Emergency Assistance

Emergency Assistance is a Massachusetts family shelter program run by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

Eligibility:

General Eligibility

-At least one member of the household is a citizen, qualified immigrant or refugee

AND

-At least one member of the household is a child under age 21

OR

-Pregnant

Financial Eligibility

-TAFDC, SSI or EAEDC payments counted as income

-Foodstamps, training stipends up to $130/month, college grants or loans (INCLUDING WORKSTUDY), income from family members below age 14 and up to 6months of earnings by fulltime students over age 14 are NOT counted.

Assets:

Must have less that $2500 in available assets

Equity over $5,000 or market value over $10,000 for a car will be counted as an asset.

Other reasons for denial:

• An adult has quit a job or reduced income without "good cause" less than 90 days before applying.
• Property was transfered with the intention of making the family eligible for EA (within 12 months of application)
• The family was in EA shelter within 1 year -- unless they left for permanent housing that turned out to be unsafe or unaffordable OR left for DTA provided temporary shelter.
• An eviction from Section 8 or other public housing for non-payment
• An eviction for criminal activity (except Domestic Violence, if the batterer is not applying for EA)
• An eviction for property damage
• A teen parent was removed from three teen living programs for rule violations/behavior OR a teen parent who refused a teen living placement.

Apply

- If recieve TAFDC or foodstamps, inform DTA caseworker

- Apply at the Department of Transitional Assistance

              Documents:

-Social security cards for all adults

- Birth certificates for all children

- Paystubs, if working

- All documents for evictions within the last year

- A doctor's letter confirming pregnancy (if pregnant with no other children)

-If currently staying with family or friend - a letter from that person explaining that applicant must leave that residence

-Documents of assets (bank statements etc.)

 

NOTE: If some of these documents are not available, DTA must place those who apply and have no place else to go. They must provide all documents within 30 days.

 

If Approved

DTA will make a placement. They should try to make a placement as close as possible to homecommunity - but they may make a placement anywhere space is available.

If the placement is not near home community, DTA should make a transfer closer as soon as space becomes available.