Chapter 18 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2B, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, the following section:-

Section 2C: Subject to appropriation, the department of transitional assistance shall administer a rental and mortgage arrearage program for households whose incomes are at or below 130 per cent of the federal poverty limit and who are at risk of homelessness within the next 12 months. For purposes of this program, eligible households shall include but not be limited to families with children under the age of 21, elders, persons with disabilities, and unaccompanied youth. Benefits under the arrearage program shall be made available to households for the prevention of the loss of housing, the actual liability up to four times the monthly rental or mortgage liability.  In administering the program, the department shall coordinate with the member agencies and offices of the Massachusetts interagency council on housing and homelessness on behalf of eligible households served by the members so as to streamline the application process, provide additional support services, and better promote homelessness prevention and housing stability.