Somerville Promotes Resources For Tenants Struggling To Pay Rent

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville is encouraging low- and moderate-income tenants and homeowners struggling to pay their housing costs to seek support now, despite both the local and federal eviction moratoriums being extended, to avoid later threats to their housing security.

"We are relieved that the CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium, and Somerville's local eviction moratorium also remains in place, but no one should be waiting to seek help making rent or mortgage payments," Fred Berman, deputy director of the Office of Housing Stability (OHS), said. "Falling behind month-by-month can make it difficult to catch up, and we don’t know how long federal protections will continue beyond the current extension."

Residents in need of assistance are urged to contact the OHS at 617-625-6600 ext. 2581 or fill out a referral form at somervillema.gov/ohs. The city has leveraged more than $2 million in rental assistance during the pandemic from local, state and federal sources.

The Somerville moratorium, which prevents eviction orders from being executed, was extended through Sept. 15. While landlords may file notices to quit and seek court orders for evictions, tenants may not be removed from their homes while this protection is in place.

Similarly, low- and moderate-income Somerville homeowners who may have defaulted on their mortgage payments may not be ordered to leave their home pursuant to eviction or foreclosure orders.

With the influx of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, and with Middlesex County now considered to be at substantial risk for transmission of the variant, the Somerville Board of Health will meet again prior to the Sept. 15 date to consider an extension of the city's general pandemic emergency declaration, which includes the eviction moratorium.

The federal eviction moratorium was recently extended through Oct. 3 for counties with high or substantial COVID-19 transmission, which includes Middlesex County.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that Somerville residents don’t lose their housing as a result of this pandemic," Mayor Joseph Curtatone said. "We have substantial funding available for struggling renters and homeowners thanks to the American Rescue Plan. We also have an entire Office of Housing Stability and partnering non-profits prepared to assist residents who need rental or mortgage assistance. Landlords and tenants don’t need to be at odds over unpaid rent. We can help you solve this problem."

Supports available to residents unable to make rent or mortgage payments can help with overdue payments, as well as provide time-limited assistance with upcoming payments. These resources can prevent tenant evictions for non-payment of rent. They can also help landlords who otherwise might struggle to pay their mortgage and other bills without their customary rental income. Under the state's Eviction Diversion Initiative, many residents who might otherwise face eviction are now being referred directly to rental assistance programs rather than proceeding to trial.

Somerville residents who receive a "notice of levy" eviction order or who are experiencing a physical eviction should immediately contact 311 (617-666-3311) to be connected to Office of Housing Stability staff (for residential tenants or homeowners), and the Somerville Police Department as necessary, to intervene.

For COVID-19 updates, visit www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus and sign up for City alerts at www.somervillema.gov/Alerts. For general City updates including housing-related information, pleasesign up for the City e-newsletter at www.somervillema.gov/enews. Or follow us at FB.com/SomervilleCity and @SomervilleCity.