Survival News est. 1986 Survivors, Inc.
                  ...the voices of low-income women

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Boston residents who are homeless after 5:00pm and on weekends, can call the Boston Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500. During week day hours, call the Emergency Shelter Com- mission at 617-635-4507. Translators are available for Spanish. Pregnant women and families with children can apply for EA shelter through the DTA office at 90 Washington Street, Dorchester. City Life/Vida Urbana organizes community residents to get more affordable housing, to prevent evictions, and to tell people about their rights to housing. They have published a very helpful booklet, Tenants¹ Rights Manual, available in both English and Spanish, which costs $3. They are one of the leaders in the community stabilization campaign to get rents stabilized in Boston. For information, call City Life/Vida Urbana, 617-524-3541. They are located at 3313 Washington Street, Boston, MA, and their mailing address is P.O. Box 117, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Their web site is www.clvu.org,  fax 617-524-3555. Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, 781-595-7570, gives information and advocacy, and lobbies for better policies for the homeless. They have published several book- lets which give advice on dealing with eviction, getting a Section 8 voucher, finding affordable housing, access to shel- ter, and knowing your housing rights. These are free. The Mass. Coalition for the Homeless is located at 15 Bubier Street, Lynn, MA 01901. Up to $1,000 available for homeless families moving into an apartment Families who are homeless and find an apartment can get relocation benefits to help them move into the apartment from the Department of Transitional Assistance (welfare depart- ment) up to $1,000. This is available to people who receive TAFDC (Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children) and EAEDC if they have been in a temporary emer- gency shelter or a shelter for victims of domestic violence for 60 days or more. It is also available to teen parents, 18 or 19 years old, in a teen structured living program for 60 days or more who meet the DTA conditions for living independently. The relocation benefit is for expenses including (but not limited to): advance rent, security deposit, rent arrearage, utility arrearages or deposit, basic furniture, storage, and/or moving expenses. A signed statement from the landlord or company indicating the amount(s) due is required. The reloca- tion benefit is not given directly to the family, but to the per- son or company that provides the service. People may not receive the relocation benefit more than once in a 12-month period. You can apply for relocation benefits through your welfare worker If you have trouble getting them, contact Greater Boston Legal Services at (617)371-1234. Help with back rent and other expenses, to prevent homelessness The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT) is available for eligible families who are at risk of becoming homeless because they cannot afford housing costs without financial assistance. The family’s total income must be at or below the local area median income. In Boston that is $33,100 for a family of 2;$37,200 for a family of 3; $41, 350 for a family of 4. The maximum benefit is $3,000 per family per year. Eligible families can access program funds more than once, but cannot exceed the $3,000 cap within a 12-month period. The program will begin July 1, 2005. Help is given on a first-come-first-serve basis. Last year the money ran out after six months. The money can be used for: security deposits; first and/or last month¹s rent; utility arrearages; rent arrearages; other housing-related expenses such as furniture, refrigerator, household equipment; transportation-related expenses if necessary for employment; and mortgage payment arrearages (to be considered on a case-by-case basis).617-425-6700 or 800-272-0990. Survivors, Inc., (617) 298-7311 Last Modified 5/2007 info..at..cqs.com This Internet site provides links or references to other sites that are provided as a convenience to users of this site. We have no control over the content of such other sites and shall not be liable for any damages or injury arising from that content. Survivors, Inc. 95 Standard St. Mattapan, MA 02126 Copyright © 2004-2007 Survivors, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Grassroots logo by Claire Cummings