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Voucher Information

Are you a landlord interested in housing voucher programs?

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) administers statewide rental assistance voucher programs. These programs aim to increase affordable housing choices for low-income households by helping families pay a portion of their rent in privately owned housing.

This page offers information and resources for landlords on how to get involved.
 

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Want to learn more about how you can participate in a housing voucher program? Complete the short form linked below and let us know how you would prefer to receive the information.

Find your local housing agency

Housing voucher programs are administered through housing agencies, including public housing authorities and regional administering agencies. Find your local public housing authority or regional administering agency here: EOHLC Resource Locator

Expand your reach by advertising on AffordableHousing.com

AffordableHousing.com connects families searching for affordable homes to landlords with eligible units. No vacancy now? Save time on your next listing by signing up for an account today!

FAQs

  1. What are housing voucher programs?

Housing voucher programs are rent subsidies that help very low-income households afford rental homes or apartments on the private market. The largest voucher program is the federal Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). There is also the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP).

Eligible low-income households must apply for a voucher program. There are often years-long wait lists to receive a voucher. Once a household is issued a voucher, the family is then given up to 120 days to locate their own rental housing. 

After a household with a voucher leases up, the housing agency pays a rental subsidy on behalf of the participating family directly to the landlord. The subsidy amount is determined by the family’s income. The family pays the difference between the total rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the voucher program. All rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety. The rent for the unit must also be reasonable in comparison to rents charged for similar, unassisted apartments in the area. 

EOHLC contracts with eight regional administering agencies and one local housing authority to administer federal voucher programs in Massachusetts. EOHLC also contracts with local housing authorities across the state to administer state voucher programs, such as MRVP.

  1. How do voucher programs work for landlords?

For landlords, renting to a tenant with a voucher is easy! 

  1. Expand your marketing reach to more tenants with vouchers by advertising your available units on AffordableHousing.com and with your local housing authority or regional administering agency.
  2. When a potential tenant with a voucher applies, they will provide you with a form to complete for the housing authority or administering agency. You can follow your typical tenant screening process. 
  3. Depending on the program, the housing agency or the local Board of Health will conduct an inspection to ensure your unit meets minimum quality standards. 
  4. Sign a lease with the tenant following your typical leasing process, including requesting first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and/or a security deposit.
  5. The housing authority or administering agency signs a contract with you for the portion of the rent paid by the voucher.
  6. You will receive timely and dependable rental payments from the housing authority or administering agency each month.
Date published: June 27, 2023

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