raft program for landlords
Submitted lets the landlord or tenant know that the application has been submitted but is still waiting for the other party to match with the application using the specialized code. A lock icon ( The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Section 8 requires an inspection, to certify a rental units health and safety suitability. Your email address will not be published. If your renters are in a tough spot, it is worth checking to see if RAFT funds are available and if your renters qualify. Examples include, but are not limited to, Notice to Quit, courtsummons, utility shutoff notice., Name, DOB, sex, race, ethnicity and SSN (when available) forall adultmembers of the household, Identification for the head of household (Examples: photo id, license, birth certificate,passport), Rental information: Lease/tenancy agreement, amount of rent,amount of arrears, whether they have a rental subsidy, Household income (see more details here on income verification), W-9 from payee (landlord/property owner). However, there is a $10,000 cap in funding, and any money that a family has received from RAFT counts towards that. Once it launches statewide, the portal will be available in eight languages. The program can also be used to help families who are already homeless pay for necessary costs to get into a house or apartment. Its possible that this legally linguistic contradiction may not be addressed until litigation is brought forth. 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). Monthly updates, smart and relevant articles, and free premium content. A lawyer can help advise you before a case gets to court or if a case is in court. If additional income documentation is needed, the organization processing your RAFT application will reach out to you to request it. RAFT provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. . 2. Legislative Affairs Counsel Renters who are in arrears may qualify for one or more subsidies, e.g., Rental Assistance for Families in Transition ( RAFT ), Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance ( ERMA ), and Emergency Assistance Rental Program ( ERAP ). Better Communities. Updated April 14th, 2023 Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Landlords of tenants who receive RAFT COVID funds do not lose the right to evict due to lease violations, or in the event that agreements including use of RAFT funds are not complied with. 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 your regional agency and income eligibility data, Find Spanish language resources for landlords, FAQs for landlords about accepting state funded rental assistance. 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). If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Until Jan. 1, 2023, a Notice to Quit must be accompanied by information about tenants rights and rental assistance options. The RAFT COVID programs stated optionality may leave landlords who opt out exposed to litigation. Landlords and property owners can (a) begin the RAFT application process for their tenants who may need to request financial assistance for overdue rent OR (b) complete the application once the tenant has submitted their application. No eviction action was filed. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. Wednesday 8 AM 4 PM Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application. When calling, please leave your name, call back number and application number. Tuesday 8 AM 7 PM If you have already submitted an application, you can use this portal to upload additional documents and see which RAA is processing your application: If you are unable to upload additional documents to the portal, you may also provide them in ONE of the following ways: Please include the applicants name and Application ID# on all documents. If they have no future income, a landlord would have expectation of additional losses. You skipped the table of contents section. Proceed with caution: opting out of RAFT COVID funding could render landlords vulnerable to discrimination litigation. 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. If your tenant is behind on the rent - or expects they will be soon - tell them about this website. Landlords and property owners can (a) begin the RAFT application process for their tenants who may need to request financial assistance for overdue rent OR (b) complete the application once the tenant has submitted their application. Thank you for your website feedback! The answer is no, RAFT funding can be spent on any housing needs that will keep someone from becoming homeless. Tenants can also apply directly. The system will automatically match the codes and bring the two parts together. G.L. Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advice before declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears. The intake form does not need to be completed in person, however. Discrimination by a landlord is prohibited. Signed W-9 in the name of the property owner. In actuality, renters have racked up back rent owed of well over $20,000. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. Though mass.gov is not completely clear on whether current participants in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) or Section 8 are RAFT-eligible, wording from the 2020 RAFT administrative plan states that If a family is using RAFT to move into a unit with a subsidy, proof of the total contract rent and of the tenants rent share must be provided. 100 Cambridge St, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114. Subsidies resulting from RAFT applications during the COVID-19 pandemic were capped at 15 months total benefit. Frequently Asked Questions for Landlords about Accepting State Funded Applying online is the most direct and efficient way to apply for financial assistance. 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. Families who have received HomeBASE funding may also be eligible for RAFT. . (May only be requested if connected to one of the housing crises listed above). Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. Landlords can apply directly for rental assistance on behalf of eligible tenants. Massachusetts' Rental Assistance for Families in Transition program, or RAFT, offers funds for eligible households facing eviction, loss of utilities or other housing . The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) announced the pilot program for its new application portal for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). In addition to the documents listed above, an application for RAFT also requires documentation from your landlord/property owner. IMPORTANT: If you have multiple tenants completing applications, please make sure to respond to EACH landlord invitation email. Please limit your input to 500 characters. 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. Some regionals are releasing funds within three weeks of receiving a complete application. If you are facing imminent foreclosure within the next 7 days, the Massachusetts Division of Banks may be able to help by reaching out to your mortgage servicer to grant an extra 60 days to work out an alternative to foreclosure. 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. Imagine, for example, a Boston tenant who stopped paying rent in March. Maximum arrears are $44,615.). How to Apply for RAFT | Mass.gov In those cases, landlords may seek to evict before the RAFT process has begun. Please do not include personal or contact information. Please do not include personal or contact information. Tenant income eligibility limit forassistanceis 50%of the Area Median Income(AMI), or 60% of AMI for households who are at risk of domestic violence. RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $10,000 per year to preserve current housing or move to new housing. Log in or get access for as little as $3. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Funds Still Available Please limit your input to 500 characters. We will use this information to improve this page. Community mediation and free or low-cost legal assistance for eligible parties can help landlords work with tenants to avoid eviction. Youve been added to our list. To document COVID-related income loss, applicants may provide a letter from their employer showing lost or reduced hours, or documentation of loss of childcare (requiring the applicant to have to stop working). RAFT does not serve homeowners. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. Use this button to show and access all levels. A lawyer can advise you about the law, refer you to resources, fill out and file court papers, and represent you. The extra RAFT funds from the federal government were meant to be used within a specific amount of time. However, if you are unable to complete the application online, please emailhc@cmhaonline.orgor call508-752-5519, ext. contact the Housing and Community Development. During(or after)the RAFT benefit period, the tenant does notmeet themonthly rent payment obligationthat is stated in the agreement. 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. First, according to mass.gov, families must be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. 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. Current Laws A Landlords Guide to Massachusetts Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Landlords and property managers will be able to create a profile on the portal with their W-9 and payment information. The administration announced the RAFT COVID program in October as part of its $171 million Eviction Diversion Initiative. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. A landlord is required to notify a tenant if they've applied for eviction, This first notice is called a notice to quit and it should state why the landlord is evicting you. If youown a 1-4 family home and are having trouble paying your mortgage, you may also be eligible for mortgage assistanceunder the states Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) program which includes assistance for eligible owner-occupants of 1-4 family homes. You can also use the eligibility checker toolhere to see if you might be eligible for RAFT. This would seem to suggest that RAFT cannot be refused even when it would not fully cover arrears. Therefore, going through a regional Housing Consumer Education Center to complete an intake assessment is the first step to accessing RAFT funding. These deadlines were shared with MassLandlords and others by a state official over the March 25, 2021, stakeholder zoom. *2 If none of these are available, the applicant can self-certify. MassachusettsCommunity Mediation Centersare offering free pre-courtmediationbetweenlandlords and tenants for lease disputesin addition to the summary process cases referred through the courts. The CM will review all documents and will follow up with the service provider by email or phone if they are in need of additional documents. However, if COVID RAFT is mandatory and must be accepted for eligible renters, it presents a serious financial hardship for some owners who are not in position to forgive arrears or forswear termination. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. The state is relying on RAFT to help renters during the pandemic, and the nonprofit is being criticized for long delays and mounting uncertainty. Landlords should beware of a potentially problematic legal gray area built into the language of the RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) COVID $10,000 option. There are two additional tools for landlords and tenants to prevent an eviction. The largest non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate. You do not need to immediately leave your apartment. Landlords will see it was denied but will not be given tenants private information. It will include enhanced features expected to create a more user-friendly experience and increase processing efficiency. Refusing RAFT = Discrimination? Yes, Says Attorney General 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. Our assessment is that claims are less likely where RAFT would not fully cover arrears and future shortfall, but more likely where RAFT would. Despite statements from the Baker-Polito administration and our best efforts at clarification, we are unable to verify that the expanded limit of RAFT COVID will be declared legally optional by a court. Fax . ?kB9z Monday 8 AM 4 PM RAFT does not serve homeowners. For more information on the federal ERAP, SHERA, and ERMA programs, please visit this page. The maximum benefit cap for RAFT is $10,000 over a 12-month period. 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. Is RAFT COVID $10k Optional for Landlords? - MassLandlords.net Mass.gov is a registered service mark of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. contact the Housing and Community Development. RAFT Emergency Assistance - HRA - fcrhra Better Policy. The two programs also serve different purposes. During COVID-19, the sustainability requirement was removed (Jan. 11, 2021), and then after it was reinstated. It is important that you complete your application to the best of your ability before submitting in order to receive an award or denial quickly. You can find more information below. 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.Takamine Guitar Model Numbers, Judici Com Pike County, Il, How Many Tranq Arrows For A Stegosaurus Ark, Is Move Out Hyphenated, Articles R