![]() Service of the NTQ dramatically increases the chances of legal action against a tenant, and has a number of collateral consequences. Requiring notices to quit for RAFT applications is preventing qualified households from accessing needed benefits, leading to preventable evictions, and forcing households further behind in rent, putting them at greater risk of homelessness. The NTQ is not simply a letter, but rather the first legal step a landlord must take to evict their tenant. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), which administers RAFT, implemented a new policy effective Augthat requires families and individuals seeking RAFT assistance for overdue rent to first provide a “notice to quit” (NTQ) from their landlord in order to be eligible. We are very concerned about a recent change to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT), the Commonwealth’s primary emergency rental and utility assistance program. Re: Take swift action to eliminate the notice to quit requirement in the RAFT homelessness prevention programĭear Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Chairperson Rodrigues, Chairperson Michlewitz, and Members of the Legislature: House Ways and Means Committee Chair Aaron Michlewitz ![]() ![]() Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Michael Rodrigues While we have not set a firm deadline for signing on yet, please do so as soon as possible to make sure your organization is included. Please sign and share the organizational sign-on letter with this link. The letter (see below) asks the Legislature to take swift action to eliminate the notice to quit requirement and to ensure that we provide needed housing stability resources to families and individuals earlier in their housing crises. You can join the efforts by adding your organization's name to the Sign-On letter that will be sent to the Massachusetts Legislature, with copies to key members of the Baker Administration. CHAPA, along with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) and Massachusetts Coalition for Homeless has launched a campaign to rescind the NTQ requirement. This onerous requirement prevents qualified households from accessing needed benefits, leading to evictions and forcing households further behind in rent, putting them at greater risk of homelessness. ![]() The new changes that bring back the requirement of a Notice to Quit for accessing RAFT, force families and property owners into taking the first legal step in the eviction process. Owners also did not have to start a formal eviction process for their residents to access RAFT. On August 1, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) made changes to Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program reinstating a requirement of Notice to Quit (NTQ) for households applying for assistance with rent arrears.ĭuring the COVID emergency, the emergency rental assistance program RAFT, no longer required a court summons to apply for emergency assistance, allowing households to access help earlier, and avoid a formal court process and potential eviction record. Please Sign-On Your Organization to Improve Access to RAFT
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