If you’re working with a client on a housing search or improving their housing stability because of a landlord conflict or other issue, staff members at Housing Consumer Education Centers might be able to assist. The regional centers are listed below; the best way to find the one for your community is to go to the HCEC website and search by the name of your municipality.
The organizations that house this program are not identical, and best points of entry will differ. Several of these organizations are the main local contact for RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) applications, and several offer the services of Special Service Coordinators, who will provide finite case-management for clients.
Even though “Families” is in the RAFT title, individuals may also be eligible for emergency financial assistance. Some eligibility guidelines include:
- At risk of homelessness
- Income less than 50% of local Area Median Income (AMI)
- Income less than 60% of AMI and at risk of domestic violence
A quick RAFT eligibility tool can be found here.
List of HCECs in MA by Region:
Boston/Metro-Boston Region:
Metro Housing Boston
1411 Tremont Street , Boston, MA 02120-3401
Phone: (617) 425-6700 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Phone: (617) 859-0400 – Metro Housing Boston Main Number
Phone: (800) 272-0990 – MA Only
Fax: (617) 532-7559
Email: resourceline@metrohousingboston.org
Berkshires:
Berkshire Housing Development Corporation & Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority
1 Fenn Street, 3rd floor, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Phone: (413) 499-1630 x168 or x167 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Fax: (413) 469-9831
Email: HCECIntake@berkshirehousing.com
Berkshire Housing Development Corp: https://berkshirehousing.com/
Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority: https://bcrha.com/
Cape and Islands:
Housing Assistance Corporation
460 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601
Phone: (508) 771-5400 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Fax: (508) 775-7434
Email: hcec@haconcapecod.org
Central MA:
RCAP Solutions, Inc.
191 May Street, Worcester, MA 01602
Phone: (978) 630-6772/6771 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Phone: (978) 630-6600 – Directory for All Services
Phone: (800) 488-1969 – Toll Free
Fax: (508) 365-6008 – Fax
Email: hcec@rcapsolutions.org
Metro-West:
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.
7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: (508) 872-0765
Fax: (508) 620-2697
Email: hcec@smoc.org
Northeast MA:
Community Teamwork
17 Kirk Street, Lowell, MA 01852
Phone: (978) 459-0551 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Phone: (800) 698-0551
Fax: (978) 459-0513
Email: CovidResponseCTI@commteam.org
Southeast MA:
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions
169 Summer Street, Kingston, MA 02364
Phone: (781) 422-4204 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Phone: (800) 242-0957
Fax: (781) 585-7483
Email: HCEC@nhsmass.org
Western MA (Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties):
Way Finders
1780 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 233-1600 – For Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance
Phone: (800) 332-9667
Fax: (413) 731-8723
Email: info@wayfinders.org
