The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is the federal government's major program for helping very low to low income families, the elderly, and the disabled rent decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.
Since the assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find and rent privately owned housing, including single-family homes, condominiums, and apartments. Participants are free to choose any housing that meets the program's requirements.
Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies such as West Springfield Housing Authority (WSHA). The WSHA receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.
A family issued a voucher is responsible for finding and selecting suitable housing where the owner agrees to rent under the program. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the WSHA.
A housing subsidy is paid directly to the landlord by the WSHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged and the amount subsidized by the program.
When an applicant is selected from the waiting list and found eligible, the WSHA will notify them and schedule a Briefing Session. At the briefing, you'll receive your voucher and a full walkthrough of the rules and procedures for locating and leasing a unit.
Once issued, a voucher is valid for a maximum of 120 days to find a qualifying unit. If a unit isn't found in that time, the voucher expires and is reissued to the next eligible household on the waiting list.
Applications are available through the West Springfield Housing Authority office, or you can log in to the Mass NAHRO Section 8 Centralized Waiting List to complete a preliminary application.
A state-funded alternative for low-income Massachusetts residents, administered locally by WSHA.
The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) is a state-funded rent assistance program through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for low-income Massachusetts residents. MRVP is a "mobile," tenant-based voucher, meaning tenants choose their own apartments.
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) administers the MRVP program statewide, and West Springfield Housing Authority administers it locally.
Applications for the MRVP program can be obtained through the West Springfield Housing Authority, or by contacting the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.