Applicants
Public Housing Applicants
Eligibility
Eligibility for public housing programs is based on income and a demonstrated ability to comply with all lease provisions through favorable past housing history, credit checks and a criminal records check.
Applications
To apply for state-aided Family, Elderly/Handicapped public housing, and MRVP you must use the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Public Housing (CHAMP) and MRVP applications. You can apply using CHAMP either online or in person by completing a printed paper application. Only one application is required to apply for all state public housing programs.
Section 8 Applicants
Eligibility
Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the PHA based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status. In general, the family's income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. By law, a PHA must provide 75 percent of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. MHA’s current income limits can be found at the top of this page.
Applications
The MHA is a member of the Section 8 Voucher Centralized Waiting List. With numerous Massachusetts housing authorities utilizing this one computerized list; all applicant information entered onto this list can be accessed and updated by all participating housing authorities providing applicants more chances of obtaining a Section 8 voucher. Applicants need apply to only one of the participating housing authorities. Application can be submitted directly online at Affordablehousing.com or you can apply directly to the Methuen Housing Authority.
Section 8 Centralized Waiting ListChecking Status
The waiting time varies depending on the number of bedrooms and type of unit your household requires, your priority and preference and the number of units at the communities you have selected. When requesting status information, it must be in writing which includes your full name, address, birthdate, phone number and last four digits of your social security number and you will need to produce picture identification. If you are mailing your status request, please include a copy of your picture identification. It is impossible to identify what number you rank on the waiting lists as this number may vary daily. Therefore, we may only provide a rough estimate of when a family might be selected for the final eligibility screening process.
- CHAMP: If you applied for State-aided public housing or MRVP you can also check your status by logging into your CHAMP account.
- Section 8: If you applied for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), you can also check your status by logging into your affordablehousing.com account.
Income Limits
| State | Federal | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $66,300 | $68,500 |
| 2 People | $75,750 | $78,250 |
| 3 People | $85,200 | $88,050 |
| 4 People | $94,650 | $97,800 |
| 5 People | $102,250 | $105,650 |
| 6 People | $109,800 | $113,450 |
| 7 People | $117,400 | $121,300 |
| 8 People | $124,950 | $129,100 |