Eviction Diversion

If you are having difficulty paying rent, are facing eviction, or are concerned about losing your housing, assistance may be available. See below for resources:

• Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program: The Horace Industrial Cousens Fund provides emergency utility and rental payments to low- and moderate-income Newton residents who at-risk of becoming homeless or getting utility shut-off. Learn more here. 
  • Contact: Horace Industrial Cousens Fund, (617) 796-1324, cousensfund@newtonma.gov

• State of Massachusetts Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT): Tenants and landlords can apply for RAFT benefits of up to $7,000 of assistance in a one-year period. Learn more here

• Cares Connections - Emergency Financial Assistance (Brookline Community Mental Health Center): The Brookline Community Mental Health Center supports individuals and families who are at-risk of becoming homeless, through short- and medium-term rental assistance, security deposit, moving costs, utility payments, applications fees, and case management. Learn more here.
  • Contact: Brookline Community Mental Health Center. 41 Garrison Road, Brookline, MA,  (617) 277-8107 or info@brooklinecenter.org

• Guidance from the Massachusetts Attorney General
  • For English, download here; for Spanish, download here.

• Massachusetts Defense: Self-Guided Eviction Help
  • Free guided interview for Massachusetts tenants who are being evicted, created by the Greater Boston Legal Services.
• MassLegalHelp
  
  •  Steps to take if Your Landlord Tries to Force You Out, Turns Off Your Heat, Locks You Out or Shuts Off Your Utilities

• Legal assistance: Housing Mediation and Legal Services Program
  • In an effort to preserve tenancies across the state, MA Community Mediation Centers offer free pre-court mediation between landlords and tenants for COVID-19 related lease disputes. These services are also offered to the summary process cases referred through the courts.Find more information here.
  • For information on legal assistance, visit evictionlegalhelp.org