Finding New Housing

Can you get help keeping or moving to housing?

Homeless families not in shelter

If your family is homeless or at risk of homelessness but not yet in EA shelter, you may be able to get help keeping your housing or finding and moving to new housing from:

• The Regional Networks created by the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, listed in ICHH Regional Contacts. Some of these Networks have representatives in some DHCD offices.  Contact the Network in your local area for help or ask your DHCD worker what kind of help is available to help you not need shelter.
• Regional nonprofit agencies. Contact the one serving your local area. Among other resources, these agencies administer a program called RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition). The RAFT program helps eligible families keep housing, get new housing, or otherwise avoid homelessness. When funds are available, RAFT provides money for security deposits, first and last month's rent, moving expenses, rent and utility and mortgage arrears, and other housing-related expenses for homeless families and families at risk of homelessness.

Homeless Families in Shelter

If your family is in EA shelter, you may get help finding housing from:

• Your shelter provider who is paid to help you find permanent housing. Shelter providers have funds to help you move into housing, including "Flexible Funds." See DHS Emergency Assistance Flexible Funds Administrative Plan: Re-Housing and Stabilization (Including Extensions) Update (8/2/10), www.masslegalservices.org/node/33378.

• Under the current Flexible Funds rules, shelter providers have EA funds they can use to:

Move families who have been in shelter for 30 days into long-term subsidized housing (such as public housing) with a 12 month lease. The maximum available is $2,000 per family and can be used to pay for the tenant’s portion of first and last month’s rent, a security deposit, up to $150 of moving expenses, beds and a refrigerator if not included in the unit, and the amount of a utility arrearage needed to restore service.

 Move families who have been in shelter for 30 days into private market housing with a temporary rental subsidy. The funds can be used for a 12-month rental subsidy (including first and last month’s rent and assuming the family will pay 25% of its income for rent). They can also pay for a security deposit, up to $150 of moving expenses, beds and a refrigerator if not included in the unit, and the amount of a utility arrearage needed to restore service. No more than $1,500 can be for the combined cost of furniture, moving and utility arrearage. Maximum rent for a private market unit may not exceed 100% of Fair Market Rent determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Within 60 days of expiration of the 12 month subsidy, families are to be informed of their right to seek a 6-month extension of the subsidy or $150 to move elsewhere if the landlord will not extend the lease.

Move families in EA shelter out of state by providing transportation of up to $200 per family member to move confirmed accommodations in another state.

• The Regional Networks listed in Appendix D who may have access to federal Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (HPRP) funds that pay for short term subsidies and other needs. Contact your local network or ask your shelter provider for help.
• The DTA Relocation Benefit Program. DTA (separate from DHCD) will pay up to $1,000 to help get permanent housing for some families who are leaving a shelter or a teen living program. This benefit may be used for advance rent, security deposit, rent or utility arrears, moving expenses or other relocation costs. The relocation benefit is available through a DTA worker for:

 a family receiving TAFDC or EAEDC who has been in emergency shelter for 60 days or more,
 a family receiving TAFDC who has been in a domestic violence shelter for 60 days or more,
 a teen parent age 18 or 19 who has been in a teen living program for 60 days or more and can live independently. 106 C.M.R. § 705.350.

You can get the $1,000 relocation benefit only once in a 12-month period. But it is not an EA benefit and will not disqualify you from receiving an EA benefit within the 12-month period. See Can you be denied shelter if you are homeless and are financially eligible for EA?

Other Relocation Resources for Families and Individuals Whether or Not in Shelter. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may be eligible for state-funded Special Benefits of up to $150 in moving costs to move within the state if the current living situation has been certified as substandard, a move is required due to health, safety or other conditions, or the individual is moving into subsidized housing. Special Benefits for SSI recipients may also be available to cover the cost of replacing furniture, household equipment, food, clothing or supplies lost as a result of a fire or other natural disaster. Ask about Special Benefits at your local DTA office.

Advocacy Tips

• Ask your shelter provider and DHCD worker to explain to you all of the rehousing services that may be available to you and your family and the effect they may have on your future eligibility for shelter and other benefits.
• Accepting housing with a short-term subsidy should not cause you to lose your priority for long-term subsidized state housing or rental assistance and DHCD is supposed to issue new regulations making this clear. But accepting a short-term subsidy may cause you to lose your chance for some federally subsidized housing. Before accepting such housing, ask your shelter provider and/or DHCD worker to explain how it will affect any priority for permanent housing and what steps they can take to make sure your priority is not lost, or to help you find permanent housing. Or consult an advocate.
• If you reject an offer of housing that is affordable, even if only for a limited time because of a short-term subsidy, DHCD may try to terminate your shelter benefits. See When can DHCD terminate your emergency shelter benefits? and consult an advocate about your options.
• If you are given housing with a short-term subsidy funded with Flexible Funds, you will be required to sign a Re-Housing and Stabilization Plan. If you do not meet the requirements of the Plan during the subsidy period, DHCD may try to deny you an extension of your subsidy and/or deny you re-entry into shelter. Before signing a Plan, be sure you can meet the requirements and/or ask your provider or DHCD worker to change the Plan. If you later find you cannot meet all the requirements of the Plan, ask for it to be changed. If you need help, contact an advocate.
• You should ask your DTA worker for the DTA relocation benefit while you are still living in a shelter or a teen living program.
• DTA may give you less than $1,000 in relocation benefits unless you can show you need the full $1,000 for expenses related to getting permanent housing. Be sure to tell DTA why you need the full $1,000 before you leave shelter.
• DTA relocation costs in some circumstances may include furniture and appliances that you need in order to move into permanent housing. DTA Transitions, Feb. 2007, p. 3.