For Applicants Eligibility Public Housing Priorities and Preferences

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: Displaced Due to Disaster Displaced Due to Domestic Violence: BHA form or HUD Form and Applicant to include copy of the Lease or statement from the landlord or owner that certifies the Applicant is/was the resident of the dwelling unit at that time, proof of tenancy. Victim of Hate Crime Avoidance of Reprisal/Witness Protection Court Ordered No Fault Eviction Condemnation Urban Renewal Other Government Action Inaccessibility of Dwelling Unit Homelessness	30 points
Priority Two (Elderly/Disabled Program Only)- Third Party Verification: Excessive Rent Burden Imminent Landlord Displacement	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: Displaced Due to Natural Disaster	60 points
Priority Two- Third Party Verification: Urban Renewal Condemnation	50 points
Priority Three- Third Party Verification: Displaced Due to Domestic Violence: BHA form or HUD Form and Applicant to include copy of the Lease or statement from the landlord or owner that certifies the Applicant is/was the resident of the dwelling unit at that time, proof of tenancy. Victim of Hate Crime Avoidance of Reprisal/Witness Protection Court Ordered No Fault Eviction Inaccessibility of Dwelling Unit Homelessness BHA Resident in Federal Program “Termination of Assistance” due to lack of any household member with eligible immigration status*	30 points
Priority Five: AHVP (Alternative Housing Voucher Program)	10 points
Priority Six: (Elderly/Disabled Program Only)- Third Party Verification: Excessive Rent Burden Imminent Landlord Displacement	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.

For Applicants