Facing eviction in Dorchester, MA

(Request from Donald in Dorchester, Massachusetts)  I am 3 months behind in my rent we are facing eviction within a short period of time. We have no funds to move or pay rent at this time what can we do? I am disabled and my wife does not make enough bi-weekly to cover our rent and back bills. we need assistance right away. we go to court on the 10th of this month.

Dear Donald,

A three month delinquency on your rent is a severe enough situation that you will not be able to feasibly obtain an emergency grant to prevent the eviction in Dorchester. The only realistic possibility to staying in your current rental home would be to come up with enough cash immediately to cure the arrears. There are two primary possibilities to accomplish this feat for those who are perilously behind on rent.

One option is to put several assets up for quick sale. This can include a yard sale or placing items for sale on eBay or even craigslist. It can be difficult to raise the necessary amount of cash fast enough unless you have bigger ticket items such as a boat or a motorcycle that can be quickly sold.

The other main option for curing the arrears is to borrow the cash that you need. If you choose to go this route, you may need to borrow as much as four times your normal rent payment just so that you can make your next months rent payment on time or even a bit early as a sign of good faith your landlord. Rental loans normally require that you have consistent and reliable income that is sufficient enough to repay the loan as well as to make all of your normal monthly bills without fail. You also need to have reasonable credit so that you can obtain a loan with a moderate interest rate. Anything higher than 15-18% is simply too high.

Given your situation of low income and extreme delinquency, it is unlikely that you will be able to afford to remain in your current rental property. For this reason it is recommended that you seek transitional housing in Dorchester through one of the local nonprofit organizations or through the Housing Authority.

Boston Housing Authority

Your low income and disabled status may make you a primary candidate for permanent rent subsidies that can allow you to make a much lower monthly rent payment. Unlike many other housing authorities that have very limited funding and small-scale projects, roughly 10% of Boston residents directly benefit from the rental assistance programs operated by the Boston Housing Authority.

There are two separate rental voucher programs that you can be admitted into so you may receive reduced rent. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded through the federal section 8 program. The case manager can also facilitate your admission into the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. That program is funded by the state and is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development. You may reach this department at 617-727-7765.

Finally there are traditional housing projects that are administered by the Boston Housing Authority. There are 36 separate developments that are reserved for tenants who are either elderly or disabled, 7 of which are located right in Dorchester. Call 617-988-3400 to inquire about potential vacancies as well as to schedule an appointment with the caseworker.

You most likely qualify for some level of rental assistance through one of the agency serving Dorchester and greater Boston. The caseworker at the Housing Authority can help you determine what levels of support that you are eligible for. In the meantime, they can also help you survive an eviction in Dorchester by finding emergency shelter as well as transitional housing while you navigate the application process in any potential waiting lists.