In general, there are three types of affordable housing: subsidized, income-restricted and vouchers. Information regarding Affordable Housing Programs and Opportunities can be located on the four following webpages: The Mayor’s Guide to Affordable Housing in Boston; the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development; the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s Neighborhood Homes Initiative Program; and the Attorney General’s “Housing Assistance” webpage.
If you are interested Affordable Housing programs a great place to start is the Mayor’s Guide to Affordable Housing in Boston. A great deal of the information on this website is extremely helpful to for all the residents of Suffolk County – many of the links on the website pertain to Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop, as well as Boston.
One of the great achievements of the website is the section titled – Affordable Housing Search. Seven (7) informative websites are listed, with links, which provide an extensive list of affordable rental and buying opportunities in Suffolk County. The sites are as follows:
- Boston Metrolist – Metrolist is a clearing house for income-restricted and affordable housing opportunities in Boston and neighboring communities – search for available rental listings, housing lotteries and re-sales.
- MassHouisng Affordable Housing Property List – MassHousing finances the construction and preservation of affordable rental housing throughout Massachusetts – search and print a list of available rental opportunities.
- MassAccess Housing Registry – MassAccess Housing Registry helps people to find affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts. A key feature of the Registry is to highlight homes for people with disabilities who need accessible or barrier-free housing.
- Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership – Metro Housing Boston’s personalized services help residents of greater Boston bridge gaps in the homelessness prevention and affordable housing system – search for available rental listings.
- HUD Low-Rent Apartment Search – The federal government keeps a database of affordable apartments located in Massachusetts – search for available rental listings by city or town.
- Action for Boston Community Development – ABCD assists people in their search for affordable housing and works to prevent families from entering homelessness by providing housing counseling.
- Homestart Housing Search – Homestart promotes housing solutions to end and prevent homelessness. The Housing Search program gets individuals and families out of shelters and into homes.
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) oversees funding and resources to help people in Massachusetts live affordably and safely. Affordable units available for sale can be found on this website. An eligible buyer must meet three (3) general criteria: they must be first time home buyers, they must be under the asset limit of $75,000.00 (special rules apply to elderly households), and they must meet the income limits listed for the available unit.
The Neighborhood Homes Initiative managed by the Boston Planning and Development Agency uses city-owned land to create affordable homes for middle-class home buyers. Homes are sold to qualified buyers through a lottery – each deed carries a deed restriction which limits the equity you can earn with the property.
The Office of the Attorney General provides a wide variety of programs and services in regards to housing and property, on the web page above click on LIVING in the top left corner and select “Housing and Property”. At this site you will find information for homeowners, renters and tenants. In addition, under “Housing Assistance” you will find information on Affordable Housing, Emergency Housing Assistance Programs, Home Energy Assistance Programs, Public Housing Assistance Programs, Rental Assistance Programs and First-Time Home Buyer Programs.