Town of Maynard implements emergency rental assistance program

In an effort to ensure home security and provide rental assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Affordable Housing Trust announced a new Emergency Rental Assistance Program for Maynard residents.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides temporary, monthly rental assistance in the form of a grant to eligible households who have had a loss of income due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are extremely pleased to have established a program that allows us to help out residents who are dealing with housing insecurity in the midst of this unprecedented health crisis,” Affordable Housing trust chair Rick Lefferts said. “We hope that with assistance from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program we will be able to help mitigate a portion of the financial burden placed upon our residents.”

The program will pay between $350 to $800 per month in rental assistance, depending on unit size, for four months. Payments will be made directly to the landlord. Grant renewals may be possible depending on need and available funding.

Eligibility requirements include:

•Residents of Maynard who are not currently receiving rental assistance or who are in a unit where rent is based on income.

•Households who have had their income reduced due to circumstances related to COVID-19.

•Households who spend over 30% of their income on rent.

•Households whose current monthly rent is below the following: $1,925 for one bedroom; $2,311 for two bedrooms; $2,880 for three bedrooms; $3,131 for four bedrooms.

•Households whose income is below the following limits: one-person household, $83,300 income limit; two-person household, $95,200 income limit; three-person household, $107,00 income limit; four-person household, $119,00 income limit; five-person household, $128,520 income limit; six-person household, $138,040 income limit; seven-person household, $140,492 income limit.

Residents should be aware that households who own other real estate do not qualify to receive rental assistance under this program.

This program is administered by the Regional Housing Service Office on behalf of the Maynard Affordable Housing Trust. Applications can be found at https://bit.ly/MaynardRentalAssistance.

The application is also available in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. Fliers in English, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese can be found at https://bit.ly/MaynardRentalApplication.

Applications may be mailed to or dropped off at the following

•Maynard Town Hall, 195 Main St. The attention line should state the Office of Municipal Services: ERAP. Residents may drop their applications off in the box at the front entrance of town hall.

•Regional Housing Service Office, 37 Knox Trail, Acton. The attention line should state ERAP. Residents may drop their applications off in the black mailbox by the front steps.

For information, contact 978-287-1093 or email info@RHSOhousing.org.