Applicant Information
Chelsea Housing Authority administers state and federally aided supported affordable housing programs for low-income family, elderly and disabled households.
For additional information on these programs, the waiting lists, and Chelsea Housing Authority's eligibility requirements, please read below.
The types of public housing programs we administer and manage are family housing, elderly/disabled housing, Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 and MRVP) and AHVP.
Current income limits for all programs
Occupancy Limits
- Family Housing: housing for single persons or families; preliminary eligibility includes:
- Does not exceed income limit (see income limits above)
- The applicant or head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor
- Elderly Disabled Housing: housing for either elderly or individuals or persons with disabilities.
An elderly person in the state program are individuals who are at least 60 years old.
An elderly person in the federal program are individuals who are at least 62 years old. Preliminary eligibility includes:
- Does not exceed the income limit (see income limits above)
- The applicant or head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor
- Applicant or household meet the definition of elderly and/or disabled
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8: a housing subsidy that allows them to rent privately-owned market rate apartments. Preliminary eligibility includes:
- Does not exceed income limit (see income limits above)
- The applicant or head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program: State Funded rental voucher program for non-elderly individuals with disabilities.
- Does not exceed income limit (see income limits above)
- Is a non-elderly individual with disabilities
- The applicant or head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor
- Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program: A state-administered, federal program which provides housing assistance to low-income families.
Program offers tenant-based and project based rental subsidies.
Additionally, tenant-based mobile vouchers allow participants to find any housing unit within Massachusetts.
Preliminary eligibility includes:
- Does not exceed income limit (see income limits above)
- The applicant or head of household must be 18 years of age or an emancipated minor
Program Information:
State Public Housing (CHAMP)
Federal Public Housing
- Definitions of Federal Preferences
- Preferences include local resident, veteran, and victims of domestic abuse
- Offers one, two, three and four-bedroom units
- Federal Elderly/Disabled offers one and two-bedroom units
- Meet occupancy standards (see chart above)
- Must meet immigration status criteria – at least one member of the household is either a U.S. Citizen or have eligible immigration status
Leased Housing Programs
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
- This program only offers ONE-bedroom voucher
- Applicants must be handicapped/disabled
- Vouchers can only be used within Massachusetts
- If tenant later decides to move, they can take the voucher with them
- Preferences include Local Resident and Veteran
- Priorities Definition Fact Sheet
- 2021 AHVP Fact Sheet
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
- Preferences include local resident, veteran, and victims of domestic abuse
- Definitions of Federal Preferences
- Applicant locates an apartment of their choice
- If tenant later decides to move, they can take the voucher with them
- Must meet immigration status criteria – at least one member of the household is either a U.S. Citizen or have eligible immigration status
- Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
- Preferences include Local Resident and Veteran
- Priorities Definition Fact Sheet
- Vouchers can only be used within Massachusetts
- Occupancy standards (see chart above)