Housing Programs Available For Bedford Renters And Homeowners In Need

Press release from the Town of Bedford:

November 4, 2020

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The Bedford Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is still accepting applications for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program during the COVID-19 pandemic, which provides temporary rental assistance in the form of a grant. The intent of this program is to help eligible households impacted financially by COVID‑19 maintain housing stability during this time.

To be eligible:

• You must be a Bedford resident who rents your home.
• Your household must have an income that is at or below 100% of the Area Median Income (for example, $119k for a family of four).
• You must need assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impact.

• See program guidelines and application for additional detail on eligibility requirements

The grants will be paid directly to landlords, and will range from $350 to $800 monthly (depending on the number of bedrooms) for a total of four months. The program application, including frequently asked questions, is available at https://www.rhsohousing.org/bedford/urgent-alerts/covid-19-resources-bedford-households.

Please email the Regional Housing Services Office at [email protected] for additional information on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Small Grant Program

The Bedford Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is still accepting applications for the Small Grant Program, designed to help Bedford home owners make necessary repairs to their homes to help address safety and health issues. The Small Grant Program provides up to $4,000 for qualified Bedford applicants. Applications will be evaluated and prioritized based on health and safety considerations, and financial need of the applicant. Grants will be awarded in January 2021, with an application deadline of November 16, 2020. Please find the application and further details at: https://www.bedfordma.gov/municipal-affordable-housing-trust

To be eligible:

• The property must be in Bedford, and you must reside there.
• You must plan to stay in Bedford for the next 12 months.
• Your income can’t be higher than 80% of the Area Median Income in this area.
• Your home’s assessed value must be lower than 120% of the average assessed value.
• You must let the Bedford Municipal Affordable Housing Trust know 120 days before you list your house for sale or rent.
• You must be within the eligibility financial guidelines.

Please contact Alyssa Sandoval, Economic Development Director, at 781-275-1111 or by email at [email protected] for any questions and further information on either of these programs.

Massachusetts Emergency Housing Assistance

For immediate housing assistance on issues related to evictions and foreclosures, please call 2-1-1 for assistance and more information.

Regional Housing Services Office

The Regional Housing Services Office provides a comprehensive list of housing resources for Bedford residents at https://www.rhsohousing.org/bedford. If you are not sure which program may be right for you, please reach out to the Regional Housing Services Office at [email protected].

This press release was produced by the Town of Bedford. The views expressed here are the author’s own.