Housing Counseling

Background

The Housing Counseling program works to prevent homelessness and to promote safe, stable and affordable housing. Services include counseling and education regarding landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities. Homelessness prevention and residential stabilization services include ongoing case management, referrals to additional community services and emergency payments for rental and utility arrearages.

One of the funding programs available is RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) which is an Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) funded homelessness prevention program. RAFT provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Through funding from the United Way, the Housing Counseling program offers community trainings on tenant’s rights and responsibilities. Also, in collaboration with the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center of Central MA, we provide trainings on landlord rights and responsibilities.

Difficulty paying your rent?

Emergency Housing Assistance is available

Walk-In Hours for RAFT Applications

Walk in hours are Tuesday 9:30am-11:30am & Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm

Apply for RAFT online

Required Documents:

Tenant:

  • Picture ID,

  • Verification of current housing (example: lease),

  • Housing crisis (example: notice to quit or utility shut off)

Landlord:

  • Picture ID

  • W-9

  • Proof of ownership (example: deed)

  • Banking information for direct deposit

Visit here for more information of the RAFT Program.

FAQs

  • Emergency Rental Assistance is available.

  • Please email hc@cmhaonline.org to initiate Housing Counseling services.

    You may also call 508-752-5519 x172.

  • A Landlord can ask for first month’s rent, last month’s rent, security deposit and a key deposit.

  • Tenant at Will: This notice terminates the tenancy for non-payment of rent. If the tenant is being evicted for non-payment of rent, the tenant may avoid the eviction by paying the rent due within 10 days business days of receiving the notice.

  • Tenant At Will: This notice terminates the tenancy for any reason other then non-payment of rent, the tenant must be given written 30 days notice, or one full rental period in advance, whichever is longer.

  • A rental increase may be any amount that the landlord wishes to charge. Tenants at will may face a rent increase at any time, as long as a proper notice of at least one full rental period is received.

  • A landlord can bring an eviction against a tenant at any time, during any season. The important thing to remember is that the landlord must follow certain procedures before he or she can evict a tenant.

  • If you have a lease: Some courts in Massachusetts have found that the sale of a building does not end a lease before its expiration date. The law, however, is not clear.

    If you do not have a lease: The tenancy will continue until the landlord gives the tenant a written 30-day notice to quit that tells the tenant that he or she is ending the tenancy.

  • State Housing: Anyone is eligible for state housing programs, regardless of immigration status. In addition, Massachusetts changed its state law in the 1990's to remove any reporting requirement for state-assisted benefits.

    Federal Housing: For federal housing programs, you are eligible for housing as long as at least one member of the family is a citizen or person who has "eligible non-citizen" status. "Eligible non-citizen" includes people who are legal permanent residents or who have obtained refugee or asylum status, but does not necessarily include everyone who has work authorization.

Contact

Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance
6 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609

Virginia Kamiri-Mwangi, Director

Please email hc@cmhaonline.org or call 508-752-5519 x172.