Rent Assistance in Massachusetts

Last checked: November 2026. Benefits Explorer is a directory. We do not provide rent money or decide who gets help, and each program makes its own decisions.

RAFT, or Residential Assistance for Families in Transition, is the state-funded program to ask about first when a Massachusetts renter falls behind. Regional agencies handle it rather than a single state office, so the agency you deal with depends on where you live. Metro Housing|Boston describes it as providing up to $7,000 per 12-month period, and it notes that time limits and total funding options vary.

Massachusetts also gives tenants real time after a notice for unpaid rent: a tenant at will generally has 10 days to pay after a 14-day notice to quit, and a tenant with a lease can pay up to the day the answer is due in court. The details are in the eviction section below.

Where to Start in Massachusetts

RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition)

State-funded help for people with low incomes to stay housed, up to $7,000 per 12-month period according to Metro Housing|Boston. Way Finders also helps people apply for RAFT for move-in costs. Apply online, or go through the regional agency for your area, which can help with the application. Mass211 can point you to your agency.

Visit website · Accepting applications when last checked

Mass211

A United Way referral line for the whole state. Call 2-1-1 or 877-211-6277 to find the agency that covers your town.

Visit website · Phone: 211 · Accepting applications when last checked

Local Rent Help in Massachusetts

Metro Housing|Boston Housing Hub (Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Malden, Medford, Newton, Waltham, Woburn and about 20 other Greater Boston communities)

Runs RAFT and housing help in this region. Lynn is excluded, and Holbrook, Randolph and Weymouth apply through NeighborWorks instead. Book an appointment through its form, call the Resource Line, or walk in on Mondays from 9 a.m. until capacity is reached. Toll-free: 800-272-0990.

Visit website · Phone: 617-425-6700 · Accepting applications when last checked

Way Finders (Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties, including Springfield and Holyoke)

Offers emergency financial housing assistance and help applying for RAFT, with three Housing Centers it encourages people to visit in person. The phone line warns of long holds. Email info@wayfinders.org; responses can take up to three business days.

Visit website · Phone: 413-233-1500 · Accepting applications when last checked

Boston Office of Housing Stability (City of Boston)

Housing Crisis Case Coordinators connect tenants facing eviction with legal, financial or other help, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office also runs an Access to Counsel Program with full legal representation for eligible households with K-12 students; contact it to find out whether you qualify.

Visit website · Phone: 617-635-4200 · Accepting applications when last checked

Greater Boston Legal Services housing unit (Boston and 31 surrounding cities and towns)

Free legal help for people living in poverty, including eviction defense if you received a Notice to Quit or a summons, subsidy terminations and eviction record sealing. Housing intake is by phone: leave a message and a specialist calls back.

Visit website · Phone: 617-603-1807 · Accepting applications when last checked

Facing Eviction in Massachusetts?

For unpaid rent, a landlord can end a tenancy with a written 14-day notice to quit. A tenant at will can stop that by paying the full rent due within 10 days of receiving the notice, unless a similar notice was received in the prior 12 months. A tenant under a written lease can prevent termination by paying all rent due, plus interest and court costs, on or before the day the answer is due in the landlord's court case. Read the official guidance

Free or low-cost legal help: Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder. The tool Massachusetts legal services groups point people to when they need a lawyer. It helps you find a legal aid program for your area. Visit website

This page is general information, not legal advice. Don't ignore a notice or court papers, because eviction deadlines can be short.

More Help in Massachusetts

Want other options? See our full rent assistance guide, including how to spot a scam, or see your options. That form is not an application for rent assistance. If you submit it, Benefits Explorer and its partners may contact you.

Massachusetts Rent Assistance Questions

How much can RAFT pay?

Metro Housing|Boston describes RAFT as providing up to $7,000 per 12-month period, with time limits and funding options that vary. So a $2,000 or $5,000 balance is within that stated limit, but the amount approved depends on your agency's decision and your situation.

Who do I contact about RAFT in Massachusetts?

It depends on your town. Metro Housing|Boston covers much of Greater Boston, and Way Finders covers Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Elsewhere, call Mass211 at 2-1-1 or 877-211-6277 to find your regional agency.

Can RAFT help with moving costs in Massachusetts?

Way Finders says it helps people, including people experiencing homelessness, apply for RAFT for move-in costs. Ask your regional agency what your situation allows.

Does a 14-day notice mean I have to leave in 14 days?

A notice alone starts the process; the statutes also give tenants a way to pay and stop the termination, and the deadline differs for tenants at will and tenants with leases. Greater Boston Legal Services handles eviction defense from the Notice to Quit stage in its area, so call legal aid early.

Rent Assistance in Nearby States

Most programs only help people who live in their state. If you are moving or live near a state line, you can also check:

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