Emergency housing: homeless or at risk
Homeless
Emergency shelter options depend on whether you are an individual or a family. There are not additional shelter options available because someone has a disability.
At risk of losing housing
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) can provide short-term financial assistance to low income families, to help preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent or mortgage payments.
The Housing Court has a Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP), which is a homelessness prevention program for individuals facing an eviction as a result of behavior related to a disability.
Your local Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) can provide information on any local programs that may help with deposits or moving costs. Find your HCEC.
Affordable housing
A person with a disability who is searching for affordable housing uses the same resources as a person without a disability.
We recognize affordable housing is in short supply and often involves lengthy waiting lists. This section lists useful resources available on affordable housing options.
The Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) provides a Housing Search Guide for People with Disabilities in Massachusetts which helps people with disabilities on low income:
- Identify your needs
- Understand the different affordable housing options
- Work through the steps to carry out a housing search and
- Contact supports if you need help.
Some Centers for Independent Living run workshops on finding affordable housing.
There are also these sources of information (not specific to people with disabilities):
- The Guide to housing assistance summarizes the main housing programs offered by MA state government.
- Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCEC) are regional agencies that provide up-to-date information about affordable housing in Massachusetts. Contacting your local HCEC helps you make sure you know about the programs and resources available that could help with your housing goals. Find your regional Housing Consumer Education Center.
Do I get priority if I have specific needs or am about to lose my current housing?
It is important to understand that being a person with a disability does not put you higher on the housing waiting lists by itself. If you have certain accessibility needs, you can specify this in your application.
However, affordable housing programs may offer "preference or priority" for applicants that meet certain eligibility criteria. If you meet any of these criteria, that may shorten your wait for housing or rental assistance. Ask about the priorities and preferences to see if any apply to you. Read more about priorities and preference in waiting lists.
What are the basic types of affordable housing program?
There are both state and federal programs that subsidize housing for people who have low income. In most cases, recipients of housing subsidies pay 30% of their gross income towards rent and the government pays the remainder. Housing subsidies can be project based or tenant based.
Project based (including public housing)
A project based subsidy is one that is tied to an apartment or a whole housing development. So if you move out, you lose your rent subsidy.
Project based subsidies include:
- Federal public housing
- State public housing
- Privately managed subsidized developments. You may search privately subsidized managed developments through Mass Housing finance agency
To apply for a project based subsidy you would submit an application to each local housing authority and/or privately managed development in which you are interested.
Tenant based (voucher)
A tenant based subsidy or a “housing voucher” allows the recipient to have subsidized rent in the private market. The subsidy/voucher belongs to the recipient so when you move out, you can take the subsidy with you.
- The federal housing voucher is called a Section 8 voucher. Read about the Centralized Section 8 Waiting List.
- A state issued housing voucher, Alternative Housing Voucher Program, is available to people with disabilities who are eligible for elderly/disabled housing but are not elderly.
Housing with additional services
Some people need additional services in their housing. Many services can be provided wherever you live (such as personal care attendants, mental health supports) – we are not discussing those here. This section lists types of housing that come with built-in services.
There are some options available to people who qualify for services from the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) or the Department of Mental Health. Other housing types have eligibility criteria set by the individual locations.
Housing with intensive full-time care
A few public housing units are reserved for people who need full-time, intensive care for behavioral or medical issues. This is a program organized by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS). Contact your local DDS area office to ask about this kind of housing and care.
Congregate Housing
Congregate Housing is a special type of public housing for seniors and people with disabilities where you share a living space (roommates). Some Congregate Housing programs have coordinators who help build community and make sure the living environment is stable. They may help you access community services, manage issues between residents, and plan social events. This is a program organized by the Executive Office of Elder Care.
Supportive Housing
Some public housing also offers supportive services, where a coordinator helps residents access community resources, arrange meals, plan social activities. This is a program organized by the Executive Office of Elder Care.
Accessible housing: finding it or making modifications
Finding accessible housing
When searching for housing you should be aware of how any physical or health conditions may impact you in using particular features in your home, with particular focus on the entrance and the bathroom.
The Accessible Housing Registry is a database that allows users to search for accessible features in market rate and subsidized housing including wheelchair accessible units, ground floor/elevator units, and units with roll-in showers.
HousingNavigatorMass (a nonprofit organization) has a search that you can filter for accessibility features (such as elevators, step-free entrances, roll-in showers, etc.). You can also filter for “rent based on income,” which means your rent will be capped at a portion of your income, usually 30%.
Note that housing providers have obligations under Fair Housing laws to allow reasonable modifications to your housing to make it accessible for you. They do not have to allow all requests and who pays for the modification depends on the circumstances (see disability rights in housing for more information). So if an apartment basically meets your needs, but would require small modifications like the installation of grab bars, this may be something you can achieve through requesting a reasonable modification.
Home modification funding resources
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission provides a useful listing of resources for funding to perform modifications to make a home more accessible to a person with a disability.
Housing search supports
The shortage of affordable housing can make a housing search hard. It is also important to understand that there is very limited assistance available to help with applications or housing search. Some organizations may offer advice or support on how you can find housing but it is unlikely they will find housing for you.
Here are our suggestions on making the most of the supports that are available, and what you want to make sure you do.
Inform yourself about your options
We recommend using the CHAPA Housing Search Guide for People with Disabilities to plan your search.
You can use the links on this page to get more information on the different types of affordable housing, housing with services or accessible housing. It will help to get clear on any critical requirements you have, which programs you are eligible for. Then it is up to you to make the applications.
If you need more explanation of the different types of housing assistance, you can contact your local Housing Consumer Housing Information Center.
It can be overwhelming. Remember, you don't have to do everything at once. You may start by applying for one or two programs. You can always come back and look for others to apply for later on.
Know what you need to do
If you have applied to specific affordable housing programs or projects, you will usually have a long wait. During that time you may change your contact details. Make sure you keep all the programs you applied to up-to-date with any changes in contact details.
If you receive an email or message about your application or position on the waiting list, make sure you read it and answer any questions: if you do not, it is very possible to lose your place on a waiting list.
If you are granted a transferable voucher (such as a Section 8 voucher), you will be given a certain period to find housing on the open market and it is up to you to find it (although if you face difficulty because of your disability, you can request an extension).
If you have applied to some housing programs and are frustrated with the wait, revisit all the housing assistance options to see if there are any more you want to apply to. Make sure you have found out about any priorities and preferences that might be appropriate for you.
Support
If you are simply overwhelmed by how to navigate the process of applying for or finding housing, then you can reach out to your local Center for Independent Living to ask if they provide any supports. Some centers run regular housing workshops. Others may be able to offer peer support as you work through your housing search.
Rights (including eviction)
Depending on the type of issue, there may be different laws that apply, and different avenues for addressing the problem. Here are some key types of law in housing:
- Tenant-landlord law covers the basic rules about what is allowed for leases, deposits, notice to enter, keeping the unit habitable, evictions.
- Disability rights law requires landlords, realtors and home-owner associations to not treat people worse than others because of a disability.
- Consumer protection laws are about getting what you paid for.
Tenant rights (including eviction and state sanitary code)
All applicants/residents/tenants have certain rights under landlord-tenant law.
An applicant/resident/tenant with a disability does not have more or less rights under these laws because of their disability.
Be aware of your basic tenant rights about habitability, landlord access, rent, deposits and leases.
The Housing section of MassLegalHelp has detailed guidance on tenants’ rights, eviction, housing discrimination, and more. This is written or reviewed by staff from legal aid programs and attorneys. It explains your rights and gives practical suggestions for how to protect yourself. We strongly recommend reading this if you have a tenants' rights issue.
The Housing Court has a Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP), which is a homelessness prevention program for people facing eviction as a result of behavior related to a disability.
For questions about state sanitary code, you should contact your city/town’s Board of Health.
Disability Rights
Most housing is covered by Fair Housing laws. These require landlords and homeowners' associations to not discriminate against people because of a disability. This broadly means two things:
- Housing providers should not treat people with disabilities worse than they treat people without disabilities.
- If a resident is facing an obstacle to equal use of their housing, because of their disability, the housing provider should allow reasonable accommodations/modifications.
Learn more about disability rights in housing. You can also contact the Massachusetts Office on Disability for a consultation to help you understand how to navigate your disability rights.
Consumer rights
Consumer protection laws cover homeowners who engage with contractors to make home improvements such as accessibility modifications. If you have an issue with a contractor you have hired or worked with, file a complaint with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
| Last updated: | May 10, 2024 |
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