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Keeping It

Acronyms & Orgs

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, utilities, 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 former 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. 

    See also 1/9/26 Opinion piece by Jim Geisman, chairperson of the Greenfield Board of Assessors and a member of the Elderly & Disabled Tax Fund

    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
    • Blind Exemption
    • Surviving Spouses/Minor Children of a Deceased Parent
    • Hardship Exemption
    • Veterans Exemptions; and
    • Senior Tax Deferrals

    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.)

    Mass Fair Housing Center provides free legal services to those who have experienced housing discrimination in our area.

    HUD Certified Housing Counselors are available through HRA to help homeowners understand their options and develop a personalized action plan to address challenges such as foreclosure and falling behind on property taxes.

    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.

    The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition, (RAFT) Program helps keep households in stable housing situations when facing eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies. Both Renters and Homeowners can get help in completing the Online RAFT Application for financial assistance with rent, mortgage or utilities. Renter applications will be processed by Franklin County HRA while Homeowners are processed by Hearthway. 

    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

    Utilities: 

    • the Mass AG’s office has put together a Fact Sheet on various ways to help with energy bills.
    • Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund sponsored by 18 energy service providers in the state and administered by The Salvation Army is often the last resort for families who have not qualified for federal and state assistance programs. Visit Salvation Army Service Center or call 800-262-1320 if you live in area code 413.

    Help with repairs, maintenance, and improvements

    Accessibility: The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) offers 0% financing for home accessibility improvements for older adults and those with disabilities to remain in their homes safely and affordably.

    Get the Lead Out Program: The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing) offers low-cost financing, administered through HRA in Franklin County, to remove hazardous lead paint from one- to four-family properties, and reduce the possibility of lead poisoning in children. Properties must either be owner-occupied by people with low or moderate incomes, have tenants with low to moderate incomes. 

    The Housing Rehabilitation Program, administered by HRA, offers 0% interest, deferred payment, and forgivable loans to income-qualified homeowners over a 15-year period.  The program can provide an affordable means for homeowners to weatherize their homes, perform needed repairs, and bring their homes into compliance with building codes or health/safety concerns.

    Housing Rehabilitation Program, administered by the City of Greenfield:  provides 0%-interest, deferred loans to assist with the completion of necessary repairs to fix code compliance issues in single- and multi-family homes/apartments occupied by low/moderate-income households.

    Older Adult Home Modification through Community Action Pioneer Valley (yes, all these names are similar!): If you are 62 or older and get fuel assistance, whether a tenant or homeowner, you could get help with simple safety improvements at no cost to you.

    USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants   (“Section 504 Home Repair program”).  This provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.