Creating Progressive Housing Solutions
We believe everyone deserves to access safe and affordable housing in a respectable way. We take a multifaceted approach to Greater Boston’s housing crisis and the prevention of further displacement of our families. Our team implements a comprehensive strategy that addresses the immediate housing needs of families, cultivates grassroots leadership, and advocates for systemic policy changes. The goal is to strengthen tenant protections and create more sustainable housing markets for working families.
Every neighbor deserves the right to stable housing
Everyone deserves safe and affordable housing in a respectable manner. Our approach to Greater Boston’s housing crisis and the prevention of further displacement of our families is multifaceted, rooted in action and enacting policy change. We implement a comprehensive strategy that addresses the immediate housing needs of families, cultivates grassroots leadership, and advocates for systemic policy changes. Our goal is to strengthen tenant protections and create more sustainable housing markets for working families.
RAFT
La Colaborativa’s dedicated staff is here to assist residents in applying for rental relief programs. These programs, including the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, are available to undocumented families and offer significant resources to repay rent and keep families housed, including help with utility bills, and other housing-related expenses. Our team provides personalized assistance to help navigate the application process. Assistance is available by appointment only, either in person or over the phone. Please contact us to set up an appointment.
Eviction Assistance
Equipping tenants with the proper education and tools is critical. La Colaborativa provides information and resources to help tenants understand their rights and options when facing eviction. Our team mediates disputes between tenants and landlords to find mutually beneficial solutions, and negotiates payment plans to help tenants catch up on rent.
Shelter Placement
Ensuring every member of our community has a safe place to stay is at the heart of our mission. In the absence of an emergency shelter in Chelsea, we provide temporary emergency housing for families in crisis through local hotels. Limited cash assistance funds are also available to help families cover emergency housing costs, ensuring they have the financial support needed to secure temporary shelter.
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Know Your Rights
La Colaborativa holds weekly Know Your Rights trainings for tenants, aiming to cultivate grassroots leaders who are well-versed in housing laws and tenant protections. These trainings empower participants to advocate for themselves and their neighbors, fostering a community that actively contributes to the movement for housing justice. By equipping residents with the knowledge and tools to address personal housing challenges and engage in broader advocacy efforts, these sessions support our statewide campaigns for policies that promote long-term housing equity.
Inspections
MADE Up to Code, an online tool, empowers tenants in Chelsea by facilitating housing inspections. This enables direct communication with landlords and leverages the sanitary code to prevent unjust evictions. The initiative has increased tenant agency, improved landlord accountability, and prevented unlawful evictions, ensuring safer and healthier living conditions for all residents.
