Cambridge Housing Authority
Waiting Lists
Learn more about Cambridge Housing Authority.
- Cambridge, Massachusetts Section 8 HCV is open.
- Cambridge Housing Authority Section 8 Project-Based Voucher is open.
- Cambridge Housing Authority Senior/ Disabled Section 8 Project-Based Voucher is open.
- Elderly/Disabled Site Based Low-Income is open.
- Family Site-Based Low-Income is open.
- Single Room Occupancy Low-Income is open.
Open: Cambridge, Massachusetts Section 8 HCV
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open. This waiting list opened on October 3, 2016 at 10:00 am ET, and is open indefinitely.
Cambridge, MA is about 3 miles west of Boston, MA.
To apply, complete the online pre-application here.
The following documentation is required of all members of the household: Social Security Number, name, date of birth, income.
Income eligibility can be found in the middle of this page here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Cambridge resident, Cambridge shelter or transitional facility, employed in Cambridge, veteran. Further explanation of each preference can be found here.
Applicants who apply by October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.
Applicants who apply after October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the pre-application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, read the CHA public notice, visit the CHA website, or call the office at (617) 864-3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (617) 520-6406.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 06/28/2018.
Open: Cambridge Housing Authority Section 8 Project-Based Voucher
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Standard Section 8 Project-Based Voucher waiting list is currently open. This waiting list opened on October 3, 2016 at 10:00 am ET, and is open indefinitely.
To apply, complete the online pre-application here.
The following documentation is required of all members of the household: Social Security Number, name, date of birth, income.
Income eligibility can be found in the middle of this page here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Cambridge resident, Cambridge shelter or transitional facility, employed in Cambridge, veteran. Further explanation of each preference can be found here.
Applicants who apply by October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.
Applicants who apply after October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the pre-application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, read the CHA public notice, visit the CHA website, or call the office at (617) 864-3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (617) 520-6406.
IMPORTANT: This is not the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Section 8 Project-Based Voucher tenants are required to live in a specific apartment community or scattered site. After one year of occupancy, a Project-Based Voucher tenant may request to be placed on a waiting list to receive the next available Housing Choice Voucher or similar tenant-based rental assistance.
Last Updated on 06/27/2018.
Open: Cambridge Housing Authority Senior/ Disabled Section 8 Project-Based Voucher
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Elderly/Disabled Section 8 Project-Based Voucher waiting list is currently open. This waiting list opened on October 3, 2016 at 10:00 am ET, and is open indefinitely.
To apply, complete the online pre-application here.
The following documentation is required of all members of the household: Social Security Number, name, date of birth, income.
Income eligibility can be found in the middle of this page here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Cambridge resident, Cambridge shelter or transitional facility, employed in Cambridge, veteran. Further explanation of each preference can be found here.
Applicants who apply by October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.
Applicants who apply after October 31, 2016 will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the pre-application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, read the CHA public notice, visit the CHA website, or call the office at (617) 864-3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (617) 520-6406.
IMPORTANT: This is not the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. Section 8 Project-Based Voucher tenants are required to live in a specific apartment community or scattered site. After one year of occupancy, a Project-Based Voucher tenant may request to be placed on a waiting list to receive the next available Housing Choice Voucher or similar tenant-based rental assistance.
Last Updated on 06/27/2018.
Open: Elderly/Disabled Site Based Low-Income
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Elderly/Disabled Site Based waiting list is currently open. This waiting list opened on July 5, 2017 at 10:00 am ET, and is open indefinitely.
To apply, complete the online pre-application here.
Income eligibility and community information can be found on public notice here.
This waiting list has unconfirmed preferences that can be found on the application.
Applicants who apply by July 31, 2017 will be placed on the waiting list by random lottery, by order of preferences.
Applicants who apply after July 31, 2017 will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the pre-application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, read the CHA public notice, visit the CHA website, or call the office at (617) 864-3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 6178643020.
Last Updated on 07/06/2017.
Open: Family Site-Based Low-Income
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Family site-based waiting list is currently open, from September 1, 2018, until further notice.
To apply, complete the online application here.
The application is online only, and no paper applications will be available or accepted. Only one application per household will be accepted. If an applicant does not have access to the Internet, they can use a computer at a local library, or at one of the location listed here. If there are any difficulties in submitting the online application, contact the housing authority.
Income limit information can be found here.
This waiting list has the following preferences: Live or work locally, veterans.
Selected applicants will placed on the waiting list by date and time the application is received, by order of preferences.
For more information, visit the CHA website, or call the CHA office at (617) 864- 3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (617) 864- 3020.
Last Updated on 12/03/2018.
Open: Single Room Occupancy Low-Income
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) Single Room Occupancy waiting list is currently open indefinitely.
Please note: This program offers housing for individuals in congregate living, typically in a shared common space.
To apply, complete the online pre-application here.
The following documentation is required of all members of the household: Social Security Number, name, date of birth, income.
For more information, visit the CHA website, or call the office at (617) 864-3020.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 6178643020.
Last Updated on 07/06/2017.
About Cambridge Housing Authority
675 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA | Visit Website | (617) 864-3020
Cambridge Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 7,338 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..
In addition, Cambridge Housing Authority offers other programs for eligible households, including:
- Moving to Work
Housing Authority Jurisdiction
Low-income housing managed by Cambridge Housing Authority is located in Cambridge, MA.
Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.
About the Cambridge Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Cambridge Housing Authority manages 6,772 active Housing Choice Vouchers.
The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:
| Standard | Tenant Protection | Moving To Work | VASH | Non-Elderly Disabled | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vouchers | 49 | 1,860 | 2,910 | 148 | 84 |
| Monthly Cost Per Voucher | $1,463 | $1,433 | $1,439 | $1,366 | $1,447 |
| Monthly Cost | $71,669 | $2,665,784 | $4,186,136 | $202,141 | $121,556 |
Waiting List and Tenancy
According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 17% having issued approximately 307 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 6 years and 5 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 18 months on the waiting list1.
Income Characteristics
According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.9 persons and has a household income of $19,869 per year. 91% of households were very low income (VLI) and 71% were extremely low income (ELI). 36% of households had wages as a major source of income, 3% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 59% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.
Heads of Household Characteristics
1% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 32% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 24% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 43% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 5% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.
27% of households included children, 6% of which had two adults in the household. 21% of households with children have a female head of household. 66% of all households were headed by a female.
62% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 40% of all heads of households being Black and 4% being Hispanic.
Of all households participating in the Cambridge Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 25% include at least one person with a disability. 37% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 45% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.
Bedroom Size and Overhousing
53% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 30% with 2 bedrooms and 17% with 3 or more bedrooms. 8% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.
Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances
The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Cambridge Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $458 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $1,013. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $116.
1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.
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