Extended Session: Resources & Legislative Action, So Far...
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As the days feel cooler and shorter, we reflect upon where we are as a community, a city, a state, and a nation.
During these uncertain times, we must continue to be kind and caring toward ourselves and one another. We must ask for help if we need it and offer to assist others if we are able. And we must prepare to vote.
Please find below some relevant updates regarding elections, housing, unemployment and health care resources, and state budgetary and legislative items.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or requests for assistance. Remember, you can sign up for my virtual office hours on the 2nd and 3rd Fridays of each month.
Be good to yourselves,
Liz
Liz Malia
State Representative
11th Suffolk District
ELECTIONS
Boston's Board of Election Commissioners certified the City of Boston's plan for early voting sites and ballot dropbox locations for the November 3, 2020, State Election.
For a list of commonly asked questions, click here.
Key Dates:
Saturday, October 24: last day to register to vote. Individuals can register to vote in person, online, by mail or through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Residents planning to register in person, make sure you make an appointment with the Elections Department. Although all other City Hall departments taking appointments are only open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am to 5, the Election Department is also scheduling appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays at City Hall, Room 241
Wednesday, October 28: last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot
Saturday, October 17 - Friday October 30: Early Voting Period. All registered voters in Boston are allowed to vote early, and at any early voting location. Unlike voting on Eection Day, you don’t have to vote at your assigned polling location. Vote at the location that is most convenient for you. All ballot styles will be available at every early voting location.
STATE ELECTION EARLY VOTING UPDATE
All early voting locations are accessible to voters with disabilities. Every location will also have AutoMark machines for voters who need assistance marking their ballots.
There are 27 early voting sites for the November 3 State Election, including Boston City Hall. You can see information on sites across the City on this map.
RESOURCES
HOUSING
10/13/20 - Baker-Polito Administration announcement relative to an eviction diversion initiative.
Mass.gov/covidhousinghelp for more detailed information, including a summary and FAQ page.
The Administration is making a $171 million total commitment this fiscal year, with $112 million of new funding to support new and expanded housing stability programs during the remainder of the fiscal year, including:
$100 million commitment this fiscal year to expand the capacity of the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program to provide relief to renters and landlords impacted by COVID-19;
$48.7 million to HomeBASE and other rapid rehousing programs for when tenants are evicted and are at risk of homelessness;
$12.3 million to provide tenants and landlords with access to legal representation and related services prior to and during the eviction process, as well as community mediation to help tenants and landlords resolve cases outside of court;
$6.5 million for Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs), the “front door” for those facing a housing emergency; and
$3.8 million for the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP), to provide case management support and to act as a neutral party to help tenants and landlords come to agreement.
New investments will expand the capacity of the RAFT program and increase the maximum benefit available through RAFT from $4,000 to $10,000 per household, with a goal of helping more families stabilize their housing for six months, or until the end of June if there are school-age children in the household, on their path to recovery. New funding will also expand capacity at the nine regional Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) to provide housing counseling and coordinate with community mediators, legal services, and caseworkers. Income eligible tenants and landlords will also be able to access legal representation and related services as they navigate the eviction process.
The Administration is also updating the RAFT program to improve turnaround time on applications, while maintaining program integrity, by:
Streamlining the application process for both the RAFT and Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) programs for low to moderate income households;
Verifying applicant eligibility with data collected through MassHealth, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and the Department of Revenue (DOR);
Referring applicants to MassHIRE Career Centers; and
Allowing landlords who own fewer than 20 units to apply directly for RAFT and ERMA, with consent from tenants.
With the goal of bringing landlords and tenants together to avoid an eviction, the Administration will invest in expanding access to mediation services. In coordination with the Trial Court, the Administration is working to launch a new Community Mediation program that will be available prior to a court filing, and supplement court-provided mediation that is generally available after a filing has been made. The Administration will also provide funding to the Trial Courts to support bringing back recall judges to help handle caseload once the moratorium ends and to add additional housing specialists to help mediate agreements. Additionally, the existing Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) will be expanded to serve a broader population of vulnerable households.
Massachusetts will also provide additional funding for post-eviction diversion, helping households to find new housing quickly and prevent a longer period of homelessness. HomeBASE, the Commonwealth’s rapid rehousing benefit, and the Strategic Prevention Initiative (SPI) will be expanded and continue to offer financial assistance and stabilization case management services to families as they are in the process of securing stable housing. A new temporary emergency program will also provide funds to households for periods of up to 12 months to assist with moving expenses, rent, including first or last month’s, or security deposit, while transitioning into a stable housing situation.
CDC Moratorium
When the state moratorium expired, Saturday October 17, a moratorium established by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) became effective in Massachusetts. Through December, the CDC moratorium will prevent evictions for non-payment for qualified tenants who submit a written declaration to their landlord. Courts will accept filings and process cases, and may enter judgments but will not issue an order of execution (the court order that allows a landlord to evict a tenant) until after the expiration of the CDC order. Protection is limited to households who meet certain income and vulnerability criteria. Declaration may be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf
Effective, October 13, to ensure tenants are aware of available resources, the Administration kicked off a public information campaign, including a new option available to call the Massachusetts 2-1-1 information hotline. Operators for 2-1-1 are trained to answer questions and connect residents to the agencies that administer RAFT and ERMA. An easier path to important information has also been launched on the state’s website: mass.gov/CovidHousingHelp. This effort also includes outreach through social media, videos, webinars, and other mediums. All materials and messaging will be made available in multiple languages.
Together, the Administration estimates resources will help thousands of households with varying levels of needs; up to 50,000 households will have access to services at their local Housing and Consumer Education Centers, up to 25,000 households will have access to legal support or community mediation, and up to 18,000 households will have direct financial support.
UNEMPLOYMENT
If you had to stop working because of COVID-19 Apply for unemployment insurance as soon as you can.