Section 8 Program and
Affordable Housing Options
MA Families Organizing for Change
MA Down Syndrome Congress and
Riverside Community Care
March 11, 2015
What is Affordable Housing?
 A housing opportunity designated for
households who earn 80% of Area Median
Income (AMI) or below
 “Affordable housing” opportunities are not
uniform and are not always deeply
subsidized
 Types of Affordable Housing Options in MA:
 Mobile Vouchers – Section 8 voucher or MA Rental
Voucher
 Public Housing – A specific unit located in a community
and owned by the local housing authority
 Project Based – assistance attached to a specific unit,
typically in a larger development
 Tax Credit Unit – a specific unit that has a lower rent
Eligibility for Affordable
Housing
Eligibility varies by program
All are income based (typically 30% 80% of Area Median Income)
Priorities and Preferences may vary
Disability status is often considered
depending on the type of housing
assistance available
Tax Credit and Section 8
Project Based Units
Best resource is MassHousing
Listing of more than 800 projects in MA
with units that are “subsidized”
Some listings are for tax credit units and
some for Section 8 Project Based units
www.masshousing.com and chose rental
housing to search the listings
Other Section 8 Project Based
Units
Many Local Housing Authorities (LHA’s)
and Regional Administering Agencies
(RAA’s) also have Section 8 Project Based
units in a variety of private developments
Each LHA and/or RAA would be able to
provide specific project information for
their projects
Some waiting lists are maintained by the
project and some by the housing agency
Public Housing Options through
Local Housing Authorities (LHA’s)
Many cities or towns have a Housing
Authority
A complete list and specific program
information can be found on the
Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD) website at
http://www.mass.gov/hed/housing/
Types of assistance vary for each LHA
Many have state funded and federally
funded programs
Contacting specific LHA’s regarding types
of programs and application process is
best. There is a list of contact info
available for each LHA on the DHCD
website
LHA Listing Links
 A complete contact list can be found on the
Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD) website at
http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/eohed/
dhcd/contacts/local-housing-authoritylisting.html
 The types of housing available at each LHA
is available at
http://www.mass.gov/hed/docs/dhcd/ph/pu
blichousingapplications/typesofhousing.rtf
 Definitions of state funded housing options
http://www.mass.gov/hed/docs/dhcd/ph/pu
blichousingapplications/definitions.rtf
Massachusetts Rental Voucher
Program MRVP
Program Funded through the State
Budget
There are two components project
based and mobile
Administered by both LHA’s and RAA’s
Income Eligibility is set at 50% of AMI
Tenant Rent share is set between 30%
and 40% of household income
Can only live in MA
Section 8 Mobile Vouchers
 In MA, there are Section 8 Mobile
Vouchers available through some of the
LHA’s and through DHCD
 The LHA’s with a Section 8 mobile voucher
program have a contract directly with HUD
 DHCD also has a contract with HUD and
subcontracts the administration of their
vouchers to 8 Regional Administering
Agencies (RAA’s) of which MBHP is one.
The RAA’s cover the entire state
 There are two “centralized” waiting lists –
one for DHCD and one that 91 LHA’s
currently use
 In addition, LHA’s not participating in the
centralized waiting list may maintain their
own Section 8 waiting lists
Section 8 Mobile Voucher
Waiting List Options
LHA Lists
 http://section8listmass.
org/
 Apply one time, even
on- line, and applicant
is on a number of lists
based on priorities and
preferences
 Updates happen every
2 years and are
important
 Apply to individual
LHA’s not using central
list
DHCD List
 Administered by 8
regional nonprofits in MA
 Apply to only one and
listed by regional
preference
 Application available
http://www.mass.gov/hed/
housing/rentalassistance/rentalapplications-anddocumentation.html
Maximizing Your Chances of Being
Offered Subsidized Housing
Apply to as many housing agencies and
project-based sites as possible
At each agency, choose as many
developments at which you would be
willing to live
Keep a record of everywhere that you
apply
Change your address in writing any time
you move
Respond to all wait list updates
Section 8 Program Highlights
Federally funded program through US
Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD)
Approximately 2.1 million vouchers
nationwide
Most new vouchers during the past 10
years are targeted for homeless veterans
Section 8 Waiting List
As of March 11, 2015 there were 29,399 applicants
on the MBHP portion of the waiting list. Our top applicant
has an application date of May 11, 2004. MBHP recently
began making limited selections from our waiting list after
having made none since 2013.
How does Section 8 work?
 Applicants must apply to open Section 8 waiting lists
 Once the applicant reaches the top of the waiting
list:
– Invited in to complete eligibility process (application,
documentation)
– Typically information is verified and cori/sori is checked
– Once eligibility is complete either approved or denied
 If denied
– Applicant has the right to request informal
review/hearing
– Depending on the reason for denial, documentation will
vary
– Decision is issued and is final

If approved
– Applicant is invited in for issuance briefing which is
mandatory
– Voucher issued and housing search can start
Using a Section 8
Mobile Voucher
Applicant is required to complete
independent housing search
– Time is often limited, though may be
extended for certain reasons
– Owner must complete paperwork to
be submitted to agency to conduct
inspection
– A unit MUST pass a Housing Quality
Standards (HQS) Inspection and be
determined rent reasonable before a
lease is approved
Using a Section 8
Mobile Voucher
Paperwork
 There is a lot of paperwork involved at every
phase of process
 Prior to completing a contract, the lease
must be approved and additional paperwork
completed at the housing agency
 On a regular basis (annually or biennially)
“re-examination” must happen
Barriers to Using a Section 8
Mobile Voucher
Rent is limited to between 90% and 110%
of HUD published Fair Market Rent for
area
Unit MUST pass Inspection prior to being
approved
Start-Up costs are not covered by
voucher (i.e. – first, last and security
deposit)
Discrimination
 It is illegal to discriminate against a person
because they are receiving rental assistance
but it does happen
Common Section 8 Questions
 How much rent will I pay?
 At initial lease-up, a participant will pay at least 30%
but no more than 40% of their income towards rent .
• Income from all sources is counted
• Deductions, in certain circumstances, are given to reduce income
 How long can I stay on the program?
 Currently, there are no time limits on Section 8
 Participants are eligible for continued assistance
as long as they are in good standing, able to find
a unit within the given search times when
relocating and until the 30% of the participants
income is equal to or exceeds the contract rent
 Can I move someone in with me?
 Each LHA or RAA will have a specific policy
regarding this but typically, yes, changes to
family composition are permitted
Common Section 8 Questions
 What if I need special accommodations?
 Reasonable Accommodations related to a
disability are often times made to allow full
access and participation in the program.
Anytime there are barriers and/or challenges a
RA should be explored
 Where can I use my Section 8 Mobile
Voucher?
 Anywhere in the US, including Puerto Rico,
US Virgin Islands and Guam
 Sometimes the new housing agency will
“absorb” your voucher and sometimes they
will “bill” your initial housing agency but
“portability” is allowed
 What about discrimination?
 It happens
 It is illegal
 It needs to be reported
Additional Questions
Contact Information
Sue Nohl, Deputy Director
Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership
125 Lincoln Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02111-2503
Phone: (617) 425-6608
Fax: (617) 532-7590
Email: susan.nohl@mbhp.org
www.mbhp.org