Section 8 Massachusetts: What You Need To Know
What is Section 8 housing?
Section 8 is a government voucher program run by the Massachusetts Housing Authority that helps low-income families afford to live in privately-owned rental homes. If approved for the program, the renter pays 30% of their adjusted monthly income in rent, and the state makes up the difference through direct deposits to their landlord.
What types of rentals qualify as Section 8 housing?
For rental units to qualify for Section 8, they must fall at or below the HUD-defined Fair Market Rate for units of their size in their town. Legally, Massachusetts landlords cannot refuse applicants because they are receiving public assistance (discrimination), although they can be refused for non-discriminatory reasons (see below). Section 8 is different from project-based housing in that the voucher is connected to the family and follows them wherever they move, whereas project-based housing is tied to specific units and stays with the unit no matter who lives there.
Why would a renter qualify for Section 8 housing?
Section 8 eligibility is based on household income compared to the area’s median family income, although one-member households who meet the income limits must be either elderly or disabled. In general, to be approved for Section 8 assistance, family income must not exceed 50% of the area’s median income, and 75% of vouchers must go to families with incomes of 30% or below the median. Unfortunately, demand for vouchers far exceeds the capacity of the program, so there is a long Section 8 waiting list in MA.
Section 8 and Discrimination
For Section 8, Massachusetts rules state that landlords cannot refuse to rent to an applicant on the basis of Section 8 subsidies alone, but they may refuse for other reasons.
Why someone can be rejected from Section 8 housing
Landlords cannot discriminate against Section 8 in Massachusetts, but they can reject applicants for things like low credit scores, criminal records, and prior evictions. Landlords may also reject Section 8 applicants for any lease terms such as a no pets policy as long as those terms also apply to non-Section 8 tenants. Section 8 applicants may also be rejected for not being able to put down their initial deposits, which the Section 8 program does not cover.
The details of Section 8 inspections
All Section 8 housing in MA must meet certain Housing Quality Standards before move-in. Inspections may take anywhere from 7-30 days to complete, at which point the unit is given a letter grade based on health and safety conditions. Low-grade units and units that fail inspection may be required to complete certain repairs or renovations in order to be approved for Section 8.
Does Section 8 housing have specific rules?
Beyond eligibility, the terms for Massachusetts Section 8 housing are not much different from non-subsidized renting, although the state does require applicants and recipients to notify them of any income or family size changes. It also asks to be notified of any special needs or accomodations.