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The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program offers financial aid for housing crises like eviction, foreclosure, moving costs, and utility loss.

The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program

The Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP) is a free resource to help eligible households pay a portion of winter heating bills.

Home Energy Assistance Programs

Aims to close the digital divide by ensuring that all residents have access to high-speed internet, digital devices, and the necessary skills for the digital age.

Digital Equity Program

Provides cash assistance, food stamps, job training and access to medical care for low-income families with children. 

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC)

A state-funded program that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who are elderly, disabled, or caring for a child who is not their own.

Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC)

Financial and Energy Resources

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Find Housing Today through the Housing Navigator Massachusetts

Housing Navigator Massachusetts provides an online platform that aggregates listings of affordable rental properties across the state. The tool is designed to simplify the search process for tenants and housing counselors, making it easier to find suitable housing options. The platform includes listings from various housing providers, including public housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, and private landlords who offer affordable units. It provides detailed information about each property, such as eligibility requirements, amenities, and contact information.

Is a state-funded initiative designed to provide immediate and temporary shelter to homeless families in Massachusetts.

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program

A Guide to Emergency Shelter and Re-housing Services for Families with Children Experiencing Homelessness in Massachusetts

Emergency Assistance Advocacy Guide

Housing assistance and support services for individuals under 25

Emergency Housing Resources for Young Adults

Temporary shelter in various locations, including hotels, motels, and dedicated family shelters.  Apply by contacting a local DTA office.

MA Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Directory

This act ensures homeless children and youth have equal educational access and stability, regardless of their housing status.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Is dedicated to providing support and housing solutions to veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

New England Center and Home for Veterans

These shelters provide temporary housing and various support services for individuals without children experiencing homelessness

Emergency Shelters for Individuals 

Emergency Shelter Resources

Understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant during move-in, throughout your tenancy, and when moving out.

Tenant Rights

For information on eviction procedures, such as receiving a Notice to Quit, representing yourself in court, or stopping an eviction, please seek further assistance or guidance.

Evictions

Learn about security deposits, including what landlords are allowed to charge and how to get your deposit back.

Security Deposits

An overview of laws that specifically apply to mobile homes, rooming houses, and condos in Massachusetts.

Tenant's Rights in Rooming Houses,  Mobile Homes, and Condos

Homeowners undergoing foreclosure and tenants living in properties being foreclosed upon.

Foreclosures

Learn the basics about rent laws for private housing, state and federal public housing, and subsidized housing.

Understanding Rent

Addressing issues with your landlord and documenting any health or safety concerns in your residence.

Repairs and Bad Housing Conditions

Navigating the Massachusetts court system, initiating a lawsuit against your landlord, and representing yourself in legal proceedings.

Taking your Landlord to Court

Tenant Rights and Resources

Provides monthly financial assistance to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase nutritious food.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Provides low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five with nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care services.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline is a confidential and toll-free hotline designed to connect Massachusetts residents with food resources and assistance.

Project Bread's Food Source Hotline 

Food Assistance Programs

Learn about the different forms of housing discrimination and protections under Massachusetts law.

Housing Discrimination

Learn about the different kinds of discrimination that can happen in the workplace and how you are protected under Massachusetts law.

Employment Discrimination

Businesses open to the public cannot deny people access or treat people differently based on their membership in a protected class.

Discrimination in Public Places

Regardless of your housing status, you are still eligible to vote. You can register to vote or update your voter registration information at DTA at any time. 

Your Right to Vote Regardless of Housing Status

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Massachusetts public housing provides affordable rental housing for low-income individuals and families.

Understanding Public Housing

Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities works with the following Local Housing Authorities in Massachusetts

Local Housing Authority Contact Listing

Housing assistance programs offer financial help, mainly through vouchers, to support low-income families and individuals in renting apartments outside of public housing.

Housing Vouchers

Use the CHAMP form (Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs) to apply for state-aided subsidized housing.

Applying for Public Housing

These programs are designed to ensure that individuals and families have access to safe, decent, and affordable homes.

Affordable Housing Programs

Offering on-site services for older adults and individuals with disabilities in designated public and private subsidized housing.

Supportive Housing

As a landlord or property manager, you have a role in your tenants’ applications for rental assistance programs, such as RAFT and housing vouchers (such as Section 8 and MRVP).

Housing Assistance Programs for Landlords

Public, Subsidized and Housing Assistance Programs

Provides free and confidential support and information about substance use treatment and recovery services.

Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline

If you are a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, connect with our caring, qualified responders for confidential help. Many of them are Veterans themselves.

Veteran Resource Centers

The Department of Mental Health ensures and facilitates access to necessary services and support for individuals of all ages, helping them live, work, and engage within their communities.

Massachusetts Dept. of Mental Health

Services designed to support the individual, familial, and social needs of survivors of domestic violence, their children, and/or their other dependents.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Resources

Learn more about the Tenancy Preservation Program, a homelessness prevention program that helps find solutions to disability-related issues.

Tenancy Preservation Progam

As a partner of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R) can provide you with resources for accessing child care services

Child Care Resources

Addiction, Mental Health and Child Care Support Services

MassHealth provides comprehensive healthcare coverage to eligible low-income residents, including families, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities

Masshealth

An initiative to address food insecurity, housing instability, and homelessness, aiming to improve health outcomes and reduce medical costs by partnering with community-based social service organizations.

Massachusetts Flexible Services Program

Community health centers provide primary, preventive and dental care, as well as mental health, substance use disorder and other community-based services to anyone in need regardless of their insurance status

Community Health Centers

Find a VA location or in-network community care provider. For same-day care for minor illnesses or injuries, select Urgent care for facility type.

Veteran Affairs Hospital

Healthcare and Community Health Centers

Offers services including housing search assistance, workshops on eviction prevention, and budget support among other resources.

Metro Housing Boston

Provides financial education, housing support, and information for both tenants and property owners. There are multiple locations: North Shore, Cape Ann, & Merrimack Valley

Community Teamwork 

Serves as a resource for foreclosure prevention, financial coaching, and RAFT program applications.

NeighborWorks Housing Solutions

Specializes in homeownership support, landlord and tenant mediation, and financial capability training

RCAP Solutions

Offers a variety of services including information and referral, individual counseling, homelessness prevention programs, workshops, and seminars.

South Middlesex Opportunity Council

Finding Affordable Housing Solutions for all People across the Communities of Berkshire County

Hearthway

Housing support, financial literacy, rental assistance, homelessness prevention.

Way Finders

Housing counseling, rental and homeowner assistance, development services.

Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority

Rental housing management, homeowner education, affordable housing advocacy.

Housing Nantucket

Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, providing a variety of housing-related services.

Housing Assistance Corporation

Housing Support and Education Services

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Get Help

Navigate this page to find assistance accessing housing, shelters, benefits, and homelessness prevention resources in Massachusetts. 

Your Guide to Area Median Income and Housing and Benefits Eligibility

In Massachusetts benefit programs and housing assistance are based on Area Median Income (AMI). Understanding AMI is crucial because it determines eligibility for various programs and housing options, particularly those aimed at low- and moderate-income families. Programs often categorize income levels as a percentage of the AMI, such as 30%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 120%.

Double check your eligibility for assistance based off of your income by clicking the button below.