Governor Announces Measures to Promote Housing Stability During COVID-19 Emergency

On March 26, Governor Baker announced steps to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. These steps include the following:

• DHCD is temporarily suspend terminations of federal and state rental vouchers under their purview.
• $5 million from MassHousing will be made available to a COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) fund to assist families facing rent insecurity.
• The Division of Banks (DOB) issued new guidance to Massachusetts financial institutions and lenders urging them to provide relief for borrowers and will advocate for a 60-day stay on behalf of all homeowners facing imminent foreclosure on their homes.
• DHCD issued guidance recommending that all owners of state aided low-income housing, including Local Housing Authorities and private owners, suspend both pending non-essential evictions and the filing of any new non-essential evictions.
• Affordable housing operators are urged to suspend non-essential evictions for loss of income or employment circumstances resulting in a tenant’s inability to make rent.
• This guidance urges operators to establish reasonable payment plans, notify Section 8 or public housing residents about interim income recertification to adjust rent payments, and to consider offering relief funding for residents ineligible for income reassessment.

Read the Governor's press release here: https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-extension-of-school-and-non-emergency-child-care-program.

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