Rental Relief Fund
Update: This round of the Rental Relief Fund has closed to applications. Want to be contacted when the next round of funding is open? Complete our contact form in your preferred language: English, Español, Kriolu Kabuverdianu, Kreyòl ayisyen, Tiếng Việt, 中文.
We're dedicating $3 million in City funds to help Boston residents at risk of losing their rental housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will help income-eligible tenants in the City of Boston who:
- do not have access to expanded unemployment benefits, or
- because of the nature of their jobs, the unemployment benefits they will receive represent a significant reduction in their actual income.
We're helping tenants achieve housing stability by using these funds to assist with their rental payments.
Note: The Rental Relief Fund is not considered in the federal “public charge” test. Assistance from the Rental Relief Fund is not one of the “cash” or “non-cash” benefits listed in the public charge rule.
Application information
To qualify for this financial assistance, you must either:
- not be eligible for the new extended unemployment benefits offered by the federal government, or
- because of the nature of your job, the unemployment benefits that you will receive represent a significant reduction in your actual income.
Applicants will also need to certify that:
- they do not have savings to meet this need, and
- do not have access to other resources, including gifts from family members or other associates.
The Rental Relief Fund is managed by the Office of Housing Stability with two nonprofit partners:
The amount of help renters receive will be determined after taking into account other sources of income, including:
- the expected expansion of unemployment benefits under new federal rules established by the CARES Act, and
- the one-time federal payments many residents are expected to receive.