raft program for landlords raft program for landlords

Please let us know how we can improve this page. RAFT provides qualifying households with maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. LAS VEGAS (KSNV) The City of Las Vegas is taking applications once again for its newly re-funded Rental Assistance for Tenants (RAFT) program. RAFT is a one-time or as-needed subsidy currently in vogue, with none of the long-term stabilizing power of permanent rental subsidy, but with more responsive application timeframes. Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advice before declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). A Landlords Guide to Massachusetts Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program, Search Eviction Records by Address (Beta), Webinar: Rental Assistance Application Process RAFT ERMA. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations. RAFT can provide up to $10,000 per household within a 12-month period to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. A tenant who is late on rent could sign up for the program, receive funds, and use it to put down a security deposit on another housing unit elsewhere. The tenant should contact the landlord and rental assistance agency. As a landlord, get answers to questions about accepting state funded rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations. If the link above does not work (please notify us using the "Need a Hand" widget below and right), then go to the regional directly. No eviction action was filed. Households applying after Aug. 1, 2022, must have been served a notice to quit or eviction notice, or have a court summons for owed rent in order to be eligible. The same might apply to a landlord who initiated or continued eviction while a RAFT application is pending. Open to all. If you would like to continue helping us improve Mass.gov, join our user panel to test new features for the site. RAFT provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Fax . The largest non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate. Use this button to show and access all levels. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. If you are unable to access or submit an online application, please email us at HCEC@rcapsolutions.org or call us at 978-630-6771 for assistance. The onus is on the landlord to report a move-out to the Regional Administering Agency. (May only be requested if connected to one of the housing crises listed above). The RAFT COVID program is very new and RAFT administrators are flooded with applications as households struggle with job and income losses. If none of these are available, the applicant can self-certify. Learn about rental assistance programs available to eligible tenants. Community-based organizations will also get training in how to use the new portal. 6 Institute RoadWorcester, MA 01609 > Google Mapsphone: (508) 752-5519fax: (508) 752-5009, Staff Web MailSecure Delivery LoginSystem StatusHope for Housing Login, WALK photography by Joe Santa Maria - Kill the Ball Media. hV\YZ^c3p*p #? Step 2: Your LANDLORD/PROPERTY OWNER, must also submit a landlord application. 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). 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. Work with your renters to provide your part of the information as soon as requested. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. RAFT helps families who are behind on rent, mortgage payments, or utility bills. So far it has generously covered over $50 million in rent arrears and going forward stipends. If a tenant does not have an email address or access to a computer, they can still go to their regional administering agency (RAA). People applying for RAFT must do so in the region where they intend to use their RAFT benefits. An official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, This page, Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance, is, Information for landlords on emergency housing assistance. Lynn, MA 01902 Renters or landlords can apply by submitting an online application. 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 maximum benefit limit of $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. 2598 0 obj <>stream The process for referrals from partner agencies has several steps: For greatest efficiency and to ensure the swiftest process, please provide all required documents and explanation of the housing crisis. Website Design by Compete Now. No, the agreement signed by the tenant and landlordremainsin effectfor its stated term,unless the parties agree to amend it. Apply here Already applied? Emergency Housing Payment Assistance (RAFT), Specialized Intensive Programs & Services (SIPS), Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), Massachussets Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), Please complete and submit your application for financial assistance, Rental Relief, Utility Arrears & Eviction Prevention, At this time, the MA Emergency Housing payment Assistance Application is not accepting applications from homeowners. Image: CC BY-SA Pixabay. Be sure to provide contact information for your landlord/property owner in your RAFT application. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as forward rent in limited situations. Home / Tenants / Landlords / Helping People Apply / FAQ /. The North Shore Housing Action Group (NSHAG) is financial assistance program that specifically focuses on the needs of 18-24 year olds that are experiencing housing Landlord/Property Owner Portal Reference Guide, MA Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal (mass.gov), Housing Assistance Application Reference Guide (mass.gov), RAFT Public Resource and Training Portal | Mass.gov. Owners, managers, and service providers sustain our nonprofit trade association with membership dues. The RAFT COVID program is an enhancement to the regular 15-year-old RAFT program, which provides up to $4,000 for eligible households to pay for rent, mortgage, utilities or moving expenses. RAFT can provide up to $10,000 per household within a 12-month period to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. *2 RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations. I have one tenant who applied [to RAFT] and didnt receive a call back at all, she said. Because the eligibility standards for this program are evolving, tenants who may not have previously been eligible for RAFT are encouraged to re-apply. Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. Some page levels are currently hidden. 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. A landlord who accepts RAFTfundingdoes not losethe ability to file for eviction due tolease violations that may occur in the future. 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. Log in or join today and gain access all presentations and videos. During COVID-19, the sustainability requirement was removed (Jan. 11, 2021), and then after it was reinstated. RAFT gives short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. 172. The new agreement would still need tocomply with all RAFT requirements. contact the Housing and Community Development. But if they are moving out, any number of circumstances could have kept those funds from being directed towards you. 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. The consequences for noncompliance are potentially severe, up to $50,000. 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). RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) is a state-funded homelessness prevention program. Mediation is a confidential, voluntary and non-judgmental process where a neutral third party (the mediator) helps people resolve differences based on what is important to them. Learn more about RAFT here. A lock icon ( _U#!R!NZd& Find out more about HAF here. After the end of the RAFT benefit period, the tenant does not payrentor otherwise violates the lease. Thank you for your website feedback! 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 ). Language Assistance Plan (LAP) | Reasonable Accomodations, function googleTranslateElementInit() { The RAFT program is open to all types of landlords, including private landlords, non-profit landlords, and government landlords. This could be in the form of emergency rent assistance to avoid eviction (or help paying rent going forward, if the family applying is in search of housing or has already been evicted). First published December 17th, 2020 | These twelve organizations process RAFT applications, request additional documentation as needed, and administer RAFT benefits (directly to the landlord or utility provider). Some regionals are releasing funds within three weeks of receiving a complete application. You skipped the table of contents section. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. A Notice to Quit is NOT an eviction. Please do not include personal or contact information. The feedback will only be used for improving the website. We also have RAFT Application walk in hours on Tuesday and Friday 9:30am-11:30am and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm. Free legal aid is available to assist low-income tenants with referrals, legal information, and legal representation for evictions statewide. You need to contact your lender/servicer to request assistance. For households applying to RAFT for assistance with rent arrears, a Notice to Quit or eviction notice/court summons is now required. If you do not think your tenant has access to email, DHCD recommends you have your tenant initiate the application with their local RAA. Imagine, for example, a Boston tenant who stopped paying rent in March. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Applying for Rental Assistance in Massachusetts to Avoid Eviction, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. 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. . Landlords should be aware that Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination bya landlord against anytenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rentalassistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient. For Landlords. Households can still apply for rental assistance from the more targeted, state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. Landlords of any size may now apply for emergency rental assistance on behalf of their tenants. HomeBASE is a program for families who are experiencing homelessness and are living in shelters. Initially, families accessing RAFT funds received between $1,500 and $3,000 as a one-time payment, according to literature published by Metro Housing Boston. For greater efficiency, these documents should be submitted with the referral. In this article, well look at what RAFT is, who it is designed to benefit, how it affects landlords and the areas where it could be doing more for families in need. Additional documentation that backs up the applicants claim for needing funding may also be required. Landlord struggling because your tenant cant pay the rent? Top-requested sites to log in to services provided by the state. One way of proving eligibility can be by providing a months worth of pay stubs, or self-certification that this source of income is gone. 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 you do not provide the required information within two weeks, your application will be timed out. It is very important to submit a complete application. 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. Its possible that this legally linguistic contradiction may not be addressed until litigation is brought forth. The answer is no, RAFT funding can be spent on any housing needs that will keep someone from becoming homeless. Landlords can apply directly for rental assistance on behalf of eligible residents. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Posted in News - 0 Comments. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). Please wait at least 10 business days before calling to check on your application. Thursday 8 AM 4 PM The earlier you contact a lawyer the better. RAFT became the primary housing safety net during COVID-19. Is RAFT COVID $10k Optional for Landlords? Email to hc@cmhaonline.org. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. The program can also be used to help families who are already homeless pay for necessary costs to get into a house or apartment. Find contact information for your RAA here. The intake form does not need to be completed in person, however. Please let us know how we can improve this page. However, applications received after Aug. 1, 2022, will only be considered if the applicant has received a notice to quit, eviction notice or court summons related to rent arrears. Until Jan. 1, 2023, Landlords are required to send a notice to quit for non-payment of rent. 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. If you need assistance submitting an application or required documents through this portal, please refer to the corresponding document that is linked below. endstream endobj 2600 0 obj <>stream RAFT does not serve homeowners. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Once the application is in, the landlord will receive an email or call informing them an application has been started by one of their tenants. ***Your account must have info entered for the Payee, Properties, and Payment Methods sections on your profile before you can apply. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Join us! They will also be able to register multiple properties under one profile, as long as all of the properties have the same tax identification number. A list of regional agencies can be found at the Massachusetts Housing Consumer Education Centers site. The time between submitting a RAFT application and receiving a RAFT award or denial varies. If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. Suppose an inspection finds that a handrail is needed on a staircase. Landlords will see it was denied but will not be given tenants private information. 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. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. 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. The state officially adopted the program in 2006, and since then, RAFT funding has continually gone up, with funding for the 2019 fiscal year hitting $20 million. Your support is critical to help alleviate and prevent the impact of homelessness in Boston. If you think RAFT could help your renter and you apply on their behalf, you will need to provide their email address. On December 12, 2022, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) launched a new online application portal for tenants and landlords to submit RAFT applications and required documents. Thank you! 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. Podemos ayudar. This could include families who are facing eviction. Also, in order to qualify for RAFT COVID funds, tenants household income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income. The system will automatically match the codes and bring the two parts together. Program funds can be used for housing-related expenses only. The best way to apply is online. 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). Prior to state and federal expansion during COVID-19, a family more than $4,000 in arrears with their landlord would have a hard time using RAFT funding to stave off eviction. In August 2022, the limit was changed again. Of the approximately $400 million allocated to Massachusetts in the December 2020 Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA 2021), 65% had to be spent by Sept. 30, 2021, to avoid clawback. ONLY a court order can force you to leave your apartment. If your renters are in a tough spot, it is worth checking to see if RAFT funds are available and if your renters qualify. For instance, prospective rent payments are capped at one month's payment, as long as the household communicates this need on the application or to the person processing the application. Therefore, going through a regional Housing Consumer Education Center to complete an intake assessment is the first step to accessing RAFT funding. Landlord/Property Owner Portal Reference Guide Information for Applicants Effective August 1, 2022 the maximum benefit limit on the RAFT Program is $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. The administration announced the RAFT COVID program in October as part of its $171 million Eviction Diversion Initiative. Note that it will likely take 5 business days to hear back due to high volume. Landlords must obtain and submit a signed tenant consent form before applying for assistance. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and response, the state of Massachusetts initially made an additional $5 million available for RAFT. 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. All calls are free and confidential. For more information, visit the states RAFT guidance page. Phone: 617.859.0400 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 . You can find more information on RAFT and other housing resources by dialing 2-1-1, contacting your local Housing Consumer Education Center(HCEC), or at the following links: Emergency Housing Payment Assistance during COVID-19, Report fraud, waste, or abuse of the RAFT program, Please listen for phone menu options for DHCD divisions. Are your tenants behind on rent? 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. If your application is missing required information or documentation, staff from your local RAA will reach out to you to complete the application, which will add to the processing time for your application. Once you submit your application through the online portal, a Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or the Rental Assistance Processing Center (RAP Center) will process your application. Thank you for your website feedback! The long answer is a bit more complicated. In addition to the documents listed above, an application for RAFT also requires documentation from your landlord/property owner. 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). 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. Can a renter get RAFT directly and then not give it to the landlord? This verbiage implies that families who receive rental vouchers may also receive RAFT funds, at least under certain circumstances. Families living in emergency shelters are not eligible for RAFT funds, and in theory, RAFT is the superior program, as the goal of the Commonwealth is to keep families out of shelters in the first place. Blog Is RAFT COVID $10k Optional for Landlords? Please do not include personal or contact information. They were eligible to reapply after that time, but had to wait 12 months from their first received payment. The final four steps are pending final approval, approved pending payment and then approved or denied. Tenants will be able to see why their application was denied. 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. MassachusettsCommunity Mediation Centersare offering free pre-courtmediationbetweenlandlords and tenants for lease disputesin addition to the summary process cases referred through the courts. To view all of this presentation, you must be logged-in and a member in good standing. In actuality, renters have racked up back rent owed of well over $20,000. RAFT, which has been around since 2005, has helped many families with things like security deposits, rent and furniture since its inception. Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. If the landlord accepts, they forfeit the right to evict for six months or until June 2021. In other words, no, your tenant did not just keep their RAFT funds. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the official website. Please remove any contact information or personal data from your feedback. Proceed with caution: opting out of RAFT COVID funding could render landlords vulnerable to discrimination litigation. A lock icon ( Appropriate uses of funds include, but are not limited to: Financial Assistance Application Haitian Creole, Financial Assistance Application Portuguese, Financial Assistance Application Vietnamese, Financial Assistance Application in Chinese, Metro Housing|Boston Better Communities. Starting Nov. 14, landlords or tenants in these areas were able to file new RAFT applications through the portal. MassLandlords has sought clarification on the likelihood of litigation of the RAFT COVID provisions optionality, in correspondence with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), and the state Attorney Generals office. You can find more information below. Please limit your input to 500 characters. Find your regional agency and income eligibility data, Find Spanish language resources for landlords, FAQs for landlords about accepting state funded rental assistance. Applicants who have not already done so will be prompted to create a new profile and account. This included applications received prior to that date that were not processed until after the first. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. If you are a landlord and you believe your tenant may be eligible for rental assistance, you should: Learn about the RAFT program and other available resources. If youbelieve your tenant may be eligible for rental assistance, you should: Here is the information and documentation you need to provide: Tenant consent form: All adult household members must signtenant consent form, Landlord information: Address and contact Information, Reason for Application: Include documentation of housing crisis. Friday 8 AM 12:30 PM. In 2020, this limit was increased to $10,000, but was decreased to $7,000 within a rolling 12-month period on Jan. 1, 2022. Outcome: Landlord's mother has an extended order of protection to protect her from the tenant, the court ordered the tenant to permit access so repairs could be made and landlord received one year's rent arrearage from the RAFT program. Thank you for your website feedback! Please limit your input to 500 characters. A step-by-step guide on how to apply for RAFT is available here. States that did not use all of the federal money they were allocated were at risk of having that money "clawed back" by the U.S. Treasury. CC BY-SA 4.0 MassLandlords. Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, Emergency Rental Assistance: Landlord Journeys. Once you have submitted your application, your landlord/property owner will be asked to provide the following documents: The RAFT application takes between 20-50 minutes to complete. If the landlord decides to go ahead with eviction, are they on shaky legal ground? John Fisher, author of the Massachusetts Rental Owners Property Management Manual, said that RAFT regional agencies make direct payments to participating vendors (meaning landlords, utility companies, etc.). If you need assistance, please contact the Housing and Community Development. . Use this button to show and access all levels. A .mass.gov website belongs to an official government organization in Massachusetts. The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Not submitted means an application has been started, but not completed and turned in. Until Jan. 1, 2023, a Notice to Quit must be accompanied by information about tenants rights and rental assistance options. Monday 8 AM 4 PM Effective August 1, 2022 the maximum benefit limit on the RAFT Program is $10,000 per household in a 12-month period. If your tenant created an application already, you should receive a landlord invitation email. You can fill out the information with them. c. 151B s. 4 states that it is an unlawful practice: For any person furnishing credit, services or rental accommodations to discriminate against any individual who is a recipient of federal, state, or local public assistance, including medical assistance, or who is a tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient, or because of any requirement of such public assistance, rental assistance, or housing subsidy program.. If an individual needs assistance in completing their form, mass.gov reports that the regional agencies can provide help. (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. . On the other hand, in certain conditions, Section 8 might cause the landlord to lose money.