Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

AHVP is a state voucher program offering rental assistance for people with a disability who are under 60.

Joel Deery, Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) Coordinator

The Details   of Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

How AHVP works   for Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

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   for Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

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 for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

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   for Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

  1. 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.

  2. 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 Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

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   for Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

Contact   for Apply for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

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