Unfortunately, the need for affordable housing in Massachusetts is much greater than what is available. As a result, housing agencies and owners of multifamily housing must keep waiting lists of applicants.1 In recent years, these waiting lists have grown longer. In fact, many places may have partially or completely stopped taking applications at all.
Because the waiting lists are so long, it is important to:
- Apply for as many different housing programs as you can.
- See if you fit into any preferences or priorities so that you can improve your chances of getting to the top of the lists more quickly. For more on this, see Who Has Priority.
- Request a written receipt for all applications you submit. They are your best proof that you have applied for a particular housing program and the date you applied.
- Keep track of your applications and your place on all the waiting lists.
- Notify all the places where you submitted applications of your new address if you move.
How do I find out whether a list is open?
One way to find out which waiting lists for public housing and vouchers are open is to search HousingWorks. Housing search agencies may also be able to complete applications for you on the computer. For a list of housing search agencies, see the Directory and look for Housing Search Agencies.
You may also find out from the newspaper when a Section 8 waiting list opens. A housing authority must give public notice. The notice must be published in a local newspaper of general circulation, and through minority media. The notice must state where and when to apply as well as any limitations on who may apply.2
There are two large Section 8 waiting lists which always accept applications. The first is through the regional nonprofit housing agencies. To find the
regional nonprofit in your area, see the Directory You can apply to this statewide list from the Rentals and Documentation page on DHCD's website.
The second is a single waiting list for about 80 housing authorities. The list is maintained by MassNAHRO [Massachusetts chapter of National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials], and housing authorities can choose whether or not to participate. To apply to the group list [one application for all participating housing authorities], you can call MassNAHRO at 617-367-0008 or go to MassNAHRO.
Can a waiting list be closed?
Yes. Sometimes a waiting list for a particular type of housing can be closed. If this happens, you cannot apply for that type of housing with that housing agency or landlord.
- Public housing
In general, public housing lists are almost always open. - Vouchers
If a housing authority or regional nonprofit housing agency determines that its waiting list for Section 8 vouchers has enough applicants to use available funding for Section 8, it may stop accepting new applications.3 This has led to Section 8 waiting lists being closed most of the time for the past several years. Some lists accept applications indefinitely, but may not be issuing new vouchers. - Multifamily housing
For housing subsidized through MassHousing, an owner can close a waiting list only if the owner gets permission from the state agency.4 For other multifamily programs, waiting lists can be closed more easily.
How are waiting lists organized?
Waiting lists can be organized either by the date and time your application was received or by a random lottery.5 In recent years, housing authorities have been encouraged to use a random lottery system for fairness, especially when a closed waiting list is open only a short time.
A random lottery can work in many different ways. Applications will be accepted for a certain period of time. Then, after a housing authority closes the application period, it creates a waiting list by randomly picking applicants and assigning them a number on the waiting list. The housing agency can use a random lottery among all applicants on a waiting list or among all applicants in particular priority categories.6
Regardless of the procedures, you should request a written receipt for all applications you submit. Housing authorities are required to provide a written receipt to applicants for state public housing, and most other programs will do so at your request.7 Save these receipts. They are your best proof that you have applied for a particular housing program and the date you applied.
Preferences
Because housing authorities and subsidized landlords usually get more applicants than there are units available, in order to decide who gets housing first, they may categorize people into preferences and priorities.8
Preferences can determine who will be placed at the top of a given waiting list. In many areas, because of the length of waiting lists, whether you qualify for a preference may determine whether and how quickly you receive housing. In some instances, a waiting list may be closed to people without preferences and open only to people who qualify for certain preferences. So if you are told that a list is closed, you should ask whether the list is open to any people with a preference.
However, some waiting lists are so long that even people with preferences may have a long wait. What is important is to understand whether you fit into any preferences or priorities at each place you apply. See Who Has Priority.
DHCD's Division of Rental Assistance, which administers this program, has the responsibility for regulatory and administrative oversight of all state and federally-aided rental assistance programs which address the needs of low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
How it works:
Eligible households are issued a Section 8/HCVP Voucher. The family is then given up to 120 days to locate their own rental housing, which can be located anywhere in the country, or they can elect to remain in their current unit provided it meets program requirements. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety. The rent for the unit must be reasonable in comparison to rents charged for similar, unassisted apartments in the area. A rental subsidy is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family by the housing agency. The subsidy is determined by the family's income. The family pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the Section 8 program.
The Department of Housing and Community Development [DHCD] contracts with eight regional housing agencies and one local housing authority to administer its portfolio of Section 8/HCVP subsidies.
Who is eligible:
Eligibility is based on the family's total gross income. At least 75% of all vouchers issued by a housing agency must be targeted to households whose total income does not exceed 30% of the area median income. HUD establishes income limits.
Application process:
Applicants may contact any one of DHCD's eight regional administering agencies to request an application or, a hard copy of the DHCD application can be downloaded and then submitted to any of the regional agencies. Please be advised that because the demand for housing assistance often exceeds the limited available resources, long waiting lists exist. [Note: In Massachusetts, families can also apply to over 100 local housing authorities that also administer the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Lists are frequently closed due to the number of families waiting.]
Please use the service locator to help you find the closest agency/office near you.
Grant amounts:
DHCD manages a Section 8/HCVP Voucher Program which serves over 22,000 households.
For further information:
Contact the Division of Rental Assistance at [617] 573-1150, or the local housing authority in a community of your choice.
This housing authority participates in the Massachusetts Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List, which is a partnership between 101 of the 131 housing authorities in Massachusetts. Applicants submit one application to apply to a centralized waiting list. Selected applicants will be placed on the centralized waiting list, and will be under consideration for every participating housing authority.
The Massachusetts Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List is currently open.
This housing authority is accepting Section 8 HCV applications for this waiting list from January 6, 2003, until further notice.
There are three ways to apply during the opening period:
Once the paper application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to any participating housing authority. Participating housing authority address information can be found here.
Income limit information can be found here.
The waiting list will be sorted differently by each housing authority according to its own preferences.
Participating housing authorities may have any of the following preferences: Activated military personnel to Persian Gulf; Board of Health condemnation; Disabled; Displaced by hate crime or reprisal, Displaced by landlord non-renewal; Displaced by natural disaster; Displaced by public action; Displaced by domestic violence; Elderly [62+]; Near elderly [55+]; Extremely low income; Health disability affecting housing need; Homeless; Participant in Metro Program in Wayland school; Rent burdened 50% of income; Rent burdened 40% of income; one-person family; substandard housing; tenants of Project-Based units; clients for Project-Based units; Veteran; Working. Further explanation of each preference can be found here.
Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the application has been received, by order of preferences.
For more information, visit the website here, call the office at 1 [877] 868-0040, or contact a participating housing authority listed here.
Reasonable AccommodationApplicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 1-877-868-0040.
Last Updated on 11/16/2021.