The head of a Springfield, Massachusetts, nonprofit says a state program to limit evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic needs improvement.
Massachusetts ended its ban on evictions in October of last year. That month, the state launched a new program to avoid evictions by distributing money to landlords and tenants.
According to state officials, the initiative has been a success, paying out almost $270 million.
But Rose Webster-Smith disagrees. She leads Springfield No One Leaves, which helps people stay in their homes. She said it's difficult to apply for that government assistance.
"You know, if you're not tech savvy, you're not going to be able to complete the application," she said. "There's way too many barriers in place for people to access it equitably."
Webster-Smith said the state needs to streamline the application process and do a better job getting the word out that financial help is available to avoid eviction.
