HOUSING OPPORTUNITY CENTER
Many households are struggling to pay their rent or mortgages due to financial hardship. The PACE Housing Opportunity Center has programs and resources to help people keep their apartments or their homes.
PACE Housing Opportunity Center provides one-on-one guidance to match programs to individual needs.
Programs and services include:
- Limited rental assistance.
- Resources and information on tenant's rights and landlord's rights in Massachusetts.
- Referrals to other local resources to meet family and individual needs.
PACE Housing staff guides clients to apply for local and state financial assistance to prevent losing a home or being evicted from an apartment.
We also offer lists of available rental units in the city: subsidized and unsubsidized.
For more information, call 508-993-0033 or email at cmejil@paceinfo.org
Carmen Mejil, Director
Maria Grace, ESG Coordinator
Massachusetts Homeowners Assistance Fund
The Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund (Mass HAF) is available for homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of HAF is to prevent foreclosures and displacements of eligible homeowners. Mass HAF is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
TO APPLY: https://massmortgagehelp.org/apply/
If you need help with your application, including language assistance or reasonable accommodations, you can call 833-270-2953, Monday - Saturday, 8 AM – 7 PM.
I’M A HOMEOWNER AND BEHIND ON MY MORTGAGE.
Do I qualify for Mass HAF?
You may qualify for Mass HAF if:
- You own and live in a condominium, single-family home, or a 2-, 3- or 4-family property in Massachusetts.
- You are behind on your mortgage payments by at least 3 months.
- You or someone in your household had their income go down, or living expenses go up after January 21, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes job loss, fewer work hours, paying more for childcare, illness, or being unable to work because you had to take care of a family member.
- You meet the program’s income limits (income limits are 150% of AMI - area median income). Calculate here.
MORE ABOUT THE MASSACHUSETTS HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE FUND
HOW CAN MASS HAF HELP ME?
If you are approved for Mass HAF, you will receive assistance to pay overdue mortgage payments. If you also have overdue payments on property taxes, insurance, or homeowner/condominium fees, you may be able to receive additional assistance.
WILL I RECEIVE THE MONEY DIRECTLY?
No. If you are approved, money will go directly to your mortgage loan servicer (the company that receives your mortgage payments). You will be informed about how much assistance was provided and how it was used.
WILL I NEED TO PAY THE MONEY BACK?
No, the assistance is a grant, not a loan.
You will not have to pay the money back.
For more info: massmortgagehelp.org
Local and State Programs
1. Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Rental Assistance Program
Contact: Maria Grace, ESG Coordinator, mariagrace@paceinfo.org, (508)-993-0033 ext. 102
The ESG program assists homeless households and households at risk of homelessness by supporting the services necessary to help them quickly regain stable housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.
The criteria to apply for ESG funds:
- Must reside in New Bedford
- Help to pay back rent
- Be at risk of homelessness; Eviction Notice or 14-day notice to quit
- Meet eligibility criteria: Must be within 30% of Area Median Income
Assistance with moving into a permanent residence:
- Must verify and meet HUD's definition of homeless
- Fleeing Domestic Violence
2. Safe at Home Project
For legal service referrals, contact:
Maria Grace, Emergency Solutions Grant Coordinator, (508) 993-0033 ext. 102
Carmen Mejil, Director, (508) 993-0033 ext. 103
A Collaboration between PACE Housing Opportunity Center and SouthCoast Counties Legal Services, which provides direct referrals for free legal services:
- If you are facing an eviction
- If you need help with an SSI appeal or
- If you are having issues with Unemployment Claims
Other Housing Assistance Programs (HAP)
1. Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) Program
- RAFT Representative: (508)-993-0033 ext. 105
- Ricardo Camara: ricardocamara@paceinfo.org
The RAFT program is funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and provides short-term, limited financial assistance for eligible families facing:
- Eviction notice/14-day notice
- Severe overcrowding
- Domestic violence
- Rent arrears
- Other crises that will result in loss of housing within 30 days
The program is designed for families and individuals whose income is at or below 50% of the area median income, with a percentage of funding targeted to those whose incomes are below 30% of the area's median income.
This funding is available to eligible Massachusetts residents, regardless of immigration status.
For more information and to apply, visit NHSMASS
2. HomeBASE Program
HomeBASE Stabilization Case Manager:
- Brenda Sanchez, (508)-993-0033 ext. 107
MASS: Home Based Service Details
HomeBASE is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts program that provides families who are in the emergency shelter assistance system an opportunity to overcome some of the financial barriers to ending their homelessness.
To qualify for HomeBASE, you must be:
- Homeless, seeking shelter
- Have custody of one or more children
To apply for HomeBASE, please call the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) at 866-584-0653 or visit your local Department of Transitional Assistance office (DTA).