Rental Assistance Programs

As of 8/27/24 the Housing Clinic is at case management capacity, cases will be reviewed in the order they were received.There is a 2-3 week wait to be assigned to a case manager. In the meantime, please fill out the intake form and a case manager, or a member from the Housing Clinic team, will reach out to you as soon as possible.

Behind on your rent? Received a notice to quit?
Two rental assistance options are available: the State and the City of Waltham.

State Rental Assistance Program

1) RAFT - Residential Assistance for Families in Transition - For households who are behind on their rent for other reasons. Learn how to apply for RAFT here
Rent: Covers arrears (rent owed)
Total maximum: $7,000 within 12 months.
Utilities: up to $2,500 of overdue utilities - only if you have a shut-off notice.

How to apply for RAFT
Apply for RAFT here

Do you need an update on a RAFT application or are unsure if you can get more help?

If you applied for assistance to Metro Housing Boston yourself and it’s been more than 6 weeks or if you want to know if you’re eligible for additional assistance, you can contact Metro Housing Boston to get a status update. Email resourceline@metrohousingboston.org with your name, address and zip code, application number, date applied, and date of birth, or call (617)-544-9330.

If you applied through WATCH and have not yet received an email from Metro Housing Boston with your application number, please contact WATCH by email at sarah@watchcdc.org for Spanish: email daisy@watchcdc.org

2) City Programs: Waltham Security Deposit Program

Eligibility: An eligible applicant is one who does not have sufficient deposits of their own for a security deposit, whose income is within the guidelines set by HUD, and one who has documented income for rent payments to a landlord of a home. Undocumented households can apply but must be able to provide proof of income.

More info on eligibility here: Program Guidelines

Rent Assistance: Security Deposit, First and or Last Month’s Rent Assistance

Tenants can be "pre-approved” before they find the unit

It requires:

3 months bank statements;
8 weeks paystubs
Copy of last year’s tax forms

Apply here

3) WATCH Tenant Assistance Fund

WATCH has raised and distributed over $700,000 in tenant assistance since March 2020. To help replenish our Tenant Assistance fund, please donate to WATCH and designate your funds ‘for Tenant Assistance Fund’ and 100% will go to Waltham tenants in need.

Donate to the Tenant Assistance Fund here

Thanks to generous donations, state funding, and a Foundation grant to Metrowest and Newton Wellesley Hospital, WATCH can help renters who cannot receive state assistance.

WATCH has a limited Tenant Assistance Fund for Waltham tenants facing eviction or homelessness. All referrals come through our Housing Clinic case management program. If you are in need please fill out an intake form or talk to your WATCH case manager to see if you would be eligible for assistance.

Eligibility: For Waltham tenants who are behind on rent or utilities and have been denied or are not eligible for RAFT or the City Programs or have received the maximum assistance from the state and who are under 80% AMI (see chart above). Immigration status is not considered in this grant.

TAF funds are for Waltham residents receiving case management services from WATCH.

Currently our funds are for:

Rent if maxed out or not eligible for RAFT or CARES funding and $1,000 grant can prevent eviction
Emergency shelter for recently evicted households with small children or medically fragile individuals for up to 3 days.
Back to Work grants for childcare, transportation, work permit fees.

If you're new to WATCH, live in Waltham, and need help, please fill out this intake form or call (781)-512-8050 to request rent and utility assistance.

If you're a current WATCH client and would like to request rent or utility assistance, please fill out this form.

Other Housing Case Management

Brookline Center

Address: 41 Garrison Road, Brookline, MA 02445
Website: www.brooklinecenter.org/services/housing-basic-needs/care-connections-efa/
Phone: (857) 707-3525
Open: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Eligibility: Brookline residents, including those who are currently homeless, are eligible for all services. Newton, Waltham, and Watertown residents are eligible for services that help avoid eviction and homelessness. We can also help people in neighboring communities’ access alternate resources.

Jewish Family & Children Services (JF&CS)

Address: 430 Main St., Waltham, MA 02451
Website: https://www.jfcsboston.org/Our-Services/Community-Services/Basic-Needs
Phone: (781)-647-JFCS (5327)
Open: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Eligibility: Financial assistance is available primarily for housing costs, moving expenses, fuel, and utilities. Income eligibility and other criteria apply.

Need help moving to a new unit?

You can apply for the first & last month’s rent, security deposit, moving expenses, and furniture (depending on funding availability, may use RAFT).

The new landlord must be willing to sign a 1-year lease.

Tenants must have one of the following reasons that they need to move, PLUS must demonstrate that they can afford the rent at the new unit:

- Can not afford the current unit
- Court summons for eviction
- Doubled-up or overcrowded
- Domestic violence
- Fire or flood
- Other health and safety reasons

See more here