Other Affordable Housing Programs
Beyond Chapter 40B and the MBTA Communities Law, Massachusetts has a robust ecosystem of housing programs and initiatives, primarily overseen by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and MassHousing. These programs address a wide range of housing needs, from emergency assistance to long-term homeownership.
Rental Assistance Programs
Public Housing (State-Aided and Federal)
Massachusetts has a significant number of public housing units, both state-funded and federally funded (through HUD). These units are owned and managed by local housing authorities (LHAs) and provide deeply subsidized rental housing for eligible low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Eligibility is typically for households at or below 80% AMI, but Very Low Income (VLI) at or below 50% are typically a significant target group and Extremely Low Income (ELI) households earning at or below 30% of AMI often receive priority for some units due to their severe housing needs.
Rental Voucher Programs
Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
This is a state-funded rental subsidy program that helps low-income families and individuals afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Similar to Section 8, the voucher pays a portion of the rent, and the tenant pays the remainder (typically around 30% of their income).
Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
Specifically designed for non-elderly people with disabilities who are living in or at risk of institutionalization and who require supportive services to live independently in the community.
Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (Federal)
The largest federal rental assistance program, administered locally by LHAs. It helps very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford housing in the private market. Eligibility is generally for households at or below 50% AMI.
Other Temporary Housing Programs
Massachusetts operates a two-tiered system for emergency housing assistance: one provides short-term financial aid for low-income households on the brink of homelessness. The other offers direct temporary emergency shelter along with supportive services, specifically for eligible homeless families with children or pregnant individuals.
Homeownership Programs
MassHousing Mortgages
MassHousing is a quasi-public agency that provides affordable mortgage loans and down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers across the state
Down Payment Assistance Programs
In addition to MassHousing's direct assistance, many cities, towns, and non-profit organizations offer their own down payment assistance programs, often layered with state or federal financing.
First-Time Homebuyer Education
Many programs require or highly recommend participation in a homebuyer education course to prepare individuals for the responsibilities of homeownership.
Housing Development and Preservation Programs
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
This is the primary federal program for creating affordable rental housing in the United States. It provides tax credits to developers who build or rehabilitate housing affordable to low-income tenants. While a federal program, it's administered at the state level (in Massachusetts by EOHLC) and is crucial for financing most new affordable rental housing developments with units typically restricted to households at 30%, 50%, or 60% AMI.
State Funded Capital Programs
Massachusetts uses several state-funded capital programs—including the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF), and Housing Innovations Fund (HIF)—to provide critical gap financing for diverse affordable housing developments, supporting both rental and homeownership projects across various income levels and serving especially vulnerable populations.
Community Preservation Act (CPA)
While not exclusively a housing program, the CPA allows participating cities and towns to levy a surcharge on local property taxes, with matching funds from the state, to fund projects in open space, historic preservation, and community housing. This often supports the creation or preservation of affordable housing units within those communities.
Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP)
This program aims to spur housing development in Gateway Cities by offering tax incentives for market-rate and mixed-income housing projects. While not strictly an "affordable housing" program in the deed-restricted sense for all units, it contributes to overall housing supply and can be used in conjunction with affordable housing requirements.