Last updated: 9/2/21

Rental Relief Fund

We're dedicating federal funds to help Boston residents at risk of losing their housing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page Sections

If you are at risk of being evicted, visit our eviction page for resources in 11 languages.

The Boston Public Health Commission issued a new public health order on August 31, 2021 establishing a moratorium on evictions in the city of Boston. This order went into effect immediately and may protect you if you are a city of Boston resident that has been ordered to leave your home for reasons other than criminal activity.

If the Housing Court has ordered you to leave, you may not have to. For more information, call 617.635.4200, email OHSintake@boston.gov, or use this form to request legal assistance.

If you’re able to, you should pay your rent. If you need help paying your past and future rent, apply for rental assistance today. Applying for rental assistance may “stop the clock” on the eviction process if you’ve received a Notice to Quit.

Where to find us

The Office of Housing Stability will be hosting office hours at Boston Public Library branches during the summer. If you need help completing a Rental Relief Fund application, or are interested in learning about other housing resources, please visit us at the following branches:

Mattapan Library, Tuesdays from 12 - 4 p.m.
Grove Hall Library, Thursdays from 2 - 6 p.m.

You can also find us Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 43 Hawkins Street. We have staff available to assist you with the application process and any other housing support you may need.

Check Your eligibility

Eligibility Chart

Eligibility chart (English)
Tabla de Elegibilidad (Español)
Gráfico de Elegibilidade (Português)
申请资格图表 (中文)
Gráfiku di Kualifikason (Kriolu Kabuverdianu)
Tablo Elijiblite (Kreyòl ayisyen)
Jaantuskaan Xaq u Yeelashada (Soomaali)
Đồ Hội Đủ Điều Kiện Này (Tiếng Việt)
هذا للتأكد (عربى)
Tableau D’admissibilité (Français)
Таблицей Соответствия Критериям (русский)

Commonly ASKED QUESTIONS

Commonly asked questions (English)
Preguntas Frecuentes (Español)
Perguntas Frequentes (Português)
常見問題解答 (中文)
Purguntas Ki Más Ta Fazedu (Kriolu Kabuverdianu)
Kesyon Yo Poze Souvan (Kreyòl ayisyen)
Su'aalaha Badanaa Leys Weydiiyo (Soomaali)
Các Câu Hỏi Thường Gặp (Tiếng Việt)
الأسئلة المتكررة (عربى)
Foire Aux Questions (Français)
Часто Задаваемые Вопросы (русский)

Program Guidelines

We're dedicating federal funds to help Boston residents who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are having difficulty paying their rent.

The Rental Relief Fund Rental will provide up to $15,000 in assistance for income eligible households for up to 18 months for:

arrears
current rent,
future rent, and
moving expenses.

Eligible households will need to re-certify income every 3 months to verify continued need. We prioritize households earning less than 50% AMI and households where one or more members have been unemployed for the past 90 days.

The City of Boston’s Rental Relief Fund can help renters with the following expenses:

Past due (from March 13, 2020), current, and up to three months of expected rent costs
Past due (from March 13, 2020), current, or up to three months of expected utility (including internet) and home energy expenses ($1,500 utility allowance)
Moving costs within the City of Boston

In situations where landlords are non-responsive or refuse participation, funding can be used for the following:

Security deposit to secure new housing in the City of Boston
First and last month rent to secure new housing in the City of Boston
Moving expenses to secure new housing in the City of Boston

Funding cannot be used for the following:

Rental arrears or utility bills from before March 13, 2020
Payments to sober houses
Payments to landlords that are relatives or family members (unless relative has incorporated as LLC)

To be eligible, you must be:

a City of Boston resident
at or below 80% AMI
at risk of homelessness or housing instability
economically impacted due to COVID-19, and
not a full-time college or graduate student.

Public Housing:

If the Boston Housing Authority is your landlord, visit this webpage for more information. You can also call 617-988-5060 or email rental.relief@bostonhousing.org. Please include your name, address, and telephone number in any message. You can also download the Public Housing Rental Relief flyer in English, Español, or 中文.

If you need help completing a Rental Relief application, please email rrf@boston.gov or call the Office of Housing Stability hotline at 617-635-4200 and select 5 for “Rent Relief.”

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TENANTS RECEIVING SUBSIDIES BY A LANDLORD IS PROHIBITED

Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts General Laws prohibits discrimination by a landlord against any tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient. A landlord’s refusal to accept emergency rental assistance, that covers the entire amount owed to the landlord, may, in some circumstances, constitute a violation of Chapter 151B. Landlords should consult their own legal counsel for advice before declining rental assistance that covers all outstanding rent arrears.