Public Housing Programs
Public housing comes in all sizes and types – from scattered single-family houses to mid-rise apartments; studio apartments to six-bedroom units; and elderly/disabled specific communities.
Public housing residents pay 30% - 32% of their total income toward rent.
There are several factors that determine if someone is eligible for public housing or not. Your income, immigration status, and past rental history are all considered. BHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) details eligibility requirements and is based on state and federal regulations. You can find out which public housing communities you may qualify for by using the Housing Communities Search Tool. You can learn more about public housing communities or browse the Public Housing Community map.
There are several programs that fall under the public housing umbrella.
- Wheelchair Accessible Housing: If you are interested in BHA housing and require a wheelchair accessible unit, take a look at the communities with wheelchair accessible units. Use the Housing Community Search Tool, and check the box to the right of the question, “Is any member of your household in a wheelchair?” These units are equipped with a roll-under stove and sink, a wheelchair accessible bathroom and range from one to five bedrooms.
- Family Housing: Anyone can apply for family public housing. Bedroom sizes range from studio to a few six-bedroom units.
- Elderly/Disabled Housing: Eligibility for elderly/disabled housing differs based on how each community is funded. Applicants for state-funded developments must be at least 60 years old and/or disabled. Applicants for federally funded developments must be at least 62 years old and/or disabled. Bedroom sizes range from studios to two-bedroom units. This program is called Elder Advantage and is intended to help elderly applicants find housing quickly.
- Grandparents Program: Applicants for the grandparents program must be at least 60 years old and/or disabled with legal custody of one or two (of the same gender) grandchildren. This housing is offered in two-bedroom townhouses and single-family level units at the Franklin Field Elderly/Disabled development in Dorchester. One unit is wheelchair accessible.
- Hope VI and Mixed Finance Housing Programs: Several properties have been redeveloped using a combination of public and private funding. Read more about communities that are part of the Hope VI and Mixed Finance Housing Program. If you are interested in one of these communities, you must apply at the property's management office (information is available on each community’s webpage).