Last updated: 1/13/21

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 COVID-19, we are not able to accept walk-ins for counseling. Our call center is open. Have questions about our programs? Please call 617-635-4663 or email us at HomeCenter@boston.gov.

The Boston Home Center helps Boston residents buy, improve, and keep their homes. We offer training, financial help and counseling to first-time homebuyers. We also guide and counsel families to help avoid foreclosure.

The Home Center markets homes developed for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. You can learn more about income eligibility online.

We even provide help to homeowners who need to make repairs. Visit our Quick Guide page to determine your eligibility for these programs.

The HomeWorks Home Equity Loan Program offers loans to help with home repair costs.
The Senior Home Repair Program works with several agencies to help seniors applying for repairs.
The Seniors Save Program helps seniors replace failing heating systems.
Our lead abatement program offers financial help to get rid of lead-based paint.

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.

If you need eviction help, visit the Office of Housing Stability.

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: