Subsidized Housing in Boston
Subsidized housing in Boston covers a range of programs — public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and project-based Section 8 — that lower rent for income-eligible households. Most are administered or overseen by the Boston Housing Authority and HUD.
Get alerted when a waitlist opens in Boston
Free. We email you when a housing authority or program you selected opens its list.
About This Program in Boston
In Boston, the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program and public housing are administered by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA). Rent is income-based — generally about 30% of adjusted household income — whether in a BHA development or with a voucher used in private housing.
How to Apply in Boston
Apply through BHA at bostonhousing.org when waitlists are open. Massachusetts protects renters from source-of-income discrimination statewide (M.G.L. c. 151B), so most landlords cannot refuse a Housing Choice Voucher. Call BHA at (617) 988-4000 for current waitlist status.