Public Housing Priorities and Preferences

Many applicants can qualify for more than one Priority and/or Preference.

Priority

Priority is a housing-related situation that affects your household’s present residential status. You may qualify for multiple priorities but you will be ranked with only the points of the highest Priority. Certain priorities are given more points than others, and you will always be assigned to the highest Priority for which you qualify. 

Click on the link to open a form you can use to document the appropriate priority.
 

Federal Housing Program Priority Categories

Administrative Transfers*

175 points

Emergency Transfers*

67 points

Supported Housing Programs

50 points

Priority One- Third Party Verification:

30 points

Priority Two (Elderly/Disabled Program Only)- Third Party Verification:         

10 points

 

State Housing Program Priority Categories

Administrative Transfers*

175 points

Emergency Transfers*

70 points

Supported Housing Programs

55 points

Priority One- Third Party Verification:   

60 points

Priority Two- Third Party Verification:   

50 points

Priority Three- Third Party Verification:            

30 points

Priority Five:   

  • AHVP (Alternative Housing Voucher Program)

10 points

Priority Six: (Elderly/Disabled Program Only)- Third Party Verification:      

9 points

* These Priorities are applicable only to current BHA residents applying to move between two BHA Public Housing apartments.


Preference

Preference points are cumulative and are added to Priority points.  You may qualify for more than one Preference at a time.

Federal Housing Program Preference Categories

Designated Housing in an Elderly/Disabled Development for an Elderly and Non-Elderly Disabled Household not requiring a wheelchair accessible unit

100 points

Housing in a Family Development for a Non-Elderly Disabled Household not requiring wheelchair accessible units

6 points

Veterans Preference

 

  • Families of veterans

3 points

  • Families of deceased veterans

3 points

  • All other veterans

3  points

Displaced Boston Tenant

2 points

Boston Residency

1 point

 

State Housing Program Preference Categories

Elderly Preference (Elderly/Disabled Program Only)

24 points

Veterans Preference

 

  • Families of veterans

3 points

  • Families of deceased veterans

3 points

  • All other veterans

3 points

BHA resident in Federal Housing Pro-Rated rent burden

3 points

Displaced Boston Tenant

2 points

Boston Residency

1 point

 

Priorities and Preferences in BHA's ACOP

For detailed information on Pubic Housing Priorities and Preferences, read the BHA’s ACOP.

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