Designated Housing (DSG) is a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and MassHousing (formerly Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). This program utilizes tenant-based certificates and vouchers targeted to non-elderly disabled persons.
DHCD's Division of Public Housing and Rental Assistance, which administers this program, has the responsibility for regulatory and administrative oversight of all state and federally-aided rental assistance programs which address the needs of low- and moderate-income families, elderly and persons with disabilities.
How it works:
The DSG provides Section 8 /HCVP tenant-based subsidies for non-elderly disabled individuals. The purpose of this program is to provide alternative housing opportunities for those disabled persons who may not receive assistance at developments which have established preferences for the admission of elderly families.
The DSG has a ranking preference for nonelderly disabled persons on specific MassHousing waiting lists. If there are not enough applicants on these lists, non-elderly individuals who are referred to DHCD by disability or homeless service providers are then eligible for consideration, but will only be served if there are no other eligible applicants from the MHFA lists.
Once selected for the DSG, all conventional Section 8 HCVP program requirements apply.
Who is eligible:
Very low-income non-elderly disabled persons who are Section 8/HCVP eligible.
Application process:
To be eligible, applicants must already be on either an existing MassHousing development waiting list or DHCD's Section 8 waiting list. DHCD's list is open at all times.
Grants:
Up to 600 DSG subsidies are distributed by DHCD throughout the Commonwealth.
For further information:
Please contact the Bureau of Federal Rental Assistance at (617) 573-1150.