Dear <<First Name>>,
Today, households facing difficulty making housing payments may apply to access a new $20 million, statewide rent and mortgage assistance fund. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
ERMA will expand eligibility for rental and mortgage assistance to more low-income households who have been impacted by the crisis by adjusting the income threshold beyond the state’s traditional Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. This includes households within the 50-80% range of Area Median Income (AMI). Like the RAFT program, ERMA will provide up to $4,000 for eligible households to pay rent or mortgage payments in arrears going back to payments due April 1, 2020. Beginning today, applicants can reach out to the eleven agencies that administer RAFT on the state’s behalf, this includes the nine Housing Consumer Education Centers, as well as LHAND and the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance.
Funding for the new program includes $10 million from the supplemental CDBG Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) fund, part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), in addition to other federal resources. This new funding will serve twice as many households as the traditional RAFT program by greatly expanding eligibility to families who would otherwise not qualify for RAFT.
Since the beginning of the State of Emergency, the Commonwealth has supported housing stability for households across Massachusetts. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has drafted emergency regulations to protect tenants under the eviction and foreclosure moratorium, supported our state-aided public housing and affordable housing operators with guidance, and worked with stakeholders across the state to coordinate resources. Additional resources and information can be found on the department’s COVID-19 Resource Page.
DHCD has received more than $160 million in federal funding through the CARES Act, including more than $20 million which has been distributed to Community Action Agencies for anti-poverty work, and is preparing to allocate additional funding for shelter providers and municipalities. DHCD is also working with CHAPA and Mass Housing Partnership to track local emergency rental assistance programs and other resources available to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please read on below for new, updated, and important information surrounding the COVID-19 crisis and see our past newsletters if you haven't had a chance to read them already for more relevant guidance and directives following Governor Baker's declaration of a state of emergency on March 10th. Visit Mass.gov for complete information, check the municipal websites for Gloucester, Rockport, and Essex for local guidance, and text "COVIDMA" to 888-777 to receive COVID-19 text message alerts straight to your phone.
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How to Safely Cover Your Face Outside of Home
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Social distancing and staying at home are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But if you must go out, be sure to cover your face. Here's how.
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Sector Reopening Webinar Series
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The North Shore Chamber of Commerce is hosting a third webinar series on the reopening process, bringing together specific industry sectors to discuss their reopening strategies, challenges, and best practices. Attendees will benefit from hearing the goals and ideas of participants and peers in their industry.
- Thursday, July 2nd at 10 AM - Hospitality, Tourism & Arts
- Monday, July 6th at 10 AM - Banking, Accounting & Insurance Update
- Tuesday, July 7th at 10 AM - Legal & HR Sectors
- Wednesday, July 8th at 10 AM - Education & Child Care Update
- Thursday, July 9th at 10 AM - Special Economic Forecast for Key Sectors
The webinars are free, but attendees must pre-register.
Additionally, recordings of previous webinars are now available for viewing. They can be found on the North Shore Chamber of Commerce message board.
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Observer Moratorium Extended Through July
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The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced it will delay its plan to resume at-sea observer deployments through July 31st. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center had been planning since May 28 to work toward a July 1st resumption, but have now delayed that date due to concerns regarding the ongoing pandemic and a resurgence of COVID-19 in many states.
NOAA Fisheries has stated that they will continue to work with regional observer and at-sea monitoring service providers during the month of July to finalize their observer redeployment plans, conduct outreach with industry, and finalize internal programs and policies that will support the safe and effective redeployment of observers and at-sea monitors in the region.
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Unemployment Virtual Town Halls
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In order to better meet the needs of residents whose employment has been affected by COVID-19, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the Department of Unemployment Assistance will be hosting virtual town hall meetings. They will take all who sign up through a step by step process of achieving a successful unemployment claim and will be taking questions from applicants across the Commonwealth.
The following town halls are currently scheduled:
- Thursday, July 2 at 2:30 PM
Sign up now to attend a virtual town hall meeting.
The Department of Unemployment Assistance has made specific web page updates that include the latest COVID-19 guidance for employee qualifications. To learn more about unemployment insurance and how to apply, visit the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance website.
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