Moratorium now has 60-day sunset period and will end June 30

The City of Somerville’s proposed extension and sunset date for its eviction moratorium was unanimously approved by the Somerville Board of Health at their Thursday, April 21, meeting. Otherwise set to expire on April 30, the moratorium now has a 60-day sunset period and will end on June 30.

The city urges tenants and owners to use the sunset period to seek assistance if they are facing housing instability. A range of alternative supports are available for qualifying households, and the City’s Office of Housing Stability staff are ready to help. Landlords are also encouraged to reach out on behalf of tenants rather than pursuing eviction. 

The Somerville eviction moratorium is the last remaining municipal eviction moratorium in the Commonwealth. It is one of a range of tools that Somerville has deployed to help keep residents in their homes during the pandemic. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne also recently announced new municipal housing assistance programs including flex funds and housing vouchers launching soon, and since March 2020, the city has substantially increased housing staff and services to connect residents to federal, state, and local housing aid. 

How to Contact the Somerville Office of Housing Stability for Assistance

Somerville residents unable to pay their rent or mortgage, and landlords reaching out on behalf of tenants, are urged to contact the city’s Office of Housing Stability (OHS) or the nonprofit Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) for help. 

Somerville residents in need of assistance are urged to contact OHS at 617-625-6600 x2581 or fill out a referral form at somervillema.gov/ohs. The Somerville Homeless Coalition and the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) are also providing similar assistance. CAAS can be reached at 617-623-7370 or caasomerville.org/need-help. The Somerville Homeless Coalition can be reached at 617-623-6111, info@shcinc.org, or somervillehomelesscoalition.org/programs. 

How the Somerville Eviction Moratorium Works

The Somerville eviction moratorium prevents the physical removal of tenants from their homes. While landlords may file notices to quit and seek court orders for evictions, Somerville tenants may not be removed from their homes while this pandemic protection is in place. 

Through June 30, Somerville residents who receive a “notice of levy” (a date and time when they will be removed from their homes by a constable or deputy sheriff) or who are experiencing a physical eviction should immediately contact 311 (617-666-3311) to be connected to Office of Housing Stability (OHS) staff (for residential tenants or homeowners), and the Somerville Police Department as necessary, to intervene. After June 30, Somerville residents who expect to receive, or have received, a notice of levy should still reach out to OHS staff for other potential support. 

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