Town of Needham Launches Emergency Rental Assistance Program to Help Those Affected by Income Loss Due to COVID-19
Applicants have until December 4, 2020 to apply for temporary rent relief
NEEDHAM – Tuesday, November 17, 2020 – Needham Town Manager Kate Fitzpatrick today announced that funding is available to help Needham residents who have lost income due to COVID-19 make rent payments in the coming months.
Approved by Special Town Meeting in October, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program includes $120,000 from the Community Housing Reserve and the Community Preservation Fund, both overseen by the Community Preservation Committee. The program is also funded through a grant of $50,000 from the Massachusetts Covid-19 Relief Fund, secured for Needham by the Foundation for MetroWest.
Qualified residents may receive assistance covering 50 percent of their rent, up to $1,500 per month, for up to three months. To qualify, applicants must reside in a private rental unit, including affordable Chapter 40B units, in Needham. Residents must earn at or below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). Preference will be granted to those earning at or below 50 percent AMI.
All participants will be required to document loss of income due to COVID-19.
Income Limit |
| HouseholdSize:1 | HouseholdSize:2 | HouseholdSize:3 | HouseholdSize:4 | HouseholdSize:5 | HouseholdSize:6 |
50% AMI |
| $44,800 | $51,200 | $57,600 | $63,950 | $69,100 | $74,200 |
80% AMI |
| $67,400 | $77,000 | $86,650 | $96,250 | $103,950 | $111,650 |
Households living in Needham Housing Authority units, having a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) subsidy, or other housing subsidy, are not eligible for this program as those residents are already entitled to rent reductions if their income is reduced. Residents of nursing homes are also ineligible.
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is administered by Metro West Collaborative Development. If qualified applications exceed available funding, Metro West Collaborative Development will conduct a lottery to determine awards. Awarded rent relief funds will be paid directly to recipients’ landlords.
To learn more and determine whether you qualify, contact Robyn Rufo at robyn@metrowestcd.org or 617-923-3505 x 5.
The deadline to apply is December 4, 2020.