(Boston
Orange編譯)波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin J.
Walsh)4月2日宣佈撥款300萬元,成立”租金救濟金(Rental Relief Fund)”,為收入符合條件規定,受新型冠狀病毒影響,面臨失去所租住房屋危險的市民,提供最高4000元援助。
馬丁華殊表示,在COVID-19大流行之際,各級政府用各種方法來幫助民眾度過難關是很重要的事。波士頓市希望這筆經費,可以為面對繳租困難的居民,提供立即、迅速的幫助。
根據都會區計畫會(MAOC)為波士頓市做的估計,在截至3月21日的第一波申請失業救濟的人中,約有10,900租屋居住者是波士頓市居民。如今全美失業人數翻倍,已660萬,交租有困難的波士頓居民想必更多。
新成立的波士頓市”租金救濟金”將由市府鄰里發展局(DND)的住宅穩定辦公室和兩個非牟利夥伴,都會住宅/波士頓和可負擔住宅鄰里(NOAH)合作管理,為收入符合條件的波士頓居民,提供最高4000元的財務援助,用於支付租金。
申請者必須為不符合聯邦政府展延失業救濟新訂條款者,或是因為期工作本質,可能收到的失業福利會比他們的實際收入少很多。
這筆基金僅供家庭收入在區域中位收入(AMI)80%,也就是2人家庭年收入72,000元以下者申請。這筆基金有很大一部分將保留給收入極少(單身家庭,年收入低於25,000元者),以及收入非常低,或單身家庭年收入少於42,000元(區域中位收入的50%)者。
申請者最終收到的援助金額,將把其他收入來源,在CARES法通過後,失業福利可能增加,聯邦政府將發放給收入符合條件居民的一次性補助等等因素全都考慮進去。
以下為波士頓市府新聞稿
Recipients will have to demonstrate financial need, such as loss of
income
BOSTON
- Friday, April 3, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh yesterday announced that his
Administration is dedicating $3 million in city funds to assist Bostonians who
are at risk of losing their rental housing due to the worldwide COVID-19
pandemic. The funds will help income-eligible tenants in the City of Boston
achieve housing stability by providing direct financial relief to assist with
rental payments. Applications to the Rental
Relief Fund will be available on Monday, April 6th.
"In
the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a national crisis at a scale not seen in
our lifetime, it is imperative that all levels of government exercise all
possible tools to ensure the health and safety of our residents, and to keep
them stably housed," said Mayor Walsh. "As a key piece of legislation
makes its way through the State House, it is our hope that this funding will
offer immediate financial relief to renters in Boston who otherwise would be
unable to make their rent payment. We understand that this resource is critical
to have in place not only for economic reasons, but also to protect the public
health."
With
the statewide stay-at-home advisory extended through May 4th, the City of
Boston recognizes the financial strain put on renters who have reduced or no
employment income. According to estimates generated by the Metropolitan Area
Planning Council (MAPC) on behalf of the City of Boston, there were 10,900
renter households in the "first wave" of unemployment applications
filed by Bostonians in the week ending March 21st. With today's announcement
that national unemployment filings doubled from 3.3 million to 6.6 million, the
number of households in Boston experiencing difficulty in paying their rent is
expected to rise.
"This
program announced by the City today will go a long way to help residents who
are struggling and at risk of losing their homes because of the current health
crisis," said Chris Norris, Executive Director for Metro Housing Boston.
"Our friends and neighbors who already faced challenges with obtaining and
maintaining housing now have even more barriers. These funds will make a
difference for families with the greatest need - those with very low incomes
and extremely low incomes. Metro Housing|Boston is pleased to partner with
Mayor Walsh and his team as they launch this lifeline to the residents of
Boston because everyone deserves a place to call home."
The
newly established fund, which is being managed by the Office of Housing
Stability at the Department of Neighborhood Development with two nonprofit
partners, Metro Housing|Boston and Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH),
will provide income-eligible Bostonians with up to $4,000 in financial
assistance to be used for rent. To qualify for this financial assistance,
residents must either not be eligible for the new extended unemployment
benefits offered by the federal government, or because of the nature of their
job, the unemployment benefits that they will receive represent a significant
reduction in their actual income. The funding will only be available to
households earning less than 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), which is
$72,000 for a two-person household. A significant portion of these funds
are reserved for households with extremely low incomes (under $25,000 for a
single-person household), and very low-incomes or less than $42,000 for a
single person (50
percent AMI).
"The
need for rent relief as soon as possible for Bostonians, especially low-income
families and women heads of household, is enormous," said Philip Giffee,
Executive Director of Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Inc./NOAH. "Far
too many individuals and families have lost jobs - either temporarily or
permanently - and are no longer able to make ends meet. These families are in
immediate need of some form of assistance to keep them in their apartments.
NOAH applauds the Mayor and the City for stepping up and providing some relief
to help these desperate families."
The
ultimate amount of assistance renters can receive will be determined after
taking into account other sources of income, including the expected expansion
of unemployment benefits under new federal rules established by the CARES Act,
and one-time payments being issued to income-eligible residents from the
federal government. The City will monitor usage of the funds closely and anticipates
devoting additional resources to this effort from federal CARES Act or other
City revenue sources in the coming weeks.
"In
this unprecedented public health crisis, we're thrilled to see the City lead in
helping to alleviate the economic crisis that many Boston families are
facing," said Mac McCreight, Lead Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services
Housing Unit. "We look forward to collaborating with housing providers and
other helping agencies in getting assistance quickly to those who need
it."
Over
the last several week, the City of Boston has taken swift action to protect our
most vulnerable residents from losing their homes, including:
- The Boston Housing Authority stopped pursuing all
non-essential evictions;
- The Boston Housing Authority and the Boston Public
Schools (BPS) are creating a new
partnership to house up to 1,000 families with BPS students at risk of
displacement and experiencing homelessness over the next year;
- Formed a partnership with the Greater Boston Real
Estate Board and the Massachusetts Association of Community Development
Corporations to
urge a citywide moratorium on eviction proceedings;
- Asked the Boston Housing Court to stay all
non-emergency eviction proceedings, which the Supreme Judicial Court has
instituted throughout the statewide housing court system until April 21;
- Supporting legislation that provides residential
and commercial tenants and homeowners with protections against evictions
and foreclosures during and for a period of time after the State of
Emergency is lifted.
In
2016, Mayor Walsh created the City of Boston's Office
of Housing Stability, the first of its kind in the nation, that is designed
to keep communities intact by helping tenants maintain their housing. The
Office's work includes supporting tenants who are in crisis; creating and
offering resources, programs, and information for both tenants and landlords to
learn about their rights and responsibilities; and researching and creating
policies that aim to prevent displacement. The Office also oversees the Metrolist web
site, a clearinghouse for income-restricted housing opportunities in Boston and
neighboring communities.
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