The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless has announced that the homelessness prevention program RAFT - Residential Assistance for Families in Transition - is back.

After several years of minimal funding ($260,000 statewide), RAFT has been funded by the Legislature at $8.76 million for fiscal year 2013. This means that RAFT is once again a statewide program. RAFT is run by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), in collaboration with 10 partner agencies.

Eligible families may receive up to $4,000 to pay for expenses to avoid homelessness or rapidly exit homelessness. The program now is targeted to families with incomes at or below 50% of area median income, with at least 90% of the funds for families at or below 30% of area median income.

• To see the RAFT income limits, based on 30% of area median income (AMI) and 50% AMI, click here.

• To see the FY'13 RAFT administrative plan/program guidance, click here.

• To see DHCD's RAFT update page, including a list of this year's 10 administering agencies, click here.

• To see helpful RAFT information from Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP), click here.