Massachusetts Rent Relief: RAFT, HomeBASE, and Help When You Are Behind on Rent

Massachusetts rent relief at a glance

Massachusetts pays for its own emergency housing programs through the state budget, so they did not end when federal pandemic rent money ran out. That makes the Commonwealth one of the few places where a statewide rent program still takes applications every day. The programs are run by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and a network of regional agencies.

Each program fits a different situation. This table shows where to start.

Massachusetts 2-1-1 can answer basic program questions 24 hours a day at 211 or (877) 211-6277, with interpreters available. For a wider look at state benefits, see our guide to Massachusetts assistance programs.

How RAFT works

RAFT is short-term emergency money meant to keep you in your current home or help you move to a new one. According to the state’s RAFT page, it provides up to $7,000 per 12-month period, and the money can go toward:

• Back rent you owe your landlord.
• Utility bills when you face a shutoff.
• Moving costs, such as first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, or movers, when you need to relocate.
• Mortgage payments for homeowners who have fallen behind.

Payments go straight to the landlord, utility, or other vendor, not to you. That is why your landlord has to take part. Once you submit your application, your landlord or property manager must complete their own landlord application. If they do not do it within 21 days, your application times out and you will have to start again. Landlords can also start an application on behalf of a tenant.

The $7,000 limit is a total for the 12 months, not per bill. If your back rent is higher than the cap, ask your landlord whether they will accept RAFT plus a payment plan for the rest, and ask 211 about charities that can add to it. RAFT is funded each year in the state budget, and advocates reported that it ran short of money before the end of a recent fiscal year, so apply as soon as you know you need help.

Who qualifies for RAFT?

Mass.gov lists two main tests. First, you must be at risk of homelessness or losing your housing. Examples include:

• You received a notice to quit or an eviction notice.
• You are behind on your mortgage.
• You received a utility shutoff notice.
• You cannot stay in your home because of health, safety, or other reasons.

Second, your household income must be under 50% of the area median income (AMI) for your city or town. If you are at risk of domestic violence, the limit is under 60% of AMI. AMI is set by HUD for each area and changes every year, so the dollar limit in Boston is different from the limit in Springfield or Pittsfield. The state has a RAFT eligibility checker that walks you through the questions and links to your town’s limit.

RAFT is not only for families with children. Individuals, older adults, and people with disabilities can apply too.

Applying through the Housing Help Hub

You apply for RAFT, and check its status, on the Housing Help Hub. Mass.gov says the application takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Before you start, gather:

• ID for the head of household, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport.
• Proof of your current housing, such as a lease or a tenancy-at-will agreement.
• Proof of the housing crisis, such as a notice to quit, an eviction notice, a shutoff notice, or proof you are behind on the mortgage.
• Income information. The state tries to check income automatically; if it cannot, you will be asked to upload documents.

What happens next:

1. A Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or the state’s Rental Assistance Processing Center reviews your file. If something is missing, staff email you with a deadline.
2. Your landlord submits their part. Tell them right away that you applied.
3. You may be asked to verify your identity through ID.me.
4. Mass.gov says most applicants hear back in under 30 days, and complete files move faster.
5. If approved, the payment usually goes out within 14 business days.

If you cannot apply online, contact your RAA and they can help another way. If you are denied, the decision email explains how to ask the agency to review it.

The eviction process and your timeline

In Massachusetts, only a court can order you to leave. A landlord who changes the locks or removes your things without a court order is breaking the law. The state’s tenants’ guide to eviction lays out the steps:

A notice to quit does not mean you must leave that day. It is a warning that starts the process. If the notice is for unpaid rent, paying what you owe, sometimes called “curing,” may stop the case.

The most important protection for renters who apply for help: mass.gov says that even if your landlord takes you to court, you cannot be evicted while you have a pending RAFT application. Bring proof of your application to court and tell the judge.

Free legal help and mediation

Legal help is available statewide, though demand is high and not everyone gets a full-time lawyer. Mass.gov says legal aid can offer referrals, legal information, and limited representation, mostly in Housing Court, and some programs also help in District Court and with subsidy terminations. Start here:

• Legal Resource Finder. The state-backed Legal Resource Finder matches you with legal aid programs, nonprofits, and court programs near you.
• Court Service Centers. The courts run these for people without a lawyer, with no income or immigration status requirement.
• Lawyer for the Day. If you are already in court, it is not too late. Ask whether a volunteer lawyer is available that day.
• Free mediation. Massachusetts Community Mediation Centers offer free, confidential mediation between tenants and landlords, before or after a case is filed. You can find a center through Resolution MA.

Mediation is worth trying early, especially for RAFT, since the program needs your landlord to cooperate. A written agreement from mediation can include a payment plan and the landlord’s promise to accept RAFT funds. Learn more on the state’s eviction legal services and mediation page.

Emergency Assistance shelter and HomeBASE

If your family has already lost housing, or is about to, the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter program is the next door. You apply through the Housing Help Hub. Per mass.gov, to be eligible a family must live in Massachusetts, meet income standards, include children under 21 or a pregnant person, and be homeless for a covered reason, such as a no-fault fire, flood, condemnation, or foreclosure, fleeing domestic violence, a no-fault eviction, or a serious health and safety risk to a child.

HomeBASE helps EA-eligible families move into stable housing instead of, or out of, shelter. According to the state’s HomeBASE page, it provides up to $30,000 over a two-year period and can pay for:

• Monthly rent help for up to two years, for your own apartment, a shared unit, or living with a host.
• First and last month’s rent, a security deposit, and a broker’s fee.
• Up to $5,000 in old rent or utility debt when it is blocking a new lease.
• Up to $2,500 for beds or a kitchen table and chairs, plus some moving costs.
• A landlord incentive of up to one month’s rent.

With HomeBASE, you pay at least 30% of your gross monthly income toward rent, and a case manager helps you plan for when the help ends. There is no separate application: families found eligible for EA are contacted, often within 24 hours. Shelter rules and capacity have tightened in recent years, so apply as early as you can and keep copies of everything.

State and federal rental vouchers

RAFT and HomeBASE are temporary. If rent is simply more than you can afford, a voucher is the long-term fix, though waiting lists are long.

• MRVP. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program is a state voucher similar to Section 8. The income limit is 80% of area median income, and you pay at least 30% of your net monthly income toward rent. Apply through CHAMP, the state’s online housing application, or with a paper form at a local housing agency. You may qualify for a homeless priority that speeds things up.
• AHVP. The Alternative Housing Voucher Program serves people with disabilities, and you can apply for it alongside MRVP.
• Section 8. Federal Housing Choice Vouchers are run by local housing authorities and regional agencies. See our Section 8 application guide.
• Public housing. State and federal public housing applications also go through CHAMP or your local housing authority.

Keep your email and phone number current in every application. Agencies contact people as they reach the top of the list, and a missed message can cost your place.

Other ways to free up money for rent

Lowering other bills is often the fastest way to make rent manageable:

• Heating help. HEAP fuel assistance helps renters and owners with heating costs, with an income limit of 60% of state median income for 2026–27. Approval also opens your utility’s discount rate. See our Massachusetts utility relief guide.
• SNAP. Food benefits free up cash for rent. For October 2026 through September 2027, the gross income limit for one person is $1,729 a month in most states, and the maximum benefit for one person is $306. Massachusetts uses broader rules for many households, so apply even if you are close.
• Cash help. Families with children may qualify for TAFDC, and older adults and people with disabilities for EAEDC, through the Department of Transitional Assistance.
• Charities. Local churches, the Salvation Army, and community action agencies sometimes cover the part of a balance that RAFT does not. Ask 211.

What documents do I need to apply?

Expect to show photo ID, Social Security numbers for the people applying, proof of income for the last 30 days, and proof of where you live, plus any paper that shows the emergency itself. Our document checklist explains what counts for each item and what to do if something is missing. If you don't have everything yet, apply anyway and ask the office how long you have to bring the rest.

What to do this week, step by step

1. Read your notice. Note whether it is a 14-day or 30-day notice and the date it ends.
2. Apply for RAFT. Use the Housing Help Hub, or call your regional agency if you cannot apply online.
3. Tell your landlord. Ask them to complete the landlord application within 21 days.
4. Try mediation. Contact a Community Mediation Center to work out a payment plan.
5. Get legal help. Use the Legal Resource Finder or call 211, especially if you receive a Summons and Complaint.
6. Go to court if you are summoned. Bring proof that your RAFT application is pending.
7. Plan for next year. Apply for MRVP and Section 8 waiting lists, HEAP, and SNAP.

Related guides

• Massachusetts assistance programs
• Rent relief programs
• Emergency rental assistance program
• Catholic Charities rent assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Program limits and funding are set by the Commonwealth and can change with each state budget. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any government agency.