Take action today to restore critical Chapter 257 eviction protections!

Between January 2021 and March 2023, many tenants in Massachusetts facing an eviction could receive a continuance from the court if they showed that they had a pending application for benefits under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program or another short-term emergency rental assistance program. In addition, the court could not issue a judgment or an eviction execution before the application was approved or denied.

Unfortunately, this important eviction prevention tool provided under a law known as Chapter 257 expired on March 31st. The Housing Court did not include an extension of Chapter 257 in the new standing order issued by the court on April 3rd, and the Legislature has not yet taken action.

Join us in signing this online action today to legislators, asking them to swiftly restore Chapter 257!