Housing that is designated for households who earn 80% of the Area Median Income. Affordable Housing Opportunities are not uniform and deeply subsidized. The range is 30%-135% Area Median Income (Depends on project) Rental or Homeownership. The area median income (AMI) is the household income for the median — or middle — household in a region.

Eligibility for Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing eligibility varies by program. Rentals are all income based (typically 30%-80% of Area Median Income. Priority and preferences may vary, and disability status is often considered depending on the type of housing assistance is available.

Types for Affordable Housing

Housing Choice Vouchers (Select Apartment of Your Choice)

• The federal program for very low-income families, Elderly and the Disabled under 30% Area Median Income (75% requirement)
• Apply at any Local Housing Authority (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/local-housing-authority-contact-listing)

Public Housing (No Choice Unless Units Are Available)

• A specific unit located in a community and owned by the local housing authority, State-aided.
• Apply at any Local Housing Authorities (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/local-housing-authority-contact-listing)
• Rent will increase based on program

Project-Based (Cannot Select Your Own Apartment)

• Subsidy attached to a specific unit in a development for very low-income families, Elderly and the disabled under 30% Area Median Income
• Apply at one of these regional non-profit organizations (Google- https://www.google.com) each organization for Information. They also carry regional vouchers. Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
• Berkshire Housing Development
• Community Teamwork Inc.
• Housing Assistance Corporation
• HAP, Inc
• MassHousing
• Metro Housing Boston
• RCAP Solutions
• South Middlesex Opportunity Council
• South Shore Housing Development Corporation
• Project Based: Cannot select apartment of your choice. MRVP: Choice of apartment in region.

Tax Credit

• A specific unit that has lower rent. Landlord receives tax credit on property if they rent to low-to-moderate income tenants. (MassHousing)
• Apply at developments that have tax credits and No choice unless multiple units are available
• Rents will increase.

Chapter 40B

• Chapter 40B is a state statute, which enables local Zoning Boards of Appeals (ZBAs) to approve affordable housing developments under flexible rules if at least 20-25% of the units have long-term affordability restrictions.  Also known as the Comprehensive Permit Law, Chapter 40B was enacted in 1969 to help address the shortage of affordable housing statewide by reducing unnecessary barriers created by local approval processes, local zoning, and other restrictions.  (Rentals and Home Ownership)
• Rents will increase 

• Emergency Utility and Rental Assistance Program: The Horace Industrial Cousens Fund provides emergency utility and rental payments to low- and moderate-income Newton residents who at-risk of becoming homeless or getting utility shut-off. Learn more here. 
  • Contact: Horace Industrial Cousens Fund, (617) 796-1324, cousensfund@newtonma.gov

• State of Massachusetts Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT): Tenants and landlords can apply for RAFT benefits of up to $7,000 of assistance in a one-year period. Learn more here

• Cares Connections - Emergency Financial Assistance (Brookline Community Mental Health Center): The Brookline Community Mental Health Center supports individuals and families who are at-risk of becoming homeless, through short- and medium-term rental assistance, security deposit, moving costs, utility payments, applications fees, and case management. Learn more here.
  • Contact: Brookline Community Mental Health Center. 41 Garrison Road, Brookline, MA,  (617) 277-8107 or info@brooklinecenter.org

Eviction Diversion Resources

• Overall resources:
  • “Are you worried about being evicted?”: Guidance from the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. For English, download here; for Spanish, download here.
  • Massachusetts Defense: Self-Guided Eviction Help: Free guided interview for Massachusetts tenants who are being evicted, created by the Greater Boston Legal Services.
  • Facing an Eviction: Steps to take, offered by MassLegalHelp.
  • If Your Landlord Tries to Force You Out, Turns Off Your Heat, Locks You Out or Shuts Off Your Utilities: Steps to take offered by massLegalHelp.
  • If your landlord has threatened to forcibly remove you, call the Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey at 617-727-8400

• Legal assistance:

  • Housing Mediation and Legal Services Program: In an effort to preserve tenancies across the state, MA Community Mediation Centers offer free pre-court mediation between landlords and tenants for COVID-19 related lease disputes. These services are also offered to the summary process cases referred through the courts. Find more information here.

  • For information on legal assistance, visit evictionlegalhelp.org

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