FAQ Applicants

Applicants may add or remove developments choices at any time prior to entering the final eligibility screening process except for reasonable accommodation and/or extenuating circumstances which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Once the applicant is contacted by the BHA to schedule the personal interview appointment no changes in development choice(s) shall be accepted. Applicants are encouraged to visit the public housing developments before applying or before entering the final screening process to ensure they have selected developments where they want to reside.

The applicant file may be reviewed by the applicant or any individual(s) authorized by the applicant in writing. The applicant file for all public housing programs may be reviewed by calling the Occupancy Department at (617) 988-4542 or (617) 988-4549 to schedule a file review appointment. The file review will be schedule at 52 Chauncy Street with an Occupancy Department staff on the 3 Department on the 10th floor.

The waiting time to begin the screening or final eligibility process varies from ten weeks to over five years from your date of application, depending on the number of bedrooms and type of unit your household requires, your priority and preference points, and the number of units at the communities you have selected. A community’s waiting list may range from 1,200 to 13,000 applicants.

It is impossible to identify what number families rank on the waiting lists as this number may vary daily. Therefore, BHA may only provide a rough estimate of when a family might be selected for the final eligibility screening process.

Applicants may check their application status by calling the Status Information Line at (617) 988-3400, or visiting the Housing Service Center (56 Chauncy Street, Boston,MA 02111) Monday through Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM. 

All inquiries should be directed to the front desk at the Department of Grievances and Appeals on the 9^th floor at 617-988-4579.  Do not attempt to contact the Hearing Officer.

The DGA grants rescheduling requests only for “good cause” (public housing applicant, public housing, and leased housing termination appeals) or “compelling circumstances” (Section 8 applicant appeals)  Some examples are circumstances related to a disability, medical emergencies, medical treatments or important appointments that cannot be rescheduled such as court appearances. Transportation issues or other mere inconveniences will not be considered good cause to reschedule.  You must submit a written request to reschedule as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours prior to your scheduled hearing time. Your must specify the reason(s) that you need to reschedule and submit third-party documentation to verify the need to reschedule. For example, if you cannot attend the hearing because your place of employment will not excuse your absence, you must submit documentation from your employer to verify this.

NOTE: If your request to reschedule an informal applicant hearing is received less than twelve days prior to the hearing date and is approved for rescheduling, your hearing will go to the back of the scheduling queue.

Tardiness or failure to appear may result in a Default being issued, which would result in the decision of the Occupancy Department/Leased Housing Division being upheld. The hearing will be rescheduled if “good cause” or “compelling circumstances” prevented you from attending on time. This must be verified in writing by a third party. For example, if you miss the hearing due to a medical emergency, you must submit documentation from the medical provider to verify the date and time that you experienced the emergency and received treatment.  Transportation or parking delays/problems will not be considered a compelling circumstance—you should plan your travel time with the expectation that you will be delayed due to traffic congestion, public transportation delays, or inability to quickly find a parking spot. 

If you are late or miss your public housing grievance panel hearing, the Grievance Panel will review your request to reschedule and make a decision as soon as possible.

You should request an interpreter by filling out the enclosed Interpreter Request Form and returning it to the Department of Grievances and Appeals prior to your hearing date. The BHA will provide an interpreter at no cost to you.  You may also bring your own interpreter (e.g., a family member, a friend, or an advocate) to the hearing. Be aware that any person you bring to interpret must be at least 18 years old.

You should bring any documents that relate to the action you are appealing. For example, if you were denied homelessness priority status, you should bring documents relating to your homelessness, such as shelter letters.  You may also bring any other supporting documentation such as letters of recommendation, documentation relating to your disability, and witnesses who are able to provide relevant information regarding the action you are appealing.  Be aware that if you do not have all relevant documents at the time of the hearing, the Hearing Officer may not grant you additional time to submit them. You should make every effort to prepare for the hearing by gathering all relevant documents.

Yes. You may bring an advocate, attorney, case manager, or any other person you wish to represent you or help you during the hearing. You may also bring any person for “moral support,” such as a friend or family member. If you cannot arrange for child care, you may bring your child(ren). However, be aware that children will be expected to remain quiet during the hearing and that matters discussed during the hearing may not be appropriate for all children to hear.

If your disability would prevent or impede your ability to physically attend the hearing, or if your disability would prevent or impede your participation in the hearing, you have the right to request a Reasonable Accommodation. You must request a Reasonable Accommodation in writing, specifying the reason(s) you need an accommodation and what accommodation you are seeking. You may deliver this request to the Department of Grievances and Appeals at any time prior to your hearing. The BHA may contact you to request additional information.

The hearing will take place in an office or conference room. In addition to you and your witnesses or representatives, one or more representatives of the BHA’s Leased Housing Division or Occupancy Department may be present. The hearing will be presided over by a Hearing Officer.  The hearing is your opportunity to present your case. Specifically, you should be prepared to explain why you disagree with the decision that was made regarding your application and present all supporting documents and witnesses. The Hearing Officer will likely ask you questions and you may also ask any questions that you have. Although you will be granted a full opportunity to present your case, be aware that disruptive or disorderly behavior will not be permitted and may result in the termination of the hearing, which could then result in the decision of the Occupancy Department/Leased Housing Division being upheld.  If there are any documents that were not available for the hearing, the Hearing Officer may grant an extension for submission of additional documents. If this occurs, you will be given detailed information during the hearing about how you should proceed.

If you have a disability that relates to the reason you were found ineligible for assistance or priority status or the reason your application was withdrawn, you have the right to request a Reasonable Accommodation. You must request a Reasonable Accommodation in writing, specifying the reason(s) you need an accommodation and what accommodation you are seeking. You may deliver this request to the Department of Grievances and Appeals at any time prior to your hearing. The BHA may contact you to request additional information.

After the hearing and the conclusion of any extension period, the Hearing Officer will review all documents submitted, the testimony of any witnesses, and all of the statements you made during the hearing. The Hearing Officer will also review all applicable BHA policies and Federal and/or Massachusetts regulations to determine whether to uphold or reverse the decision made regarding your application. A written decision should be mailed within 3 weeks of the hearing date or conclusion of the extension period. After a decision is made, do not attempt to contact the Hearing Officer—you will not be permitted to speak with him/her.  Any inquiries should be directed to the Department of Grievances and Appeals front desk at 617-988-4579.

Please refer to the Housing Eligibility page for a complete list of requirements.

Applicants may apply to one or all waiting lists for which they meet the preliminary requirements. See Housing Eligibility to determine if you’re eligible.

Note: The Section 8 tenant-based voucher program waiting list is currently closed. New applicants may apply to public housing programs, the Project-Based voucher program and the Mod Rehab program. Project Based Voucher and Mod Rehab applicants must qualify for Priority One status.

A head and spouse will share a 1-bedroom unit unless there are documented reasons why they must have separate bedrooms. New admissions single individuals will be assigned to a studio or 1-BR unit, whichever unit size is first available, unless the applicant documents why he/she must reside in a 1-BR unit only. The BHA will be implementing the option for single individuals to choose to be on a waiting list for just one option (either studio or 1-BR). Transfer applicants within the public housing program who consist of one household member will be assigned to a 1-BR unit.

Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, provides rent subsidies to assist eligible low-income families obtain decent, safe, and affordable housing. Families can select housing within a neighborhood of their choice in privately owned housing and receive rental assistance. Rent subsidies, called vouchers, allow families to pay a reasonable share of their income toward rent while the program. BHA pays the other portion. The term “Section 8” is used because the federal law which created the program is Section 8 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. This is one of the many BHA housing programs.

The BHA's public housing options come in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high-rise apartments for elderly and non-elderly families located throughout the City of Boston, which includes the neighborhoods of Allston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End and West Roxbury.

See a map of all public housing units.

If you are interested in BHA housing and require a wheelchair accessible unit, please complete the BHA's Preliminary Application and indicate who in your household composition requires a wheelchair accessible unit. We will enter these applications as soon as they are received and clients will be placed into the final eligibility screening process once the Preliminary Application has been entered to our database.

Wheelchair-accessible public units are equipped with a roll-under stove and sink. Bathrooms are fully wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of apartments are equipped with roll-in showers. Clients should apply as soon as possible in order to have their housing eligibility determined before the wheelchair accessible units become available. 

Anyone may apply for family public housing. However, certain income limits, the BHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and either state or federal regulations govern those who are determined eligible for this housing program.

State funded developments require applicants to be 60 or older and/or disabled. Federal developments require applicants to be 62 or older and/or disabled. Those who need more than 2 bedrooms, as defined by BHA regulations and state occupancy laws, cannot apply for the elderly/disabled housing program. There are also income limits for all developments. The BHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and either state or federal regulations govern who eligible for this housing program.

Those age 60 and older and/or disabled with legal custody of 1 or 2 grandchildren of the same gender are eligible to apply for the BHA's Grandparents Housing Program. The apartments, 12 two-bedroom townhouses and 3 single-level units, are located at BHA’s Franklin Field development in Dorchester. One unit is wheelchair-accessible. BHA residents and applicants are welcome to apply. Applicants must be income eligible for the state-assisted housing program. The BHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and either state or federal regulations govern those who are eligible for this housing program.

If you are not a BHA resident or your name is not currently on a BHA public housing waiting list, you are required to fill out the preliminary application and submit it with the Grandparents Housing form. BHA residents must complete the form and a transfer request with management. Applicants for the Grandparents Housing Program should apply for the elderly/disabled public housing and include this form.

Reasonable accommodations refers to BHA’s commitment to provide clients with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the BHA’s housing and programs. The BHA’s goal is to provide stable, quality, affordable housing to low- and moderate-income persons regardless of disability. Read more about reasonable accommodations.

In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, a Client must be an “otherwise qualified individual with a disability.” 

Under state and federal law, a disability is a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

Examples of mental or physical impairments include, but are not limited to,  diseases and conditions including: orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, mental retardation, emotional illness, drug addiction (other than addiction caused by current, illegal use of a controlled substance) and alcoholism. 

Examples of major life activities include, but are not limited to, the ability to walk, see, hear, breathe, think, read, or care for oneself.

An “otherwise qualified” individual with a disability is a person with a disability who is able to meet essential BHA program eligibility and requirements with or without a reasonable accommodation.
 
For example, if a Client is having difficulty complying with his or her program obligations, and it’s due to a disability, the Client may request that the BHA take the disability into consideration and work with the Client to find an arrangement that allows him or her to comply. 

Yes.  There is a requirement that the requested accommodation may be necessary to provide you with an equal opportunity to use and enjoy the BHA’s housing and programs. This relationship between the disability and accommodation is referred to as a “nexus.”

Not always, but the BHA does have the right to request information if it:

• Is necessary to verify that the Client meets the definition of a person with a disability;
• Describes the needed accommodation; and
• Shows the relationship between the person’s disability and the need for the requested accommodation. 

Yes. The forms, particularly the Certification of Need, provide questions that may remind you or your medical professional or qualified service provider of additional needs that the BHA might be able to address. 

You may pick up the forms at:

• The John F. Murphy Housing Service Center at 56 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111
• The Public Housing developments’ management offices.
• The Occupancy Department at 52 Chauncy Street, Floor 3, Boston, MA 02111
• The Leased Housing Department at 52 Chauncy Streets, Floor 4 or 5, Boston, MA 02111
• The BHA Office of Civil Rights at 52 Chauncy Street, Floor 9, Boston, MA 02111

To request a form by mail, call the Office of Civil Rights’ Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at 617-988-4377 (TDD: 800-545-1833 x420).

If you need assistance or an accommodation (for example, a screen reader or sign language interpreter) to complete the forms, contact the Office of Civil Rights’ Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at 617-988-4377 (TDD: 800-545-1833 x420).

In general, BHA must grant an accommodation unless the Client requesting it is not an otherwise-qualified individual with a disability, there is no nexus, or the request is not reasonable.

A request is not reasonable if it would result in an undue financial or administrative burden for the BHA or it would create a fundamental alteration in a BHA program. 

Examples of reasonable requests:

In the Public Housing program, it might be reasonable to lower the cabinets for someone in a wheelchair, put grab bars in the bathroom for someone with a mobility impairment, or put in a flashing fire alarm for someone who has a hearing impairment.  It might also be reasonable to allow a person with a mental disability to have rent payments made by a third party.
 
In a Leased Housing program, it might be reasonable to increase a participant’s voucher amount so that he or she might find a home that meets his or her needs.  It also might be reasonable to increase a voucher’s bedroom size to allow a live-in personal care assistant to live with the participant.
 
Examples of unreasonable requests:

It would not be reasonable for the BHA to prevent children from using a development playground because the noise bothers a person with a disability or to have the BHA pay for a Client’s personal care attendant or personal medical devices.

Under disability law, the BHA must engage in an interactive process with you while reviewing your request.  This means that the BHA will work with you in a cooperative way to try to find a resolution to your needs.
 
Once enough information is available, the appropriate BHA staff person for your program will review and decide upon your request.  If additional information is needed to make a decision, you will receive a written request.  You should be careful to follow any deadlines in the letter.

You may request a meeting to discuss your request.

As part of the interactive process, either you or BHA staff may request a meeting to discuss the requested accommodation. Any meeting will be held at a location that is accessible to you. You may have a friend or advocate with you at the meeting. You may also request an accommodation for the meeting. 

The BHA will issue a written decision thirty (30) days from either the date of the request, or the date all the necessary information is received. Whether your request is approved or denied, you will be notified in writing.

The BHA considers each request for reasonable accommodation as a separate request. Just because one person had a change approved or denied in the past does not mean that all requests for that type of change will be approved or denied. The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis with the understanding that each person’s needs and circumstances are unique.

No. If your request is not reasonable, the BHA will propose an accommodation that tries to meet your needs as effectively as possible.
 
Also, if your request is reasonable, but there is a less burdensome but equally effective accommodation available, the BHA may offer you that accommodation instead.

Appeal rights

If the BHA denies your request or approves it, but you disagree with the way in which it was approved, you may submit a written request for an appeal with the Department of Grievances and Appeals within twenty (20) days of the date of denial.

Remedies available besides appealing a decision

If at any time you think your request is not being processed appropriately, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights or call the 24-Hour Civil Rights Hotline at 617-695-3531.
 
In addition, you have a right to seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.  View their contact information. 

If the applicant rejects the housing offer, the application will be withdrawn from all waiting lists if he/she had been offered an apartment as a priority applicant. The applicant will be able to re-apply; however, he/she will lose the priority status and any approved preferences for one year. If the applicant who rejected the housing offer was a nonpriority applicant, he/she will be withdrawn only from the waiting list for the development he/she rejected the housing offer.

Failure to complete the final screening process or accept a housing offer at a development you had selected will result in your application being withdrawn from all BHA public housing waiting lists and you will need to re-apply with a new application date. Therefore, you may wait again for an extensive period.

If an applicant is determined not eligible for housing, the applicant has the right to file an appeal with the BHA. For more information on filing an appeal, applicants may call the BHA Office of Grievances and Appeals.

Screening is a process of identifying and verifying if an applicant will be a suitable participant able to comply with the BHA housing program requirements in accordance with the BHA’s Administrative Plan and any regulations established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The applicant is interviewed and the third party verification is obtained to determine if the applicant and household members meet the BHA policies and any applicable federal regulations for the housing program(s) for which the applicant has applied.

For tenant-based voucher programs, the private property owner is also responsible for screening applicants to determine if they meet their housing program eligibility requirements.

Information considered in completing the applicant screening is used to assess the conduct of the applicant and other household members listed on the application, in their present and/or prior housing. The BHA will reject an applicant that it has reasonable cause to believe will violate the terms of his/her lease, adversely interfere with other residents, cause damage to the property or participate in illegal activities.

For the Section 8 program, you must be a Priority One applicant, you must be income eligible (based on income limits set by HUD), at least one member of your household must have eligible immigration status and everyone in your household age 14 and over must successfully pass a CORI check.

See full details about screening criteria for public housing and voucher programs.

Read more about the Application Process page for an overview of the steps and requirements.

The waiting time to near the top of a waiting list to begin the final eligibility determination process varies. It depends on the bedroom size required, priority and preference points and the number of units that exist at the developments/sites selected. The waiting time to begin the final eligibility determination process varies from 10 weeks to over 5 years from your date of application. Applicants requiring wheelchair accessible units are ranked on the waiting list(s) of choice where wheelchair accessible units exist.

The waiting lists are ranked by bedroom size required and by priority and preference points for each development/site. The total number of applicants on a development’s waiting lists ranges from 1,200 to over 13,000. The applicants may apply to one or all waiting lists for which they meet the preliminary requirements. Applicants who apply to multiple waiting lists may have different ranking positions for each waiting list.

You will be called in for screening when you near the top of a waiting list for a development of your choice. Depending on the development size, bedroom size required, unit turnover, acceptance rate, historical applicant response and successful completion of the screening process, the BHA contacts applicants to schedule the required personal interview to complete the final eligibility determination screening process. It is the BHA’s goal to successfully process and approve qualified applicants who will be ready and available for each reported vacancy.

Applicants should bring the completed Final Application Form and the following verifying documents:

• Birth certificate or adoption documents (original copy for all household members)
• Social Security card or documentation that a card has not been issued (original copy for all household members)
• Picture identification of head of household and co-head if applicable (original copy)
• Appropriate documentation of United States citizenship or eligible non-citizenship status (original copy for all household members)
• Documentation of guardianship, if applicable (original copy)
• Proof of annual income for all household members
• Proof of assets for all household members
• Proof of income exclusions and deductions for all household members, if applicable
• Verification of veteran status, if applicable (original copy)
• Verification of Boston residency, if applicable
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of landlords and/or housing providers for the last three years for all household members
• Documentation of the need for any specialized housing accommodations

If your situation, including changes to family composition, changes after you submit your transfer request you should immediately report the change to the Transfer Process Coordinator.  

If you are a victim of additional incidents in the case of domestic violence, civil rights problems or other threatening situations, you should contact the police at 9-1-1. You should also contact your housing manager or the Office of Civil Rights.

If you reject a transfer offer without Good Cause and/or reasonable accommodation mitigation, you cannot apply for the same transfer type for one year from the date of the rejection. You will be informed of the right to appeal any negative decision. 

If the transfer is to a different development, the resident will be an “Internal Applicant.” Internal applicants must successfully complete the final eligibility screening process. This process checks the criminal record for all household members ages 14 and older.

This is when the resident documents "clear evidence that acceptance of a given offer will result in unusual or undue hardship or handicap” (for example, night shift employment and inaccessibility to public transportation). 
 
Documenting Good Cause must occur as part of your transfer application. BHA looks very carefully at Good Cause requests and the Transfer Review Committee may agree to a transfer but may not agree to Good Cause status. 

Yes, residents who are over- or under-housed or residing in a wheelchair accessible unit and do not require these features will be subject to legal action for rejecting a housing offer of a unit of appropriate size and type. In addition, over-housed residents in the state-aided developments are required to move, and will be required to pay 150% of their monthly rent if they reject a housing offer to a unit of appropriate size and type.