On Monday October 12, 2020 Governor Baker's administration announced a comprehensive set of resources, known as the Eviction Diversion Initiative, to support tenants and landlords during the financial challenges caused by the pandemic. The goal of this initiative is to keep tenants safely in their homes and to support the ongoing expenses of landlords once the Commonwealth’s pause of evictions and foreclosures expires on Saturday, October 17th. According to the announcment, this strategy was developed by a cross-agency team assembled by Governor Bker's Administration in coordination with the Massachusetts Trial Court to manage the end of the moratorium on October 17th and reflects input from a broad range of stakeholders.
Funding highlights from the Commonwealth include $171 million total commitment in FY21, with $112 million of new funding to support new and expanded housing stability programs during the remainder of the fiscal year. Key highlights:
- $100 million in emergency rental assistance through RAFT.
- Up to $12.3 million to provide tenants and landlords with access to legal representation and related services prior to and during the eviction process, as well as community mediation to bring tenants and landlords together to find a resolution.
- Nearly $50 million for post-eviction rapid rehousing
Keeping you and your family safely housed is critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19. If you are having trouble with housing costs such as paying rent or making mortgage payments due to the pandemic, and are at risk of eviction and becoming homeless, you may be eligible for direct assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Development.