An Act relative to residential assistance for families in transition (RAFT)

This bill creates a new state program called RAFT to help low-income families in Massachusetts avoid homelessness by providing cash assistance for rent and utility bills. To qualify, households must have incomes at or below the area median and face a risk of losing their housing within the next year, even if they have not yet received an official eviction notice or shut-off order. The program prioritizes families with very low incomes, covers up to 12 months of future housing costs, and requires the state to coordinate with other agencies to streamline applications and track how recipients fare over time. Additionally, the legislation mandates that specific documents related to the distribution of these rental assistance funds be treated as public records to ensure transparency.