The state of Massachusetts passed an eviction moratorium bill, with the current end date of August 18, 2020 - meaning no one can be evicted between now and August 18, 2020.
Massachusetts Residents, if you won’t be able to pay your rent, send this form to your landlord within 30 days of the missed payment. Instructions on how to fill out the form are here. If you have any questions about the form, contact your local HCEC (you can find your local HCEC here). One form must be filled out for each month of the missed payment. If you’re having trouble accessing the form, send a letter or email to your landlord with the same information and documentation. This will protect you from rental late fees and reporting under the MA Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium Act. If your landlord is holding your last month’s rent, they can use it to pay their own mortgage and expenses related to your apartment or building but cannot ask you to pay last month’s rent again.
The City of Cambridge has issued a similar emergency temporary eviction enforcement order. The Eviction Moratorium does not protect tenants from eviction once the City determines that the public health emergency no longer exists. Therefore, tenants and homeowners should continue to make payments or work out payment plans with their landlords. See more info about who to contact below.
Students who live outside of Cambridge can visit this COVID-19 Emergency Tenant Protections Tracker to determine whether their city has passed any laws to prevent evictions.
If you live in Somerville you can also visit Enroot's Somerville Housing page.
Cambridge residents can contact the Cambridge MultiService Center, which addresses the needs of homeless and near-homeless individuals and families living in Cambridge. They provide direct services, planning and coordination of efforts for persons who are living on the street, living in emergency shelters, or who are at risk of losing their housing. Contact Lynne Tyree by calling 617-349-6340 or emailing ltyree@cambridgema.gov
Cambridge residents can contact Homestart, Inc., which is a non-profit organization that can assist renters with homelessness prevention, housing search, stabilization services, rental assistance and money management. Their website is here and you can contact them at 617-234-5340.
CASLS (Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services) provides free legal assistance to low-income households in the city. They have expertise in eviction, affordable housing preservation, and more.
Students living in Cambridge, Somerville, or Boston can apply to the RAFT program through the Metro Boston Office of Housing at this link. **Note this application suggests that applicants must have an SSN to apply, but Metro Boston confirmed with Sophia that applicants only need to submit an SSN if they have one.** Applicants can also call 617-625-6600 ext. 2581 to request OHS (Office of Housing Stability) assistance in receiving RAFT benefits.
Students living in other areas of MA can consult this directory to locate the regional housing authority through which they can apply to RAFT.
All Massachusetts residents can apply for the Covid-19 Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program to receive up to $4,000 in rental assistance over 12 months. When applying for this state-level program, applicants can put N/A instead of a social security number. Tenants will face no public charge consequence for receiving residential assistance. Money will go directly to landlords.
All Massachusetts residents, there is a new statewide fund named ERMA, which will provide direct funding and expand eligibility for rental payment assistance. Similar to the RAFT program, ERMA will provide up to $4,000 for payments that were due April 1st, 2020. Beginning in July 1st, applicants can reach out to the 11 agencies that administer RAFT, which are the nine Housing Consumer Education Centers, LHAND, and the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance.