Housing & Rental Assistance

This reference guide, provided by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), is for Massachusetts residents seeking information on housing for low and moderate income families and individuals.

Most housing in Massachusetts is rented or sold through the private real estate market. However, there are numerous agencies and organizations that provide lower cost, subsidized housing for those who cannot afford market rate rents or home prices.

Emergency Assistance (EA)

The Massachusetts Emergency Assistance Program (EA) provides emergency housing for families with pregnant women or children under the age of 21 who are facing homelessness and meet income guidelines. Call the Department of Housing and Community Development at (866) 584-0653 to apply. Applicants who qualify for EA may also qualify for HomeBASE, which provides financial assistance to help families facing homelessness pay for rent, utilities, and moving costs.

Shelters for Individuals

Individuals and families without children under the age of 21 who are facing homelessness may be eligible to stay in an individual shelter. See this page from the Department of Housing and Community Development for a list of individual shelters around the state. The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless also has contact information for some individual shelters.

Rental Assistance Programs

Rental assistance programs provide financial aid to help low-income persons rent privately-owned apartments. The 3 largest rental assistance programs are: The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP). Applications may be made where waiting lists are open. If you are interested in applying for HCVP, MRVP, and AHVP are contact the local housing authority in your community.

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)

The RAFT program is a homelessness prevention program that allows eligible households to receive up to $4,000 per year in flexible funds. The program is targeted to households with incomes at or below 50% of area median income. To see if your household meets the income eligibility limits for the RAFT program, Access the FY 2021 Income Limits Documentation System. To determine which regional administrative agency provides RAFT assistance in your area, please CLICK HERE and choose a city/town from the pull-down box at the top of the page. Once you’ve determined which regional agency provides RAFT assistance in your area, contact the regional agency, or click on the appropriate link below to complete a Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) Intake Assessment:

After you complete the HCEC Intake Assessment, HCEC staff will review it to determine individual needs and resources.