How to apply for rent or mortgage payment relief

Families can now apply for help with rent or mortgage payments through 11 regional agencies that work with RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) & ERMA (Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assitance). Families that qualify will receive up to $4,000 per 12-month period to help keep their housing, obtain new housing, or avoid becoming homeless.

Due to COVID-19,  additional flexibility has been authorized to help address today’s housing crisis. These changes include but are not limited to:

• Providing short self-statement connecting your housing emergency with the COVID-19 crisis, third party verification or documentation verifying loss of income is not needed
• Applications may be processed without documents that might be unavailable due to COVID-19
• Applicants may qualify for utility assistance by providing a notice of arrears, shutoff notice is not necessary

Please visit Metro Housing | Boston’s website to learn more about how to apply for assistance, requirements for qualifying, what the funds can be used for, and more.

If you would like more information on how you can help Metro Housing | Boston meet the needs of the families they serve, click here.