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Emergency Rent and Mortgage Assistance during Covid

Community Teamwork is pleased to offer new financial assistance programs for our families impacted by the recent Covid-19 pandemic and state of emergency. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development provides up to $4,000 of direct funding to eligible households.

Trouble Making Ends Meet? At risk of losing your home due to COVID-19?

If you think you might be eligible for RAFT or ERMA, download/complete the online application HERE

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/RAFTERMAApplicationCTI

SPANISH RAFT and ERMA TENANT Application - Download/complete the online application HERE

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/solicitudraftermacti

RAFT and ERMA LANDLORD Application - Download/complete the online application HERE

SPANISH RAFT and ERMA LANDLORD Application - Download/complete the online application HERE

TENANT APPLICATION

English    https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/RAFTERMAApplicationCTI

Spanish    https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/solicitudraftermacti

OTHER TENANT APPLICATIONS

Chinese   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Chinese.pdf

Haitian Creole   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Haitian-Creole.pdf

Khmer    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Khmer.pdf

Portuguese   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Portuguese.pdf

Russian   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Russian.pdf

Vietnamese  https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Application-Vietnamese.pdf

LANDLORD APPLICATION

English    https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/LandlordRAFTERMAApplicationCTI

Spanish    https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/SolicitudDeRAFTERMADelPropietarioCTI

OTHER LANDLORD APPLICATIONS

Chinese    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Chinese.pdf

Haitian Creole    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Haitian-Creole.pdf

Khmer   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Khmer.pdf

Portuguese   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Portuguese.pdf

Russian    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Russian.pdf

Vietnamese    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Landlord-Application-Vietnamese.pdf

TENANT CONSENT FORM (Go with Landlord Application)

English   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-English.pdf

Spanish    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Spanish.pdf

OTHER TENANT CONSENT FORMS

Chinese    https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Chinese.pdf

Haitian Creole   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Haitian-Creole.pdf

Khmer     https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Khmer.pdf

Portuguese   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Portuguese.pdf

Russian   https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Russian.pdf

Vietnamese     https://www.commteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Tenant-Consent-Form-Vietnamese.pdf

RESOURCES FOR SMALL LANDLORDS

https://www.mass.gov/guides/facing-eviction-we-can-help#-%22i-am-a-small-landlord—how-can-you-help-me-and-my-tenants?%22-

151b LANDLORD LANGUAGE – DISCRIMINATION BY A LANDLORD IS PROHIBITED

Landlords should be aware that Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination by a landlord against any tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient.

A landlord’s refusal to accept emergency rental assistance, that covers the entire amount owed to the landlord, may, in some circumstances, constitute a violation of Chapter 151B.  Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advice before declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears.

 

Community Teamwork is pleased to offer new financial assistance programs for our families impacted by the recent Covid-19 pandemic and state of emergency. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development is able to provide assistance up to $10,000  of direct funding to eligible households.

ERMA can help to fund payments with rent or mortgage arrears accrued no earlier than April 1, 2020 or upcoming rent or mortgage payments.

In order to be eligible for ERMA, a household must:

· currently rent or own housing as a primary residence in Massachusetts

· have a gross household income that is between the 50% and 80% Area Median Income (AMI)

· have a housing emergency due to a financial hardship related to or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis

RAFT/ERMA Maximum Annual Income Eligibility – Middlesex and Essex Counties

Annual Income Limits apply to the Merrimack Valley and include the following cities/towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Merrimac, Methuen, Newburyport, No. Andover, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, West Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and Westford

Household Size

Annual income limit (80%AMI)
        1        $54,950
        2       $62,800
        3        $70,650
        4       $78,500
        5       $84,800
        6        $91,100
        7        $97,350
        8      $103,650

AMI Limits Worksheet

REQUIRED INCOME AND EXPENSE DOCUMENTS FOR RAFT

We are now live with our ZOOM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SMART TENANT WORKSHOP. It’s runs 5 days a week: We are facilitating the English workshop Monday through Friday at noon and the Spanish workshop is twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday at 11am.

ENGLISH workshop link: https://zoom.us/j/95733574741

SPANISH workshop link: https://zoom.us/j/95172382635

To Learn more about Community Teamwork’s Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC), one of nine across the Commonwealth, click HERE. 

PRIORITIZATION AND DISCLAIMER LANGUAGE FOR RAA WEBSITES 

English:

RAFT/ERMA applications may also be considered for the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP); no additional or separate application is required. ERAP includes benefits that can exceed $10,000 and include slightly different eligibility requirements, along with a preference for households with one or more members that have been unemployed 90 days or more at the time of application or who have income below 50% of the Area Median Income. We will match you with the most appropriate program based on your needs and circumstances, and may ask additional questions beyond those in the application. 

Spanish:

Las solicitudes de RAFT/ERMA también pueden ser consideradas para el Programa Federal de Asistencia de Emergencia para el Alquiler (ERAP); no se requiere una solicitud adicional o separada. El ERAP incluye beneficios que pueden superar los $10,000 e incluyen requisitos de elegibilidad ligeramente diferentes, junto con una preferencia para los hogares con uno o más miembros que han estado desempleados 90 días o más al momento de la solicitud o que tienen ingresos por debajo del 50% de los ingresos medios del área. Lo pondremos en contacto con el programa más adecuado en función de sus necesidades y circunstancias, y es posible que le hagamos preguntas adicionales a las de la solicitud.   

Portuguese:

Os requerimentos do RAFT/ERMA também podem ser considerados para o Programa Federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP); nenhum requerimento adicional ou separado é necessário. O ERAP inclui benefícios que podem ultrapassar $10.000 dólares e inclui requisitos de elegibilidade um pouco diferentes, juntamente com uma preferência por famílias com um ou mais membros que estejam desempregados há 90 dias ou mais no momento do requerimento ou que tenham uma renda abaixo de 50% da Renda média da área. Iremos correspondê-lo ao programa mais apropriado com base em suas necessidades e circunstâncias, e podemos fazer perguntas adicionais além daquelas incluídas no requerimento.   

Chinese:

联邦紧急租房补助计划 （ERAP） 也将 RAFT/ERMA 申请考虑在内;有意向者无需额外或单独申请。ERAP 包括可能超过 10，000 美元的福利，其资格要求也略有不同，更优先考虑在申请时失业 90 天或以上或收入低于地区中位数收入 50% 的家庭。我们将根据您的需求和情况为您提供最合适的计划，并可能提出申请表中未包括的其他问题。

Khmer:

ពាក្យសុំ RAFT / ERMA ក៏អាចត្រូវបានគេយកមកពិចារណាសម្រាប់កម្មវិធីជំនួយការជួលបន្ទាន់របស់សហព័ន្ធ (Emergency Rental Assistance Program, ERAP) ផងដែរ។ មិនចាំបាច់មានពាក្យសុំបន្ថែម ឬ​ដាច់​ដោយ​ឡែក​ទេ។ ERAP រួមបញ្ចូលអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ដែលអាចមានចំនួនទឹកប្រាក់លើសពី 10,000 ដុល្លារ និងរួមបញ្ចូល​លក្ខខណ្ឌ​​តម្រូវ​សិទ្ធិចូលរួមខុសគ្នាបន្តិចបន្តួចរួ មជាមួយចំណូលចិត្តសម្រាប់គ្រួសារដែលមានសមាជិកម្នាក់ ឬច្រើន​នាក់​ដែល​គ្មានការងារធ្វើ  90 ថ្ងៃ ឬច្រើនជាងនេះ នៅពេលដាក់ពាក្យសុំ ឬអ្នកដែលមានប្រាក់ចំណូលទាបជាង 50% នៃ​ចំណូលមធ្យមប្រចាំតំបន់ ។ យើងនឹងផ្គូផ្គងអ្នកជាមួយកម្មវិធីដែលសមស្របបំផុតដោយផ្អែកលើតម្រូវការ​ និង​កាលៈទេសៈរបស់អ្នក ហើយអាចនឹងសួរសំណួរបន្ថែមក្រៅពីសំណួរដែលមាននៅក្នុងពាក្យសុំ។ 

Vietnamese

Các đơn đăng ký RAFT/ERMA cũng có thể được xem xét cho Chương trình Hỗ trợ Người thuê nhà Khẩn cấp (ERAP) của liên bang mà không cần nộp thêm đơn đăng ký riêng. Chương trình ERAP bao gồm trợ cấp có thể lên đến hơn 10.000 đô la và bao gồm các yêu cầu về điều kiện hơi khác một chút, với ưu tiên dành cho các hộ gia đình có một hoặc nhiều thành viên đã thất nghiệp từ 90 ngày trở lên tính đến thời điểm nộp đơn hoặc có thu nhập dưới 50% Thu nhập Trung bình của Khu vực. Chúng tôi sẽ chọn chương trình phù hợp nhất dựa trên nhu cầu và hoàn cảnh của quý vị, đồng thời có thể hỏi thêm các câu hỏi khác ngoài những câu hỏi trong đơn đăng ký. 

Haitian Creole:

Yo kapab konsidere demann pou RAFT/ERMA pou pwogram federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) tou; yon lòt demann oswa yon demann separe pa nesesè. ERAP genyen ladan li benefis ki kapab depase $10,000 epi li genyen egzijans pou elijibilite ki yon ti jan diferan, ansanm ak yon preferans pou kay ki gen yon moun oswa plis ki sibi chomaj pandan 90 jou oswa plis nan moman demann nan te depoze oswa ki touche revni ki pi ba pase 50% Revni Mwayen pou Zòn nan (Area Median Income). Nou pral konekte w ak pwogram ki pi apwopriye a selon bezwen w ak sikonstans ou yo, epi nou ka poze plis kesyon an plis de sa ki nan demann nan. 

Russian:

Заявления RAFT/ERMA также могут рассматриваться для участия в федеральной программе Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP); для этого не требуется дополнительных или отдельных заявлений. Выплаты по программе ERAP могут превышать 10 000 долл. США и предусматривают несколько иные квалификационные требования, наряду с преимуществом для домохозяйств, в которых, на момент подачи заявления, один или несколько членов находятся без работы в течение 90 или более дней или чей доход составляет 50% или ниже регионального медианного дохода. Мы подберем для Вас наиболее подходящую программу, исходя из Ваших потребностей и обстоятельств. Обращаем внимание, что Вам могут быть заданы дополнительные вопросы, помимо указанных в заявлении.

FEDERAL ERAP APPLICATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT LETTERHEAD

English

Spanish

Khmer

Chinese

Haitian

Portuguese

Russian

Vietnamese

COVID-19 Housing & Evictions Information

With the Massachusetts Statewide Eviction Moratorium that Gov. Baker passed in April of 2020 scheduled to end in October, there is a lot of uncertainty among many tenants around the Commonwealth. LTC spoke to representatives from Northeast Legal Aid and Community Teamwork, Inc. for more information about what tenants can do if they are worried about their ability to remain safely housed, and programs available to tenants and property owners to help them remain stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. WATCH HERE Video is posted to LTC’s Youtube Channel! It’s also playing on Channel 8 at LTC for the next two weeks (October 14, 2020)

Listen to Connie Martin, Division Director Energy and Community Resources and Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, Director of Homeless Prevention and Homeownership Program discuss the RAFT and ERMA programs available now to people in need of help with rent, mortgage payments and more –  WCAP Radio 9/29/2020

English DHCE ERMA/RAFT Flyer – Call 211

Spanish DHCD ERMA/RAFT Flyer

Khmer DHCD ERMA RAFT Flyer

Portuguese DHCD ERMA RAFT Flyer

Chinese DHCD ERMA RAFT Flyer

Haitian Creole DHDC ERMA RAFT Flyer

Vietnamese DHCD ERMA RAFT Flyer

Russian DHCD ERMA RAFT Flyer

CDC Declaration Form

Notice to Quit Informational Flyer

Desde el 1 de julio de 2020, Community Teamwork ha proporcionado más de $ 3.5M en asistencia de alquiler / hipoteca a más de 1200 hogares, que representan a 2990 personas. Para ayudar en el procesamiento de este volumen de solicitudes, se han contratado 13 administradores de casos y viviendas adicionales desde septiembre, con 9 empleados más en proceso de contratación.

Community Teamwork está experimentando una gran afluencia de solicitudes enviadas a través de COGNITO. Al 15 de diciembre, hay 4863 solicitudes en proceso. Los solicitantes pueden esperar recibir una notificación de Community Teamwork dentro de 3 a 5 semanas después de completar su solicitud COGNITO. Muchas veces, los retrasos en el procesamiento de las solicitudes son el resultado de solicitudes incompletas, lo que significa que Community Teamwork no tiene toda la información necesaria para procesar una solicitud.

Para asegurarse de que las solicitudes de COGNITO estén completas, esté preparado para proporcionar la siguiente información como parte de su solicitud:

1. Identificación del jefe de familia (ejemplos: identificación con foto, licencia, certificado de nacimiento, pasaporte)

2.Documentación de la vivienda actual y la residencia principal (los ejemplos incluyen: arrendamiento, arrendamiento a voluntad, declaración de hipoteca)

• Documentación de crisis de vivienda elegible; los ejemplos incluyen, pero no se limitan a:

• Aviso de atrasos (alquiler impago)

• Citación judicial

• Carta de la familia anfitriona si se duplica

• Utilidad apagada

3.W-9 del beneficiario (propietario, empresa de mudanzas, etc.)

Prueba de propiedad del dueño de la propiedad si los fondos se usarán para pagarle al dueño de la propiedad

5.Verificación del monto adeudado o adeudado por los fondos cubiertos

Y recuerde presionar el botón ENVIAR.

Sabrá que ha enviado su solicitud correctamente si recibe un correo electrónico inmediato poco después de COGNITO agradeciéndole por su solicitud.

Comience aquí para iniciar el proceso de solicitud:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CommunityTeamwork1/RAFTERMAApplication

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