversion Initiative set aside funds to help provide legal counsel to people who could not afford representation (a sizable percentage of mom-and-pop landlords). 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.. Apply here Already applied? This could include families who are facing eviction. For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a Notice to Quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. There are many cases in Massachusetts in which landlords are owed rent of well over $10,000, such that RAFT alone would not cure arrearages or cover foreseeable future shortfall. Under review tells the landlord or tenant that the application portions have been matched up, and it is being reviewed for eligibility. Renter advocates, who (like all attorneys) must zealously defend their clients, would likely raise the discrimination issue. Landlords must obtain and submit a signed tenant consent form before applying for assistance. Friday 8 AM 12:30 PM. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Required fields are marked *. Gov. You can fill out the information with them. RAFT - Lynn Housing Authority Better Communities. 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. LAS VEGAS (KSNV) The City of Las Vegas is taking applications once again for its newly re-funded Rental Assistance for Tenants (RAFT) program. Monday 8 AM 4 PM Thursday 8 AM 4 PM Either a landlord or a tenant may begin the RAFT application process by going to the existing landing page. 172. "We received around by around $15 million. A lock icon ( Tenants and landlords can use mediation to resolve their problems without any court filing, or through court referrals. RAFT / ERMA - FAQ Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance If your tenant is behind on the rent - or expects they will be soon - tell them about this website. You skipped the table of contents section. (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. PDF City of Las Vegas RAFT Landlord Application How To 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. In that case, a landlord who has exercised the option to turn down RAFT COVID funding for a tenant, who then began or continued an eviction process for that tenant, may be vulnerable to a discrimination claim. RAFT can assist families with emergency rental situations, but it lacks the long-term stability of permanent rental subsidies. The onus is on the landlord to report a move-out to the Regional Administering Agency. 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. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. 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. 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. Find out whether your tenant has already submitted an application for rental assistance. This page is located more than 3 levels deep within a topic. 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. A lock icon ( 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. We will use this information to improve this page. 10 Church Street 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. C( QA%TD2*HTpA2EVHST0 QHH-W$2PgAEVA RAFT - Community Teamwork Thank you for your website feedback! Youve been added to our list. Program funds can be used for housing-related expenses only. Those administering the screening have some discretion in determining eligibility based on the tool. Once a landlord/property owner has an account, you can apply here: MA Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal (mass.gov) If your tenant has already completed their application at the time you are submitting the landlord application, be sure to include the Tenant Application Code that you received in your email. People applying for RAFT must do so in the region where they intend to use their RAFT benefits. The time between submitting a RAFT application and receiving a RAFT award or denial varies. IMPORTANT: If you have multiple tenants completing applications, please make sure to respond to EACH landlord invitation email. 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). For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a Notice to Quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a notice to quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. 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). 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. The state RAFT program may provide up to $10,000 for rent and other housing costs, including moving expenses. 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. For households submitting applications on or after 8/1/2022, a Notice to Quit or eviction notice/court summons is required to receive assistance for overdue rent. *2 . Please visit this link to learn more about HAF and to see if you may be eligible. If the tenant is the one applying, the application will ask them for their landlords contact information (email or phone number). The landlord may file for eviction under the following situations. Use this button to show and access all levels. RAFT, which has been around since 2005, has helped many families with things like security deposits, rent and furniture since its inception. Furniture. Both the RAFT and RAFT COVID programs are using a new application launched on October 19 (the first day of business after the states eviction moratorium expiration), which features: As part of the RAFT COVID application and in order to receive RAFT funding in excess of the traditional $4,000, up to $10,000 a landlord must agree not to evict, for nonpayment, a tenant who has received program funding for six months, or, in the case of a family with school-aged children, through June 2021, whichever date is later. If your renters are in a tough spot, it is worth checking to see if RAFT funds are available and if your renters qualify. General Law 151B, the states discrimination law, bars discriminating against anyone receiving public assistance, including rental assistance. A RAFT application was the primary way to access the safety net for the COVID-19 pandemic in Massachusetts. 2. )0OP[S{ Of the approximately $400 million allocated to Massachusetts in the March 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), 50% had to be spent by March 2022 to avoid clawback. Note that you as the landlord must provide information for the RAFT application. The program allows renters whose income has been affected by COVID-19 and the economic response to receive up to $10,000 in public assistance to cover rent payments, past, present and/or future. Our assessment is that claims are less likely where RAFT would not fully cover arrears and future shortfall, but more likely where RAFT would. 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.
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