What is RAFT?
- The RAFT program helps keep households in stable housing when facing eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies
- RAFT helps all kinds of households by providing up to $7,000 per household, within a 12-month period, to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent.
- RAFT is administered by eleven Regional Administering Agencies (RAAs) as well as the Rental Assistance Processing (RAP) Center operated by Nan McKay and Associates (NMA). These twelve organizations process RAFT applications, request additional documentation as needed, and administer RAFT benefits (directly to the landlord, utility provider, mortgage servicer, or other vendor). Find contact information for your RAA.
Am I eligible for RAFT?
Applicants must meet certain criteria to be eligible for RAFT:
- Risk of homelessness/housing instability (example: applicant has received a Notice to Quit, mortgage arrears)
- Income at or below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), or 60% of AMI for households who are at risk of domestic violence. (Check your city/town’s AMI.)
You can use this eligibility checker to see if you might be eligible for RAFT.
How will my income be verified?
When you submit the application, you give consent to EOHLC to search other state agency databases to see if your income has already been verified by another qualifying program. If your income can be verified with government databases, you will not have to submit any additional income documentation. If additional income documentation is needed, the application system will prompt you to upload it.
What kind of assistance does RAFT provide?
RAFT may be used for the following costs:
- Rent arrears
- Mortgage arrears
- Moving-related expenses (first/last/security, moving trucks, and furniture)
- Utility arrears
The maximum benefit cap for RAFT is $7,000 over a 12-month period.
How do I apply for RAFT?
You can apply for RAFT online through the Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal It is important to submit a complete application for RAFT to receive support quickly. If approved for RAFT, funds will be
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to apply to RAFT.
Before you begin your application, be sure you have the following documents ready to upload:
- ID for Head of Household (expired or international forms of ID are acceptable)
- Verification of current housing (example: your current lease or rental agreement)
- Verification of eligible housing crisis and arrears (examples: a Notice to Quit from your landlord; eviction notice; or documentation showing an inability to stay in your current home due to health, safety, or other reasons)
- Mortgage statement showing you are three months behind
- In addition to the documents listed above, an application for RAFT also requires documentation from your landlord/property owner. Be sure to provide contact information for your landlord/property owner in your RAFT application. Once you have submitted your application, your landlord/property owner will be asked to provide the following documents:
- W-9 for property owner
- Proof of ownership for unit
How long does it take to submit an application and receive a RAFT award or denial?
The RAFT application takes between 20-50 minutes to complete. You cannot save and return to an application, so you must complete your application in one sitting.
The time between submitting a RAFT application and receiving a RAFT award or denial varies. Applications with all required information and documentation will be processed more quickly than those with missing information and documentation. It is important that you complete your application to the best of your ability before submitting in order to receive an award or denial quickly.
Once you submit your application through the online portal, a Regional Administering Agency (RAA) or the Rental Assistance Processing Center (RAP Center) will process your application. If your application is missing required information or documentation, staff from your local RAA will reach out to you to complete the application, which will add to the processing time for your application. If you do not provide the required information within two weeks, your application will be “timed out.” It is very important to submit a complete application.
To check which agency is processing your application, visit the Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal and click “Apply now.” You can also use the Emergency Housing Payment Assistance Portal to upload additional documents after your application is submitted. You must have your login and application number in order to submit documents or to determine which agency is processing your application.