Housing Choice Initiative Designation Application

New Applicants and Communities Applying to Re-Designate

The 2026 Designation applications will open in January 2026. New applicants and communities applying to re-designate will need to submit a complete HCC or RST-HCC Designation application to HLC. Review the following prior to submitting an application:

1. Review the Designation criteria and best practices for the Designation your community is eligible for.
   1. Rural and small towns, as defined by EOED, should review the RST-HCC Designation criteria and best practices.
   2. All other cities and towns should review the HCC Designation criteria and best practices.
2. Review the most recent US Census Building Permit Survey (BPS) Data for your community.
   1. If the BPS data appears accurate and matches your local data, you may use the BPS data to show new units between 2021 through 2024 building permits.
   2. If the BPS data does not match your local data, you may submit data from your building permit department.
   3. Because BPS data for calendar year 2025 is not available, all communities must submit local data for 2025 permits.
3. Determine which HCC or RST-HCC eligibility criteria you are applying.
4. Confirm if your community has already completed an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. If not, your community will need to sign an ADA MOU if your community receives Designation.

Currently Designated Housing Choice Communities (HCCs)

Currently designated HCCs do not need to submit a complete application. For HLC to maintain records about current best practices, however, currently designated HCCs must verify their most recent best practice data. Our team will reach out to all currently HCCs during the 2026 application period.

2026 Designation Criteria and Best Practices

Starting in 2026, the Housing Choice Initiative includes the Housing Choice Community Designation (HCC) and the Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community Designation (RST-HCC). Review the designation criteria and best practices that your community is eligible for prior to completing an application.

• 2026 Housing Choice Community (HCC) Designation Criteria and Best Practices
• 2026 Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community (RST-HCC) Designation Criteria Best Practices
  • Only Rural and Small Towns are eligible to apply for the RST-HCC designation.

Other Application Resources

• 2026 Housing Choice Initiative Designation RFR
• 2026 RST-HCC Application Form Sample
• 2026 HCC Application Form Sample

Designation Benefits: Currently designated communities get exclusive access to apply for the Housing Choice Grant Program and receive additional benefits from various programs offered by several state agencies in the Commonwealth.

5-Year Designation: The Housing Choice Community (HCC) Designation and Rural and Small Town Housing Choice Community (RST-HCC) Designation last 5 years.

Designation Expiration: All designations start and end on the due date for designation applications. This will ensure that no designated community will lapse in designation until a re-designation application is submitted.

Currently Designated Communities: Learn more about the currently designated communities.