Affordable housing has reduced rent based on the area median income (AMI) or is calculated as a percentage of your income. Tenants are selected either via lottery in which names are randomly pulled or first-come, first-serve. Vouchers are used to offset the cost of rent, by only requiring you to pay usually 30-40% of your household income toward rent. Vouchers can be used in both market-rate and affordable housing, deepening the affordability of both housing types. Both forms of housing subsidies have income limits, which vary depending on the program. 

Questions? Contact the Housing & Land Use Planner

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 Affordable Rental Housing in Westwood

To learn more about affordable units at these privately held developments, please contact each development directly for the most current information.

PROPERTY	UNITS	INCOME LIMIT	TENANT SELECTION	CONTACT
Gables at University Station 85 University Ave	47 one-bedroom apartments 22 two-bedroom apartments	80% AMI	First-come, first-serve waitlist	781-326-7200 More Info Apply Now
321 Washington Street	3 one-bedroom apartments	80% AMI	First-come, first-serve waitlist	617-531-7123 ext. 796 Apply Now
256 Washington Street	1 one-bedroom apartment 1 two-bedroom apartment	80% AMI	First-come, first-serve waitlist	617-639-3064 ext. 732 Apply Now
Westwood Affordable Housing Associates (WAHA) Scattered Sites	4 duplexes 6 single-family houses bedrooms vary	80% AMI	Lottery	781-320-1031 Apply to Lottery
Completion anticipated early 2025 436 Washington Street	5 one-bedroom apartments	80% AMI	Lottery to fill units initially Switches to waitlist once filled	Lottery Application Lottery Ad
UPCOMING PROJECTS
COMPLETION DATE TBD The Block at 22 Everett	13 one-bedroom apartments 9 two-bedroom apartments 2 three-bedroom apartments	60% & 80% AMI

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 Affordable Rental Housing for Seniors in Westwood

Adults with disabilities may qualify for senior housing. Contact property management of each community to learn more. 

Vouchers

Voucher pay the difference between 30% of your income and the rent amount up to the Fair Market Rate, or payment standard, directly to the landlord/property owner. If the rent exceeds the FMR - which can happen if used in market rate housing, your voucher administering agency will want to confirm your contribution does not exceed 40% of your household income. 

• Mobile (tenant-based) vouchers are tied to a specific household and can be used at any housing unit that meets the state sanitary code and has reasonable rent compared to other market rate units in the area. If a tenant moves, the voucher goes with them to be used at their new housing. 
• Project-based vouchers are tied to specific housing developments. If a tenant moves, they lose their voucher. Apply to each development directly.
• If you're unsure if you qualify, still apply. You will be notified if you are not eligible. 

Section 8 Vouchers (Federal)

Section 8 - or Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) - vouchers allow households earning 80% AMI or less to pay 30% of their monthly income toward rent. 

• Apply to project-based Section 8 housing at HousingNavigatorMA.com. Currently, Highland Glen Apartments (Beacon Communities) is the only Westwood project-based Section 8 development. 
• Massachusetts residents can apply to be placed on the Massachusetts Section 8 Centralized Waiting List for mobile Section 8, which remains open indefinitely. Apply online at AffordableHousing.com/MassCWL or in-person at Dedham Housing Authority. 
  dedhamhousing.org
  26 O'Neil Drive
  Dedham, MA 02026
  781-329-5380

• Different voucher administrators will have different criteria for priority status. You can request an update on your application through the Centralized Waiting List.

MRVP Vouchers (MA)

The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) offers two types of vouchers that allow Massachusetts residents earning 80% AMI or less to pay only 30% of their monthly income toward rent.

• Apply for both mobile and project-based MRVP at mass.gov/CHAMP (as of October 2023), which typically takes 30 minutes. 
• Since Westwood does not administer vouchers, it will not show up as an option. For mobile vouchers, it does not matter what housing agency/authority administers your voucher. So you may select multiple housing agencies/authorities in your application. 
• Keep in mind that mobile MRVP vouchers do not help with utility costs, unlike other housing programs.
• Mobile voucher applicants are given 180 days to find suitable housing in MA. 
• Priority is given to people experiencing homelessness if it is due to:
  • 1. Fire or natural disaster
  • 2. Urban renewal
  • 3. State sanitary and other code violations 
  • 4a. No fault loss of housing
  • 4b. Severe medical emergency
  • 4c. Abusive situation
• Check the status of your application by logging in to CHAMP. 
• MRVP FAQs

AHVP Vouchers (MA)

The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) is designed to help Massachusetts residents with disabilities under age 60 and earning 80% AMI or less live independently in housing of their choice by only paying 25-40% of your monthly income toward rent. 

• Apply at mass.gov/CHAMP. You can apply to both AHVP and MRVP at the same time.
• If you already receive an AHVP voucher and turn 60, you can keep your voucher.
• AHVP is only available as mobile vouchers. 

Where can I use my voucher?

Most housing vouchers can be used in any rental housing. However, your voucher will often only pay up to a specific payment standard, or Fair Market Rent (FMR), established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). If you opt to lease a market rate unit that exceeds the payment standard, your voucher case manager may want to verify that you can afford the difference between the payment standard and market rate rent and ensure that the tenant share does not exceed 40% of your monthly income. 

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Statewide Affordable Rental Housing

Expand your search to the surrounding region at:

• HousingNavigatorMA.org 
• MassHousing.com 
• AffordableHousing.com 
• Boston.gov/Metrolist 
• Search.AffordableHousingHub.org/MA 
• HousingLink.org 
• SEBHousing.com
• MaloneyAffordable.com

Public Housing

Households that earn no more than 80% AMI are eligible for public housing, with the lowest earners receiving priority. Westwood does not have any public housing at this time, but Westwood residents may qualify for local preference in Dedham Housing Authority public housing. The information below applies to all public housing in MA, as Westwood residents are not limited to Dedham Housing Authority. The main difference between public affordable housing and private affordable housing is that the former is publicly managed by the federal, state, or local government. 

• Apply online at CHAMP at mass.gov/CHAMP or in-person at the Dedham Housing Authority.
• Review public housing resources from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).   

dedhamhousing.org
26 O'Neil Drive
Dedham, MA 02026
781-329-5380