Application Instructions for Massachusetts Section 8
Step 1
In order to receive housing assistance for low-income families, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides Section 8 programs. These programs are mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and include:
- State-aided public housing
- The Housing Choice Voucher program
The Massachusetts DHCD has established an estimated 90,000 units to be used for state-aided public housing. These units are available through 253 public housing authorities (PHA). To apply for public housing, you must contact the PHA that serves the city where you live or plan to live when your application is approved. However, you cannot choose where you will live within that PHA district. Once selected you will be provided with an apartment unit in a public housing complex in your city. If you decide to leave the apartment and live somewhere else you will forfeit your Section 8 program benefits.
If you want to choose where your Section 8 housing is located, apply for the Housing Choice Voucher program. Through this Massachusetts Section 8 program you are provided with a subsidy that ensures your household can afford housing. This subsidy requires you to pay for 30 percent of rent costs, while the remaining amount is paid for by the Section 8 program. This money is paid directly to your landlord who must be a participating in the Section 8 HCV program. The housing that you choose to live in must also pass health and safety requirements as stipulated by HUD.
To receive Massachusetts Section 8 a Housing Choice Voucher or public housing you will need to apply for services.
Who can Qualify for Section 8?
Before you contact your local PHA office to apply for Section 8 services you want to self-qualify your household. This will save you time with the application process in the instance that you do not qualify.
The main qualifier for Section 8 is your household income, which must not exceed the low-income limits summary for Massachusetts. Review your household’s total income to determine if you are at least low-income. If you meet the limits for very low-income or extremely low-income you will qualify for the greatest amount of rental assistance.
Your household will also have to meet certain requirements that will have to be proven through documents before you are approved:
- Individuals must all be US citizens or naturalized residents.
- No one should have a criminal record, as a criminal background check will be conducted on all adults in the household.
- No member of the household should have a bad rental history, i.e. missed rent payments or lack of payment.
When you apply you will have to provide character witnesses and references, as well as documents including Social Security cards and birth certificates, of all household members.
Households with individuals who are disabled or elderly, or that have been involuntarily displaced, will be given housing priority.
How to Apply
Contact the PHA office serving your city of residency to apply to a waitlist. If the waitlist is closed in your city, contact a neighboring city for services. You can also check the waitlists of Massachusetts Section 8 here:
- Housing Choice Vouchers program waitlists open
- Public housing waitlists open now
The waitlists can be long and may take months or years depending on local demand for low-income housing. Once your name is selected you will be contacted regarding submitting a detailed application. This application may also include an interview with you and the adults in your household. Those selected for a Housing Choice Voucher will need to search for affordable apartments in Massachusetts.
To ask about waitlists in your region or for more info on the application process contact your local PHA office or the HUD Boston Regional Office.