PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: HOUSINGWORKS.COM

Did you know that there are lots of subsidized housing options that are not part of a housing authority or the MassHousing White book? For example, there is even subsidized housing funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture! Usually this housing is located in small towns and rural areas; a lot of this housing is reserved for elderly persons or disabled persons, but some of it is targeted to families or individuals of any age. There is also subsidized housing from the HUD Blue book, which is not part of any Housing Authority, and is also not part of the MassHousing inventory.

HousingWorks says that their website is “the only system that lets you search and apply to ALL POSSIBLE subsidized housing options in one place, including voucher programs and project based subsidies.”

What You should Know:

• Many advocates just use the free parts of the website (www.housingworks.com or .net and use it as a “guest”). They enter client profiles and get the clients screened for housing options. Or clients can use it themselves.
• They also offer free online trainings on the website every Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. that you can take from the comfort of your own computer. To sign up just fill out this form and fax it in: www.housingworks.net/static/WebTrainAdvo.pdf

-Adapted from e-mail- “HS - Types of subsidized housing and how to locate them (04)”, Housingworks, John LaBella, June 21, 2008.

06/08