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Keeping It

Help with staying in your home

Times are tough.  Avoid foreclosure.  Don’t get evicted. Check here for ideas to help with mortgage, emergency rent, taxes and maintenance.

Tax Relief in Greenfield

Videos to watch

To help publicize existing programs, Carol Letson, Andrea Cohen-Kiner and Susan Worgaftik met with Hope Macrary, Director of the Senior Center, and City Assessor, Randall Austin in the spring of 2023.  They discussed the various property tax abatements that might be available to seniors, and also the state circuit breaker income tax credit.  Many low-income seniors in our community do not know about these benefits that might help them pay property taxes or rent (income tax credit is available to renters as well as homeowners).  One goal is to keep seniors in their housing.  The fastest growing unhoused population is over the age of 65. A video describing 3 aspects of this issue was made.  You may watch the whole 30 minute Financial Relief informational Session or just the individual pieces you are most interested in:

    City website to read

    The Assessor’s Tax Relief in Greenfield page of the Greenfield City website describes these programs and more in detail. 
    You can find descriptions of
    • Tax Exemptions;
    • Property and Motor Vehicle Tax Abatement;
    • Senior Tax Deferral; and the
    • Elderly and Disabled Taxation Fund
    There are also application forms, application guides, descriptions of eligibility, and links including for
    • Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Abatement
    • Senior Exemption
    • Veterans Exemptions; and

    Other Help

    Banks and Credit Unions: check to see what classes or services might be offered through lending institutions for “financial literacy“.  They don’t want you to go under.  Understand about mortgages or debt, or get information to start your kids on a good path for a lifetime of dealing with money.

    Community Legal Aid   (from their web page) Community Legal Aid’s Housing and Homelessness Unit provides legal services to help tenants facing eviction, homeowners who are threatened with foreclosure, homeless families who need to access the state’s Emergency Assistance shelter program, and people trying to get into affordable housing. The Unit also runs a housing discrimination testing and enforcement program.

    Elderly and Disabled Tax Fund (Currently being set up for Greenfield.  First payments authorized by March 1, 2027.)

    Rent and Utility Help from Community Action.  They can help with budgeting, or with reviewing your options if you got an eviction or foreclosure notice or utility shut-off notice.  Start here to let you work with a Resource Advocate who can suggest programs tailored to your specific needs.

    Senior Circuit Breaker Income Tax Credit   Certain seniors who own or rent residential property in Massachusetts, are eligible for a refundable income tax credit from the state. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.  (Also see video listed above)

    Senior tax work off  Greenfield homeowners age 60+ may apply to work off a portion of your real estate taxes by working at a city department