Last updated: 9/9/20

Boston Home Center

The Boston Home Center is the City’s one-stop shop for homebuyers and homeowners.

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COVID-19 update: Due to the current public health emergency, we are not able to accept walk-ins for counseling. Our call center is open. Please call 617-635-4663 or email us at HomeCenter@boston.gov with any questions about our programs.

The Boston Home Center helps Boston residents purchase, improve, and keep their homes. We offer training, financial help and counseling to first-time homebuyers (we recently introduced ONE+Boston, a new mortgage program), guidance and funding for homeowners for home improvements, and counseling to help families avoid foreclosure. The Home Center also markets homes developed for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers — you can learn more about income eligibility online.

Have questions? Contact:

homecenter@boston.gov

617-635-4663

26 Court Street, 9th floor
Boston, MA 02108

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We hold classes around the City of Boston. Find out more about our classes.

COVID-19 resources

The Boston Home Center can help you access assistance programs related to COVID-19. Our program services are free and confidential.

We can help you access the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) programs. The programs have been expanded to include households with incomes up to 80% AMI. These state-funded programs recently received $20 million to provide eligible households with up to $4,000 to:

help retain their housing
obtain new housing, or
otherwise avoid becoming homeless.

Also check out our Rental Relief Fund, as well as our mortgage relief partnership with 17 local banks and lenders.

Have mortgage worries?

If you are a Boston homeowner worried about making your mortgage payments because your income has been affected by COVID-19, Mayor Walsh wants you to know that help is available for you. During this health emergency, it may be possible for you to defer your mortgage payments.

Who to contact

If you need help or to find out more, please contact the Boston Home Center at homecenter@boston.gov or call 617-635-4663 and press 3 for help.

The City is working hard to ensure that homeowners are able to stay in their homes during through this crisis. Please call or email for help.

You can also visit Making Home Affordable or call 888-995-HOPE (4673) to find a housing counselor who can help you.

How we can help

During the current health emergency, you may be eligible to defer your mortgage payment by as much as three months with no penalties. We have more information on the bank partnership online. Make sure to contact your lender.

Participating banks: