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Language Assistance Plan (LAP) | Reasonable Accomodations

COVID Help: If you can’t pay your rent due to COVID-19

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A RENTAL VOUCHER

 

Are you unable to pay your current tenant share? If so, you may be eligible for a change in the tenant share you pay your property owner.

 

To get started, email the Leased Housing Gateway Team at Gateway@MetroHousingBoston.org.  Be sure to include the name of the head of household and current address. This process only applies to current voucher program participants with Metro Housing through Section 8, MRVP, or COC.

For Market Rate Renters Who Cannot Pay 

For individuals and families at risk of being displaced or forced to leave their homes due to COVID-19 employment loss, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA), may be the solution.

 

These programs provides eligible households up to $4,000 that can be used to help keep their housing, obtain new housing, pay their mortgage, or otherwise avoid becoming homeless regardless of source of income, lack of income, citizenship, or immigration status.

 

Please choose from the following cities/towns below to be redirected to the proper application

 

To apply in other languages, go to this webpage.

 

Due to the large increase in the number of applications to our rental and mortgage relief programs, our response time (not approval time) to applicants is taking longer than usual. We appreciate your patience while our staff reviews the applications in the order in which they were received.

 

If you have other questions or need further guidance, visit the Eviction Prevention page or contact the Housing Hub at ResourceLine@MetroHousingBoston.org.

Special Notes for Rent and Mortgage Relief Seekers

If you have lost your job or had your work hours reduced because of COVID-19 and cannot pay rent, you may be protected.  There is a state moratorium on evictions in effect through October 17, 2020.  There is also a federal moratorium on evictions in effect through December 31, 2020.

 

For the Massachusetts protections, the first required step is that you provide your landlord this completed notice (or this notice in Spanish) within 30 days of the deadline to certify that the non-payment was due to COVID-19.

 

This form should be completed as a first step before seeking financial assistance for a market rate unit.