Homeowners

Need help paying your mortgage?

RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) 

RAFT is a rental assistance programs that can help you pay your mortgage, utilities and moving expenses.

If you are eligible, you can get up to $7,000 to pay overdue or future mortgage payments

To apply, find your local agency or call 800-224-5124.

HAF (Homeowner Assistance Fund) or Mass HAF

HAF may pay your missed mortgage payments, taxes, condo fees, insurance and other expenses If:

• You live in a condo or 1-4 family home you own,
• It is your primary residence,
• You are 3 months or more behind on its mortgage 
• You are behind because of a COVID-19 related reason,
• Your income is not too high and 
• your loan meets certain qualifications.

Find out more from the MassHAFProgram.

Local assistance

Contact your local community action program or your local government’s Housing Division to ask about local mortgage assistance programs. You can also get information about other local resources from your regional housing agency.

Call you your mortgage servicer

If you are struggling to pay your mortgage, your mortgage company can agree not to foreclosure on you for a short time. This is called a forbearance. Find out more about CARES Act forbearance options from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Call your mortgage servicer, the company where you send your monthly payments. Look at your monthly mortgage statement to find your mortgage servicer’s phone number and mailing address. It is important to contact them as soon as you can. Missed payments can cause fees and hurt your credit for years to come.

Need help with your utilities?

Utility companies can disconnect customers for nonpayment unless special protections apply. Special protections apply for people with a serious illness, infants, and seniors. Contact your utility company or municipal utility directly to apply for these protections.

Help is available to pay for utilities, fuel, phone, and internet. See a pdf from National Consumer Law Center about Covid utility help. Learn more in Utilities.

Need help with food?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program is a monthly benefit to buy food. During the pandemic, all households who get SNAP get the maximum amount for their household size. As of January 1, 2021, a family of 3 can get about $615! Learn more and apply:

• DTAConnect.com 
• The DTA Assistance Line at 877-382-2363.

For help with emergency food resources, contact the Project Bread Food Source Hotline at 800-645-8333.

See How do I apply for SNAP?

Need help with cash?

You may be able to get cash assistance through the Transitional Aid for Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC) or Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled or Children program (EAEDC) if you have very low or no income and:

• have children,
• are pregnant,
• are 65 or older, or
• have a disability.

For more information and to apply, visit DTAConnect.com or call your local DTA office. See What is TAFDC? or Basic EAEDC Rights.

Worried about foreclosure? Learn more in Foreclosures