MA Housing Help
Public Health Eviction Ban
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On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Section 502 of Title V of Division N of that Act extends the expiration date of the CDC Order titled, "Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19" (85 Fed. Reg. 55292, September 4, 2020). The new expiration date is January 31, 2021 unless extended, changed, or rescinded. Section 502 does not make any changes to the September 4, 2020 CDC Order other than to extend its expiration date.
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For more information, visit:
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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/eviction-moratoria-order-faqs.pdf
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Do I Qualify?
1. The individual has used best efforts to get all available government help for rent or housing;
2. The individual either (i) expects to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), (ii) was not required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or (iii) received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) under Section 2201 of the CARES Act;
3. The individual cannot pay the full rent or make a full housing payment due to substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
4. The individual is using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual's circumstances may permit, considering other non-discretionary expenses; and
Eviction would likely render the individual homeless — or force the individual to move into and live in close quarters in a new congregation or shared living setting—because the individual has no other available housing options.
If yes to any of the above situations, you qualify!
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What do I need?
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1. Print out and sign this CDC Declaration:
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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/declaration-form.pdf
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2. Provide this document to your landlord.
You are allowed to translate the document.
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Important Notes
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Covered individuals will still eventually owe outstanding rent to their landlords, this is not a rent forgiveness program.
The federal government will be enforcing this Order through prosecution of violations by the US Department of Justice.
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Massachusetts Eviction Law
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1. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-eviction
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2. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eviction-diversion-initiative-legal-services-and-mediation
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