proof of housing instability proof of housing instability

Email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200 to contact us. If you apply for help with utilities, be ready to show a bill, invoice, or proof of payment to the utility company or home energy service provider. Web(e.g., proof of residence at an eligible rental unit in the absence of a lease/rental/sublease agreement) Financial Impact (e.g., unemployment, reduction in i ncome, significantly increased expenses, or other financial hardship) Housing Impact (e.g., risk of housing instability or homelessness) Income qualification These laws include bans on camping or sleeping in public spaces or in vehicles; loitering; panhandling, both giving and receiving; public food-sharing, both providing and accepting; and more. if(subscribe.checkValidity()) { To do so, specifically when it comes to rental housing, requires: Renters of color face discrimination in obtaining and maintaining housing. (1987, July 22). Check with your local program for details. (May 12, 2020), available at, U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, House Passes Updated Heroes Act, Press release, October 1, 2020, available at, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Alliance Legislative Report, available at, U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee, Update on the Coronavirus Response: HEALS Act, July 28, 2020, available at, Office of Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Webhousing as a core social determinant of personal health and well-being; and substantial evidence that housing stability is essential for people to address their challenges and Journal of Family Issues, 37(7), 921946. Additionally, people with criminal records continue to face barriers in obtaining rental housing. http://www.nber.org/mtopublic, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Where renters can apply, they often need your help to complete the process and make payments to you. Blake, K. S., Kellerson, R. L., & Simic, A. They may ask you for a written statement. The Office of Housing Stability's Housing Crisis Case Coordinators can help you deal with the eviction process. Due to historic and current policies as well as systemic racism in housing, criminal justice, education, employment, and health care, people of color are more likely to experience homelessness across their lifespan.23 As a result, communities of color are overrepresented in the homeless population, with nearly 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness identifying as Black, 22 percent as Latinx, 3 percent as Native American, and 2 percent as Pacific Islander.24 These racial disparities are only expected to worsen due to the impacts of the neglectful mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic.25, Although housing insecurity affected communities of color long before COVID-19, the current pandemic continues to exacerbate inequalities. Eviction and the reproduction of urban poverty. Recent analysis estimates that the amount of back rent owed may reach as much as $34 billion by years end, with more than 20 million renters8 million householdsfacing possible eviction by January 2021.31 Renters of color disproportionately report being behind on rent, (see Figure 3) and unpaid rent continues to grow. You can get emergency rental help even if you have a rent-to-own agreement with your landlord, as long as: Rental assistance can also be used to cover mooring fees. Before COVID-19, half of all renters were moderately or severely cost-burdened, with at least 30 to 50 percent of their household income going toward housing costs.9 Cost-burdened renters, particularly those of color, are the most at risk of eviction due to the increased likelihood of missing rent payments. In addition, you may get help with your future rent payments, up to 3 months at a time. Protecting programs that include a race-conscious approach means vetoing harmful actions such as the recent Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping,85 which will punish government contractors and nonprofits who provide trainings on race and sex diversity, equity, and inclusion by withholding federal grants for these lifesaving programs.86 It also means protecting the FHA87 and reviving the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provisions that combat housing discrimination and promote community participation.88. The CARES Act required landlords to provide at least a 30-day notice to tenants before filing an evictiona protection that is not set to expire.89 This protection, and other prefiling notice requirements,90 provide tenantswho previously only had a few days notice before court involvement91more time to take the action needed to prevent their eviction or, if an eviction does occur, search for emergency housing. Last full review by a subject matter expert December 02, 2021 Last revised by staff December 02, 2021 Rate When an eviction is filedor there is a serial filing,58 whereby a landlord files to evict the same household at the same address multiple timesa tenant can be subject to debt collection that leverages state resources in the favor of landlords over tenants. Proof of risk of experiencing housing instability or homelessness; 5. Applicants indicate they have received a past due or eviction notice and then are asked if they can provide and upload that document. Proof of identity; 2. Federal rules allow local rental assistance programs to cover rent or utilities for low-income families. 1437a(b)).2 While there are some differences in eligibility between ERA1 and Housing costs exceed 50% of the current household income. People experiencing housing instability reportedly face a number of barriers that prevent them from finding and applying for employment. New England Journal of Medicine, 365(16), 15091519. Overcrowding in the home: An empirical investigation of its possible pathological consequences. We offer free counseling to landlords to support owner and tenant stabilization. As a result, more renters are turning to savings,32 retirement,33 and the newly accepted rental payment method by many landlordscredit cards.34 These methods of staying afloat that so many are now turning to plant the seeds of future financial struggle, as many diminish personal emergency funds and increase debt as individuals and families try to stay housed.35 Tenant advocate groups, researchers, and agencies across the country have identified eviction as a perpetuator of poverty,36 a driver of homelessness,37 and a public health crisis.38, In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some emergency housing protections have been taken at the local, state, and federal levels. Kushel, M. B., Gupta, R., Gee, L., & Haas, J. S. (2006). It doesnt matter how long you have been living in your current rental home. Neighborhoods with more renters of color face higher rates of eviction. By enacting the right to counsel legislation, evictions in New York Citythe first city to implement this intervention strategywere reduced by 29 percent from 2017 to 2019.96 To better understand the scope of the U.S. housing stability crisis, uniform eviction data collection on the federal level is needed to capture the scope of filings and evictionswhere they are concentrated, who is filing, and the reasons for filing. WebIf a tenant has a lease or a letter from their landlord theres no need to ask for further documentation. For providers to cover it, you must provide a bill, invoice, or other evidence that shows you paid for the service. As recent analyses show, renters of color are experiencing disproportionate negative outcomes from COVID-19. There has been a long history of housing insecurity for people of color in the United States due to racially targeted policies and widespread discrimination, particularly within the rental housing market. Yes, your local program may offer help with utility or energy costs alone. Households are considered to be cost burdened if they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and severely cost burdened if they spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing.5Cost-burdened households have little left over each month to spend on other necessities such as food, clothing, utilities, and health care.1,6Black and Hispanic households are almost twice as likely as White households to be cost burdened.7, Due to a limited rental market with few affordable vacancies, people with the lowest incomes may be forced to rent substandard housing that exposes them to health and safety risks, such as vermin, mold, water leaks, and inadequate heating or cooling systems.6,8They may also be forced to move in with others, potentially resulting in overcrowding.9Overcrowding is defined as more than 2 people living in the same bedroom or multiple families living in 1 residence.3,10Overcrowding may affect mental health, stress levels, relationships, and sleep, and it may increase the risk of infectious disease.11,12,13, Housing costs that are more than a household can reasonably afford can lead to foreclosure or eviction (a forced move).9Forced moves may also happen if a landlord is in foreclosure or the property is deemed unsafe for living.14Foreclosures cause loss of money and possessions and can damage the social fabric of neighborhoods.15Evictions that go through the court system result in a permanent record, which can cause potential landlords to refuse to rent to evictees in the future.16Research has shown that renters who are forced to move are more likely to relocate to poorer and higher-crime neighborhoods compared to those who move voluntarily.17Evictions may be especially traumatizing to residents due to short relocation notices.17,18Suicide rates linked to stress doubled between 2005 and 2010,19when the United States experienced historically high rates of foreclosures, including foreclosures on rental properties.8,20, Housing instability may impact some populations more than others. The three types of eligibility attachments required include: Proof of If You Haven't Received an Eviction Notice, If You Already Received an Eviction Notice, Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program, Office of Housing Stability Virtual Legal Clinic, Housing Stability Notification Act: Landlord Information, Condominium and Cooperative Conversion Ordinance, Our goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability. Homelessness during pregnancy: A unique, time-dependent risk factor of birth outcomes. This term is preferable to Latino, which is not gender-inclusive. WebThis page provides resources related to the intersection between intimate partner violence (IPV), housing instability, and homelessness, and seeks to ensure that survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking have For instance, if your rent is subsidized by a federal agency like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you cant get help from your local program to cover the federally subsidized portion of your rent. %%EOF During this time between protections in late August, many cities saw historical spikes in the number of evictions being filed, with increases as high as 118 percent above normal.51 But even after the CDCs halt, local courts were still carrying out evictions for many families.52 And though the halt on evictions may help some tenants, the Trump administration issued guidance in October that further burdened struggling renters by allowing landlords to challenge renters declaration of eligibilitya declaration that tenants already provide under penalty of perjuryand proceed with eviction filing.53. But right now,most federal emergency rental assistance programs accept applications from landlords. This example would document unsheltered Desmond, M. (2012). NOTE: The Office of Housing Stability is located at 43 Hawkins Street. Long entrenched, racially targeted policies and practices at the local, state, and national levels have led to discriminatory practices and disparities in rental housing.4 The Fair Housing Act (FHA) of 1968 prohibits discrimination against applicants and tenants based on various identities, including race.5 Yet despite the FHA and its amendments, overt and subtle racial discrimination still occurs. A past due utility or rent bill or eviction notice, Proof that you live in unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, or, Other proof that the program asks you for, Proof that you paid utilities for your home or apartment unit (like a water bill), Other paperwork that shows regular rent payments, or, You havent signed or co-signed a mortgage for the property that you are renting-to-own, You havent exercised an option to purchase the property. If you receive a federal rent subsidy, such as a Housing Choice Voucher, Project-Based Rental Assistance, or Public Housing, you may still qualify for assistance with the rent or utilities that you are responsible for paying. Get practical information about your legal rights in Massachusetts. WebResidential instability is often addressed only at the point of homelessness and is treated as a family or household problem. Mia Ives-Rublee, Justin Schweitzer, Michela Zonta, Natasha Murphy, Osub Ahmed, Marina Zhavoronkova. to contact us. It utilizes progressive disclosure, only showing applicable sections. To show housing instability, you may need to sign a written statement. If the applicant cannot provide a bill, capture the necessary information using, Budget, Financial Reporting, Planning and Performance, Financial Markets, Financial Institutions, and Fiscal Service, Treasury Coupon-Issue and Corporate Bond Yield Curve, Treasury International Capital (TIC) System, Kline-Miller Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014, Taxpayers Will See Improved Service This Filing Season Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act, Disparities in the Benefits of Tax Expenditures by Race and Ethnicity, Racial Differences in Economic Security: Non-Housing Assets, Treasury Sanctions People Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse Against Vladimir Kara-Murza, Treasury Announces Approval of Up to $890.7 Million to Support Small Business Success Across Three States, Treasury Sanctions CJNG-Run Timeshare Fraud Network. Then you must use the money to pay the landlord or utility yourself. Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science, 647(1), 26899. Saegert, S., Fields, D., & Libman, K. (2011). endstream endobj 103 0 obj <. Nontribal members living on Tribal lands can receive emergency rental help from a Tribe or Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE), as long as you are not already getting assistance from another Tribe or TDHE, or from a state or local government. Communities of color, disadvantaged from a long history of racism that has undermined their financial stability and housing security, now find their hardships further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. But this depends on your local program. Treasury is providing example reference screens to help grantees with implementing ERA program online applications. The questions and answers above are based on the Department of the Treasurys revised Frequently Asked Questions on emergency rental assistance (ERA) . 176 0 obj <>stream If youre a landlord, eligibility is based on your tenants household needs. These example pages can be used by program administrators and staff or vendors in building or modifying ERA applications. State and local programs are distributing billions of dollars in rental assistance to help renters stay housed during the pandemic. (see Figures 1 and 2) With communities of color also navigating the collective pain of higher rates of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,30 they must face additional medical and funeral costs in addition to potential lost employer-sponsored health insurance and reduced household income due to unemploymentor worse, the loss of an income-earners life. Program requirements may differ at the local level. Local programs are allowed to cover moving expenses, security deposits, rental application or screening fees, and motel or hotel bills for families who have to move out of their homes. Highlighted within these initial eligibility screens are the practices detailed in "Guidelines for ERA program online applications". Whereas, applicants who reply that they havent received a past due or eviction notice, are instead asked whether they have experienced other housing risks. Use the search bar to find programs in your area. If they do rely on your written statement, the program you apply to needs to review your household income again every three months to make sure you remain eligible. The HPS only collects data in English and Spanish. Housing instability also affects the Meanwhile, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act42the anticipated relief package that was originally passed in the U.S. House of Representatives in Mayand a revised version of that bill passed by the House in October43 have yet to be introduced in the U.S. Senate. doi: 10.1002/jcop.21665, Cutts, D. B., Meyers, A. F., Black, M. M., Casey, P. H., Chilton, M., Cook, J. T., & Frank, D. A. The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) is constantly looking for new ways to partner with undergraduate and graduate students. Housing Policy Debate, 26(1), 172187. } The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2011.03.008, H.R.558 - 100th Congress (19871988): Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Each week, theOffice of Housing Stabilityhosts a virtual legal clinic for small landlords and tenants. Use your landlord as a reference so they can confirm your risk of housing instability. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301945, Manglik S. (2012). How stable is stable? State and local renter assistance programs, including local moratoriums on evictions, have developed across the country.54 Local moratoriums vary with regard to which stages of the eviction process are halted, from filing to court proceeding to voluntary or forced vacation of a rental unit. Research shows that children facing housing instability, homelessness, and poverty are more likely to be involved in the child welfare system. If youre a renter having trouble paying your rent, utilities, or other housing costs or if youre a landlord trying to stay afloat with tenants in this situation help may be available. If they do not agree, or if they do not respond within seven days (or within five days, if the program contacts your landlord by phone, text, or e-mail), your local program may be able to give the money to you. State and local programs are taking applications from renters and landlords to distribute money from the U.S. Department of Treasurys Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program in their own communities. doi: 10.2307/2094818, Lepore, S. J., Evans, G. W., & Palsane, M. N. (1991). Try working with them to create a repayment plan for unpaid rent and resolve any issues related to your lease. %%EOF If you cannot find any program in your area, call 2-1-1 or your local housing authority for assistance. (2015). If your landlord refuses to participate in the program (after repeated requests from us), you may be eligible to receive direct payment of the financial award. sky~.:dcUW$P# 8h$oGo-4j$UI Pedc=MG_O[Zuw*TC;@gRR@ If its hard for you to show income or job loss, or if you have a special situation, local programs may let you write out your own statement about your income. Been, V., & Glashausser, A. Where can I find out if my household qualifies for rental help? For example, tenant-landlord mediation programs that intervene once an eviction is threatened or filed can explore options and negotiate solutions prior to court involvement to ultimately prevent an eviction.92 A mediation program in Palo Alto, California, reports that 80 percent of mediation cases are able to be resolved outside the court.93 If an eviction filing does occur, guaranteeing renters a right to counsel can also help to keep them housed.94 In eviction proceedings, approximately 90 percent of landlords have legal representation, compared with just 10 percent of tenants.95 This vast inequality in resources leads to the majority of tenants losing these cases. Allow applicants to progress and self-attest if they cannot provide documentation. Your local program should let you know how their system for prioritizing applications works. Rent, deposit, and utility assistance that lasts throughout the pandemic and its recovery would provide essential aid for the more than 1 in 6 renters who are not current on rent payments and could prevent evictions altogether. Within these examples is a documentation strategy that leverages self-attestation within the ERA application itself. 6800, 116th Cong., 2nd sess. In some cases, the program may contact your landlord or utility provider and ask them to accept emergency rental assistance to pay off what you owe. Sarnata Reynolds, Caroline Medina, Molly Weston Williamson, Rachael Eisenberg, Brandon Tucker, Hadi Sedigh. Call 617-635-4200 or email housingstability@boston.gov. Its always a good idea to talk with your local program. Grantees should adjust the list of utilities, and the examples of each utility, to ensure the utilities listed are consistent with the specific policies and procedures that have been developed locally. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1604, Cutts, D. B., Coleman, S., Black, M. M., Chilton, M. M., Cook, J. T., de Cuba, S. E., & Frank, D. A. Mortality among homeless adults in Boston: Shifts in causes of death over a 15-year period. %PDF-1.6 % hb``Pc`` $2V fa utt A1C( -C ePJagK5e _0|Wi@ZuJ7AE@f` National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University. They must also have reasonable procedures in place to prevent fraud. Grantees should adjust the list of programs to reflect additional programs available in their jurisdiction. 208 0 obj <> endobj Get lawyer referral services and information at Housing Court. Journal of Urban Health, 88(3), 390402. Although new rental construction is currently on the rise, more rental units are being built with the high-income market in mind, whereas the supply of low-cost rental units continues to decline dramatically as housing instability increases.105 Worse yet, few rental units are accessible106 or constructed to fit the needs or lifestyles of multigenerational families.107 Moreover, exclusionary zoning policies that concentrate racialized poverty and foster segregation must be banned, and investments must be made in affordable, accessible housing that gives residents a choice of where to live and that works for a diverse range of families.108. For example, people living in lower-income areas rate their own health lower than those living in higher-income neighborhoods.28The Moving to Opportunity (MTO) program provided very low-income families with rental assistance and housing counseling to move from high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhoods.29,30Research on the effects of the MTO program showed that people who moved from high-poverty to low-poverty neighborhoods before the age of 13 were more likely to attend college, had higher incomes, were less likely to be single parents, and lived in better neighborhoods as adults.31Adult women given vouchers through MTO had a lower prevalence of extreme obesity and diabetes after 10 to 16 years compared to those not given vouchers.32.