Section 8 Mobile Vouchers, MRVP, and AHVP

Section 8 Mobile Vouchers, MRVP, and AHVP

Section 8 Housing Choice Mobile Voucher (HCVP):  Section 8 mobile vouchers are another form of affordable housing. Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937 authorizes the payment of rental housing assistance to private landlords on behalf of low-income households.  The federal government provides vouchers for 98,000 households in Massachusetts.

For this program, a qualifying low-income household finds a private market apartment that meets Section 8 criteria.  Then, the tenant pays a portion of the rent — usually 30% of their income — and the government makes a direct payment to the landlord that makes up the difference between the tenant’s portion and the full rent required by the landlord.

Groton residents may apply to the Section 8 waitlist held by RCAP Solutions.  RCAP Solutions manages 3,000 vouchers in central Massachusetts.  This waitlist is most likely to yield a Section 8 Voucher if you remain a Groton resident.

To expand your search, you can apply to the centralized Section 8 waitlist.  With one application, people can get on the waitlist for 102 Public Housing Authorities within Massachusetts – most in the Greater Boston area.  People living in one of the 102 communities are most likely to get Section 8 Vouchers because the demand is so great, that the preference given to existing local residents boosts the priority of one’s application.  The benefit of applying to the centralized list regardless of your present location is that if you later move to one of those 102 communities, you will be higher up the waitlist rather than waiting to apply until you move into town.  Once you have applied, please keep your application updated with your current address and contact information.  Updates can help the housing authorities both to prioritize your application when you move into town and to reach you when you are offered a voucher.

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program:  Massachusetts developed its own version of the federal Section 8 program.  Its program is called the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) which funds about 2,000 vouchers statewide.  Apply through CHAMP to get on this waitlist.

Alternative Housing Voucher Program:  Massachusetts also created the Alternative Housing Voucher Program to for people with disabilities between the ages of 22 and 59.  Apply through CHAMP to get on this waitlist.