RentMortgageLegalHelpMarch242021Financial Assistance for Renters and Homeowners
& Legal Resources for Northampton Residents
(updated March 24, 2021)
A. Financial Assistance
The state has increased the financial assistance available for individuals and families who are behind in
their rent or mortgage because of COVID-19 and/or are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, as well as
expanded eligibility for more low-income people. These funds can be used for:
• Overdue Rent, Mortgages, Utilities
• First/Last Month’s Rent
• Security Deposit
• Utility Assistance
• Moving Costs
• Furniture (if moving)
Way Finders is administering the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and
Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) programs. Applications and complete information
are available at: https://www.wayfinders.org/apply-financial-assistance. Due to the volume of people
requesting funding, it is advised that you start your application as soon as possible.
Or call 413-233-1600 for assistance.
Way Finders is encouraging people to apply online, because the pandemic has increased the demand for
these resources – however, if a person is unable or needs assistance, they can call 413-233-1600 to
schedule an appointment at their Northampton office.
Changes in these programs due to COVID-19 include:
• Increasing the maximum assistance from $4,000 to $10,000 for households who have experienced a
financial hardship related to COVID-19
o Payment of RAFT benefit above $4,000 can be used to help subsidize future rent for at least
six months, or until June 2021 for households with school-aged children, whichever is later
o Tenant pays at least 30% of gross income toward future rent (RAFT may cover a stipend
payment if rent is not affordable on current income)
• Increasing the eligible income threshold beyond 50% of Area Median Income (AMI) to 80% - see
website for limits by household size
• ERMA will provide up to $4,000 for eligible households to pay rent or mortgage payments in arrears
going back to payments due April 1, 2020
• Even if a person has been denied in the past or if they have used their maximum RAFT benefit in the
past 12 months, they may be eligible for new programs
• New flexible policies to make RAFT easier and faster to access including:
o Relaxed requirements for documentation (Social Security cards or birth certificates not
required)
o Allowance of electronic signatures on application documents
o Court summons NOT required for payment of rent arrears
o Ability to access funds for rent or mortgage stipends without owing arrears if household can
demonstrate loss of income due to COVID-19
• Landlords may now apply on behalf of tenants: https://www.wayfinders.org/landlord-rafterma-
application
• Additional information, in multiple languages is available for free by phone at the: 211
The City of Northampton is also funding Community Action Pioneer Valley for an Emergency Rental
& Utility Assistance Program for eligible households.
Eligibility requirements:
o Must be a renter and at least 30 days behind in rent and/or utilities
o Must live in Northampton, Florence or Leeds
o Must have a negative economic impact due to COVID-19
o Total household income must less than 80% of the area median income
o Households must demonstrate a need for assistance, be behind in rent or utilities 30 days or
more, and have insufficient income and/or savings to pay their monthly rent
o Households cannot currently be receiving HomeBase or RAFT
o Maximum award per household is $2,200 and can be combined for both rent and utility arrears
For more information and to apply: call Community Action Pioneer Valley 413-475-1570
Or visit the State’s COVID Housing Resources page: https://www.mass.gov/guides/facing-eviction-we-can-help
B. Legal Resources
If you have received a notice of termination or are facing eviction (at any stage), you should apply for
help at Community Legal Aid which has expanded their capacity and services to serve tenants.
Call 413-781-7814 or apply on line at www.communitylegal.org.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts moratoriums on evictions have expired, but the current CDC
moratorium is set to expire on March 31, 2021. It may be extended. While this moratorium is in effect,
courts can accept filings and process cases, and may enter judgments, but they will not issue an order of
execution (the court order that allows a landlord to evict a tenant) until after the expiration of the CDC
order.
Protection is limited to households who meet the following income and vulnerability criteria:
To not face eviction, tenants must fill out a CDC written declaration form which can be accessed here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf.
The Massachusetts Trial Court has also changed its procedures for hearing eviction cases.
• After being served with an eviction summons and complaint, the court will mail a notice of a
status hearing to the parties
• These status hearings are happening virtually through Zoom
o Litigants who cannot access Zoom are instructed in the notice to call the court to set-up
an alternative means for participating in their status hearing
• At these status hearings, the parties can choose to mediate if they are ready to make an
agreement
• Information about financial and legal resources are also being included in the court notices
• Parties who are unable to come to agreement will then be scheduled for trial no less than two
weeks after this first court event
• The deadline for tenants to file Answers and Requests for Discovery has also changed under
these new court procedures
• Answers and Requests for Discovery are now due three days before the first status hearing
• More information regarding COVID updates to The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Housing
Court can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/civil-information-sheet-western-division-of-
the-housing-court/download
• A list of court forms related to the summary process (eviction) can be found here:
https://www.mass.gov/lists/court-forms-for-eviction
C. Additional Legal Help Resources
• Mass Legal Help: Legal information about a wide range of housing related legal issues, including
the CDC moratorium, and information about evictions
o www.masslegalhelp.org/covid-19/housing
• MADE (Massachusetts Defense for Eviction): An online guided interview that helps tenants
create their own answer and request for discovery
o https://www.masslegalhelp.org/housing/eviction-answer-interview
• Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder: Find contact information for the civil legal aid program
that serves your region
o Contact information for other legal help resources, including nonprofits with legal
programs, government hotlines, court-based programs, the private bar and other
sources of legal help.
o http://www.MassLRF.org
• Covid Eviction Legal Help Project (CELHP): Free legal help to low-income tenants and to
low-income owner-occupants of 2 or 3 family homes.
o https://evictionlegalhelp.org/find-legal-help/