Yesterday, Governor Baker announced the Eviction Diversion Initiative. More details from his press release are below. To learn how to access resources go here for English web page and and here for the Spanish web page; you can also find a flyer in English and a flyer in Spanish.
While the Network appreciates the Governor’s proposal as an important step forward, advocacy for the Guaranteed Housing Stability Act continues to protect tens of thousands of households from eviction and foreclosure who will remain at risk. The Homes for All MA Coalition has released this statement in response to the Governor’s proposal.
Some excerpts from the Governor’s press release:
The Administration is making a $171 million total commitment this fiscal year, with $112 million of new funding to support new and expanded housing stability programs during the remainder of the fiscal year, including:
- $100 million commitment this fiscal year to expand the capacity of the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program to provide relief to renters and landlords impacted by COVID-19;
- $48.7 million to HomeBASE and other rapid rehousing programs for when tenants are evicted and are at risk of homelessness;
- $12.3 million to provide tenants and landlords with access to legal representation and related services prior to and during the eviction process, as well as community mediation to help tenants and landlords resolve cases outside of court;
- $6.5 million for Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs), the “front door” for those facing a housing emergency; and
- $3.8 million for the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP), to provide case management support and to act as a neutral party to help tenants and landlords come to agreement.
New investments will expand the capacity of the RAFT program and increase the maximum benefit available through RAFT from $4,000 to $10,000 per household, with a goal of helping more families stabilize their housing for six months, or until the end of June if there are school-age children in the household, on their path to recovery.
For the entire press release, click here.
And to take action to pass the Guaranteed Housing Stability Bill, click here.
