Housing

Overview of Subsidized Housing slides (pdf – opens in a new tab)

Finding Home: Tools and Techniques for Finding Housing handout (pdf – opens in a new tab)

Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) are programs that help people make informed decisions about their housing situation. They provide housing search assistance, budget counseling, utility assistance, information about housing rights, help accessing rental assistance programs, and more.

• Find a Housing Consumer Education Center

Independent Living Centers (ILC) are community organizations run by and for people with disabilities. Their goal is to help members lead an independent life in the community. They often help people with finding housing. ILCs can tell people about housing options, show them how to search for housing, help them fill out housing applications, and help them ask for housing accommodations. Many ILCs offer free workshops about housing, which can be a good place to start with your search.

• Find a Independent Living Center

Community Action Programs (CAPs) are organizations that help people gain self-sufficiency. They address the causes of poverty through programs that fight unemployment, inadequate housing, poor nutrition, and lack of educational opportunity. Many CAPs can help someone with a housing search.

• Find a Community Action Program

Mass 2-1-1 is an information and referral service that specializes in is helping people meet their basic needs, like find emergency shelter and transitional housing programs.

• Learn more about Mass 2-1-1

The MassAccess Housing Registry helps people find affordable rental and home ownership opportunities in Massachusetts.

• Visit the MassAccess Housing Registry

Fill out the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Public-Housing (CHAMP). Use this link to apply to state-aided public housing, and update personal information on a previous application. Most (but not all) cities and towns use this application.

• Visit the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Public-Housing

Fill out the Massachusetts Section 8 Centralized Waiting List. Use this link to get on the centralized waitlist, and update personal information on a previous application. Most (but not all) cities and towns use this application.

• Visit the Massachusetts Section 8 Centralized Waiting List

The Housing Search Guide for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts offers information about searching for rental housing for people disabilities.

• Read the Housing Search Guide for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts