Fund opened to prevent foreclosures in Boston

Mayor Kim Janey today announced a new $5 million Emergency Foreclosure Prevention Fund is now open for eligible residents to apply for funding. The Fund is aimed at helping Boston homeowners who are at high risk of foreclosure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including job loss, reduced income, or needed unpaid time off due to health issues related to the pandemic. Mayor Janey originally announced the Emergency Foreclosure Prevention Fund in August as part of her Housing Stability Agenda.

“The pandemic has exacerbated inequities in our City, and highlighted the importance of safe, stable housing”, said Mayor Kim Janey. “We know that homeowners are still being negatively impacted by the pandemic, and I’m very pleased that this new fund will help us expand our reach to homeowners in need of assistance to remain in their homes.”

The fund is available to Boston homeowners at high risk of foreclosure, who are owner-occupants with incomes at or below 150% of area median income - $181,200 for a family of four - who are at least 90 days behind on one or more homeownership-related payments. A list of the qualifying requirements can be found online.  

 The City is using federal COVID Relief Funds and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create this fund. Homeowners can apply for the fund by contacting any one of three agencies who are administering the funds in partnership with the City: ESAC, Urban Edge, and ABCD Mattapan Family Services. As part of the program, homeowners will be able to receive foreclosure prevention counseling in conjunction with the funding.  

“For the nonprofit organizations whose mission is to preserve our neighborhoods, it is fortunate that the City of Boston has created an Emergency Foreclosure Prevention Fund for those at high risk of foreclosure as a result of the pandemic. With the infusion of these funds, we will have an additional tool to help the homeowners in our neighborhoods to avoid foreclosure and keep their homes,” said Bob Credle, Director of Community Programs for Urban Edge. 

The Boston Home Center, a division of the Department of Neighborhood Development, works with Boston homeowners at risk of foreclosure, and funds foreclosure prevention programs at ABCD/Mattapan Family Services, ESAC and Urban Edge. These partnerships are made possible by grants from the federal government, and competitive awards the Home Center receives from the Massachusetts Division of Banks. In 2020, the Boston Home Center and its partners assisted more than 400 homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

If you think you are eligible for assistance, or have any questions, please contact one of our partner agencies and they can help you take the next steps:

• ESAC: 617-524-2555, ext 108 or sbennett@esacboston.org
• Urban Edge: 617-989-9309 or fbowen@urbanedge.org
• ABCD - Mattapan: 617-298-2045 or staff_mattapanfsc@bostonabcd.org

In addition to the Emergency Foreclosure Prevention Fund, Mayor Janey also announced a citywide eviction moratorium as part of the Housing Stability Agenda. The eviction moratorium — created through a public health order by the Boston Public Health Commission — seeks to temporarily halt residential evictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The public health order prohibits landlords and property owners from pursuing tenant eviction proceedings in the City of Boston.

The Department of Neighborhood Development is responsible for housing people experiencing homelessness, developing affordable housing, and ensuring that renters and homeowners can find, maintain, and stay in their homes. As part of the ongoing coronavirus response, the Office of Housing Stability is administering Boston’s Rental Relief Fund, which has given out more than $20 million to more than 4,000 households and is also conducting tenant’s rights workshops to educate residents about the eviction moratorium and their rights. The Boston Home Center continues to provide down payment assistance to first-time home buyers and home repairs for seniors and low-income residents. The Supportive Housing Division works with various partners around the city to rapidly house individuals who are experiencing homelessness. For more information, please visit the DND website.