Get Help Resources | Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless | Homelessness Prevention & Housing Stabilization

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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.

SEARCH AVAILABILTY

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

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter Program

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

Emergency Assistance Advocacy Guide

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Housing assistance and support services for individuals under 25

Emergency Housing Resources for Young Adults

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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

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

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

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

New England Center and Home for Veterans

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

Emergency Shelters for Individuals

Emergency Shelter Resources

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

Tenant Rights

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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

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

Security Deposits

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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

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

Foreclosures

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

Understanding Rent

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

Repairs and Bad Housing Conditions

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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

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

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

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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)

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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

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MassHealth offers comprehensive health coverage for children and young adults, including preventive care, dental, behavioral health, and more. Learn about eligibility and how to apply

MassHealth Resources for Children and Young Adults

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For individuals recently released from jail or prison, MassHealth provides additional support through the Community Support Program for Justice-Involved (CSP-JI) members.

Community Support Program for Justice-Involved (CSP-JI) members.

MassHealth Resources

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

Housing Discrimination

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

Employment Discrimination

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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

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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

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

Understanding Public Housing

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

Local Housing Authority Contact Listing

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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

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

Applying for Public Housing

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

Affordable Housing Programs

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

Supportive Housing

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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

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

Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline

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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

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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

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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

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

Tenancy Preservation Progam

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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

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

Masshealth

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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

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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

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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

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

Metro Housing Boston

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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

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

NeighborWorks Housing Solutions

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

RCAP Solutions

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

South Middlesex Opportunity Council

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

Hearthway

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

Way Finders

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Housing counseling, rental and homeowner assistance, development services.

Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority

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Rental housing management, homeowner education, affordable housing advocacy.

Housing Nantucket

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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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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.

Verify My Income