AHVP is a state voucher program offering rental assistance for people with a disability who are under 60.
- This page, Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), is offered by
- Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
Contacts
Joel Deery, Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) Coordinator
The Details
How AHVP works
The AHVP program is designed to help people with disabilities live independently in housing they choose through mobile (tenant-based) rental vouchers. The voucher is for 1-bedroom units.
You will contribute 25-30% of your monthly income toward rent, depending on if utilities are included in the rent. The local housing agency pays your landlord the rest of the rent.
The amount you can get for a voucher is based on the your zip code.
Eligibility
You are eligible for AHVP if you:
- have a disability
- are under 60 at initial eligibility (you can keep your voucher once you turn 60)
- have an income less than around 80% of Area Median Income. See income limits.
You may be eligible for homeless priority, which speeds up the application process. Learn what situations qualify and what documents you’ll need to claim homeless priority. If you qualify, you’ll receive an email, phone call, and letter from the Centralized Screening Office (Archipelago Strategies Group/ASG).
How to apply
Apply online through the Centralized Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs (CHAMP). Once you’ve applied, you can also use CHAMP to modify or check the status of your application.
You can also apply for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) when you apply for AHVP.
You can also fill out a paper application (for both AHVP and MRVP) and submit it to your local housing agency.
Next steps
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Keep your contact information up to date while you wait
You will be placed on the waiting lists that you choose after you apply. Demand for vouchers is very high, so it may be a long wait. It's critical to check your email and keep your contact information updated in your application so housing agencies can reach you.
Screening interview
Otherwise, when you get near the top of an LHA's waiting list, they will contact you to review your eligibility. You may be contacted by multiple LHAs if you're near the top of multiple waiting lists at the same time. If they decide you're eligible, they'll explain details of the program and next steps.
Note: If you claim a homeless priority on your application, you'll be contacted by the centralized screening office.
More Info
For questions about your application, please directly contact any housing agency in Massachusetts.
You can also apply for vouchers through AffordableHousing.com. You can find affordable, accessible, and subsidized units on Housing Navigator.
You can search for your payment standard using this lookup tool.
Downloads
Open PDF file, 536.7 KB, AHVP Application - English (English, PDF 536.7 KB)Open PDF file, 585.67 KB, AHVP Application - Spanish (Solicitud AHVP Español) (English, PDF 585.67 KB)Open PDF file, 590.96 KB, AHVP Application - Portuguese (AHVP Aplicação Português) (English, PDF 590.96 KB)Open PDF file, 651.09 KB, AHVP Application - Simplified Chinese (AHVP申请简体中文) (English, PDF 651.09 KB)Open PDF file, 578.07 KB, AHVP Application - Haitian Creole (Aplikasyon kreyòl ayisyen) (English, PDF 578.07 KB)Open PDF file, 498.08 KB, AHVP Ceiling Rents Effective March 1, 2024 (English, PDF 498.08 KB)Open PDF file, 251.28 KB, AHVP Ceiling Rents Effective January 1, 2025 (English, PDF 251.28 KB)Open PDF file, 202.57 KB, June 2023 Security Deposit Policy (English, PDF 202.57 KB)Open PDF file, 44.34 KB, Notice to All Applicants - Reasonable Accommodations (English, PDF 44.34 KB)Contact
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