The Office of Housing Stability assists tenants and landlords in navigating complicated housing issues, resources, and external agencies.
The Housing Stability Office is going through staff changes, please call 311 for questions and concerns regarding housing assistance. For RAFT related questions and assistance, please contact the State Housing Coordinators (866) 584-0653
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies caused by loss of income, increase in expenses, or both. RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $10,000 per household to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent costs, as well as future rent in limited situations.
The following documentation is required to apply:
ID for Head of Household (such as a state issued driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport)
Proof of Current Housing (such as a lease, tenancy agreement, or tenancy at will agreement)
Verification of Housing Crisis (such as a Notice to Quit, an eviction notice, a utility shutoff notice, or documentation showing an inability to stay in your current home due to health, safety, or other reasons)
Income Verification. In addition, after you apply, the Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) Center processing your application will need to verify your income. They will attempt to do this automatically through a data match with other benefits programs and will reach out to you to provide income documents if necessary.
You must submit a complete application with all required documents to receive benefits.
Additionally, we encourage tenants to reach out early to their landlords and inform them about their application for RAFT. Landlords or property management will be needed to complete the process.
For Special Accommodations
Applying online is the most direct and efficient way to apply for financial assistance. If you are unable to assist your client in completing the online application, please call the state housing coordinators at (866) 584-0653.
The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) provides financial assistance to help homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A legal assistance program including volunteer lawyers at some courthouses
Lawyer for the Day programs across various courts provide basic legal advice, help you understand relevant laws and your rights, and assist you in filling out court forms. They do not go with you into the courtroom, but can equip you to better represent yourself in court.
Eviction Guide for Renters
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has developed a Step-by-Step Guide for renters that are at risk of eviction. You can find the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) guide at the following link: Step-by-Step Guide for People at Risk of Eviction
SEEK HELP IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PAY YOUR RENT **All Tenants Are Still Required to Pay Their Rent.**
If you need help with rental assistance or free legal assistance relating to housing or eviction, please contact our Homelessness Prevention & Legal Services Program hotline at (781) 322-9119 x146.
Additional Eviction Resources
If you received a Notice to Quit or Eviction Summons and Complaint from the Court, please contact GBLS & CELHP. Boston also provides an excellent "how to respond to an eviction" page for more information about legal resources.
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness has developed a Step-by-Step Guide for renters that are at risk of eviction. You can find the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) guide at the following link: Step-by-Step Guide for People at Risk of Eviction
Tenant Resources
Having a Problem with Your Landlord?
A landlord cannot force you out by changing the locks or shutting off the utilities.
Landlords must follow a legal eviction process. If the landlord has changed your locks, please call the police. You should also report the landlord to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Hotline: You can call Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, at 617-727-8400, or submit online.
Landlords are eligible to apply for financial assistance on behalf of their tenants who are overdue on rent due to COVID. All adult household members must sign a Tenant Consent form in order for the Landlord to complete this process.
The City of Revere’s Substance Use Disorder Initiatives (SUDI) Office has partnered with Health Innovations to support those experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Health Innovations is located at the SUDI Office every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM - 2 PM. All services are free and confidential, and no is appointment necessary.
The program is staffed by a nurse practitioner and harm reduction specialist who speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Services include, but are not limited to:
Street Outreach and Engagement
Conduct outreach to homeless encampments and other locations where high risk populations and members of their social networks congregate
Access to basic needs prioritized by clients, e.g., distributing basic necessities and harm reduction supplies
Provide health education and information about health and community services
Reinforce positive behaviors, and facilitate client empowerment
Harm Reduction
Conduct HIV, Hepatitis B & C, STI and COVID testing
Provide information on preventing transmission of infectious diseases, and safe injection practices
Conduct Comprehensive individual risk assessment including sexual risk, drug use risk, mental health, etc.
Provide training on how to use condoms correctly and consistently
Provide access to Syringe Service Programs
Conduct overdose education and prevention, and provision of naloxone
Case Management
Linkage to emergency shelters and housing resources
Link clients to Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) providers
Enroll or re-enroll in Mass Health and Medicaid, and assist with other public benefits
Assist clients and choosing a provider of choice or re-engaging, including connection to health insurance
Triage and refer to appropriate level of care
Troubleshoot pharmacy related barriers
Provide active referrals to substance abuse treatment and other social services
Dept. of Housing & Community Development (Continuum of Care (CoC))
The CoC is a regional body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless individuals and families. The City of Revere is part of the Balance of the State CoC, which is the only CoC managed by the Dept. of Housing & Community Development.
The CoC prioritizes helping those experiencing unsheltered homelessness and living in shelters the streets access to permanent housing with ongoing support services. This included:
Funding permanent supported housing for over 800 formerly homeless individuals and families
Conducting street outreach to homeless people living in places people would not normally live (abandoned buildings, under bridges, in their cars, etc.) in an effort to get them into a more safe environment
Working with CoC members in an effort to help better coordinate homeless services in the CoC jurisdiction
Increasing the number of housing units to be made available by leveraging other local and state resources to provide the services
Who is Eligible?
Homeless individuals and families with a disabling condition, and a long-term need for ongoing help to access and maintain housing
How to Access CoC Resources
People interested in applying for CoC-funded housing through Balance of State should discuss his or her needs with local homeless service providers, and/or with a worker representing a state agency funded provider. These service providers can help complete a Coordinated Entry Overview application packet.
If you don’t know of a service provider, applications may be obtained by either:
For help in accessing an emergency shelter, either speak with a local homeless service provider, if you know of one, or follow this link to the Service Provider Listing.
