Community Partners Eviction Trainings

The Access to Justice Commission Housing Working Group with Massachusetts Legal Aid programs created a four-part training series for community partners who are often the front line for tenants at risk of eviction. 

• Understanding the Eviction Process.  Summary Process Eviction Basics
• Tools for Tenants Facing Eviction
• Navigating the Eviction Process and Accessing Available Resources.

Part 1: Understanding the Eviction Process. Summary Process Eviction Basics

An introduction to Summary Process law in Massachusetts. This video tells community advocates how to identify the:

• Type of eviction a tenant may be facing, and,
• Stage in the eviction process the tenant is.

Part 2:Tools for Tenants Facing Eviction

Explains and shows how to use Massachusetts Defense for Eviction (MADE) to create Summary Process Answers and MassLegalHelp.org.

Part 3: removed

Part 4: Navigating the Eviction Process and Accessing Available Resources

Updates
These RAFT rules changed after recording this video:

• As of July 2023, RAFT can pay up to $7000 in back rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, future rent, or moving costs if: 

  • You are homeless or about to become homeless, and

  • Your income is less than 50% of Area Median Income (or less than 60% of AMI for households who are at risk of domestic violence)
• Your landlord does not need to agree to keep you in your apartment for six months. 

Tenants should try to get help with rent throughout their Summary Process case.  The video includes a quick action plan guide to get tenants to available resources.