Subsidized Housing:
What is realistically available?
On Friday, April 2, Diane Yentel, the housing policy coordinator for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, presented a talk on subsidized housing to a group of Social Services resource providers.
There are four programs for subsidized housing in the state of Massachusetts:
Unrealistic Options: Section 8 & Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program
Section 8 is a federally funded housing program, while MRVP is state funded. What makes both of these programs appealing is that they are mobile voucher programs - housing subsidies that you can use in private apartments and the subsidies more with you. MRVP vouchers can be used anywhere in the state of Massachusetts. Section 8 vouchers can be used anywhere in the state in the first year and then anywhere in the country after that. Unfortunately, as Ms. Yentel explained, both of these programs are not realistic options right now.
There is currently a lack of Section 8 and MRVP vouchers in Massachusetts. New MRVPs will likely not be given out for several years and President Bush has proposed to reduce the Section 8 budget by over a billion dollars in FY 05, resulting in the loss of 250,000 vouchers nationwide. In Massachusetts, 8,620 of 70,000 households would lose their Section 8 assistance and there would be no new vouchers for the growing population of homeless. (Advocacy efforts are needed from residents of Massachusetts. For more information on how you can help, please contact Corinne Castro.) Ms. Yentel still advises clients in need of housing to submit applications, just to be on the safe side if anything changes, however an applicant must remember to update their address with each housing authority every time they move or else they will be removed from the waitlist.
Realistic Options: Public Housing & Project Based Subsidies
The programs described below are both viable options for clients that are low-income and in danger of homelessness. For the most part, an applicant moves to the top of a waitlist in approximately 6-8 months. Unfortunately, these subsidies are not portable.
Public Housing
Public Housing is housing owned by the government. Of the 250 communities in Massachusetts, about 200 have their own Local Housing Authority (LHA) that runs and manages its public housing. Thus the LHA acts as the landlord. Each LHA can decide if they want to give groups of people a "preference" for public housing. Some examples include homeless people, working families, people with disabilities, local residents, and victims of domestic violence. It is necessary to call each LHA to determine what their preferences are.
Ms. Yentel stated that Public Housing is a viable option right now. Depending on preferences, it is possible for a low-income applicant that is at risk of homelessness to move to the top of the waiting lists in about six months. Some LHAs require that the applicant obtain an application in person, whereas others will mail the application. (In any case, if a person has a disability that prevents them from getting to the LHA, the LHA must mail the application.) Ms. Yentel suggests calling each LHA in which the person intends to apply and asking the following questions: (1) what are your preferences and (2) would you please mail me an application? Most importantly, an applicant must keep a record of where s/he applied. When a person's name comes to the top of the list, the LHA will notify them. If someone moves while awaiting public housing, it is essential to notify each LHA of the new address. LHAs are listed in IRis under the keyword "Housing/Authority."
Project Based Subsidies
Project Based Subsidies are very similar to Public Housing, however they are developments that are owned by private for-profit and nonprofit developers. Developers get money from state or federal government or some combination of both. Ms. Yentel says that Project Based Subsidies are also currently a viable option for low-income applicants in danger of homelessness.
The two main developments in Massachusetts are the HUD Section 8 Developments and the MassHousing Developments. The same rules as Public Housing apply for Project Based Subsidies. Applicants must apply individually to each development and keep track of where they apply to inform developers of changes in address. One can obtain a list of these developments by calling HUD at (800) 483-7342 and by calling MassHousing at (617) 854-1000.
More detailed information on the four programs described above and how to apply can be found on at the "Staff Access" section of the social services website by following the path: Community Resource Center - Basic Needs - Housing and Housing with Services.
- Special thanks to Diane Yentel, Housing Policy Coordinator, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless for her help editing this article.
04/2004