Housing

• Eviction | What can I do if I'm being evicted or at risk of being evicted?

  It is illegal for a landlord to evict, remove belongings from a unit, change your locks, shut off your utilities, or interfere with your use of the unit without a court order, or execution, in Massachusetts. Only a sheriff or constable can remove a tenant or their belongings; a landlord cannot forcibly remove you. If your landlord/property management has or threatened to do any of these things, call the Attorney General's Office at 617-727-8400.

  • Greater Boston Legal Services Massachusetts Defense for Eviction (MADE): Self-Guided Eviction Help - step-by-step guide to respond to an eviction
  • Attorney General's Office "Are you worried about being evicted?" - English - Spanish

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  1. Understand Your Rights: Identify if you are a tenant at-will (have no lease) or have a lease. Visit Mass.gov/eviction-for-tenants to review your rights. Your rights and the process will differ depending on which type of housing agreement you have.  

  2. Pursue Legal Assistance: You may have defenses or counterclaims to prevent eviction, such as:

  • Problems with the condition of your home
  • Did not receive written notice
  • Retaliation for exercising your rights or discriminating

  Many resources are available for free or at a low cost to you. 

  • MA Legal Resource Finder 
  • Virtual Court Service Center 
  • Volunteer Lawyers Project 
  • File a Housing Temporary Restraining Order if your landlord illegally locked you out of your apartment, shut off your utilities, or other emergency issues that impacted your ability to live safely and peacefully

  3. Pursue Financial Resources: If you are behind on payments and/or on a repayment plan that is not financially feasible, you may qualify for financial assistance. Please note that income limits often apply.

  • HomeStart Eviction Prevention - If you are facing eviction, an Advocate will work with you to develop a plan to address the barriers that led to the eviction, assist you in Housing Court to stop the eviction, pay the outstanding balance, and continue assisting you for one year to ensure your housing remains stable.
  • Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) - see table of resources above
  • Westwood Community Chest - see table of resources above

• Foreclosure | What can I do if I'm at risk of foreclosure?

  HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can provide assistance to avoid foreclosure. The Making Home Affordable loan modification or refinance program can reduce your monthly payments. Find a HUD-approved counselor.

  Counselors through the HOPE Hotline are available 24/7 at 888-995-4673 for those experiencing difficulty paying their mortgage or that have received a foreclosure notice.

   

• General | Are there asset limits for affordable housing or vouchers?

  In short, it varies and is changing beginning in 2024. 

  Public Housing & Section 8 Vouchers (HUD)

  • As of 2023, there is no asset limit for these programs if your assets total $5,000 or less. However, if your assets exceed $5,000, income produced from your assets will qualify as income (e.g. interest earned on a savings account or investment, rental income). This income will be calculated based whichever of the following two is greater:
    • 1) the cash value of the income generated by the assets, or
    • 2) the cash value of the income generated by the assets multiplied by the current HUD passbook rate. 
  • In 2023, HUD enacted new asset limits through the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act (HOTMA) to be implemented beginning January 1, 2024 and requiring full compliance by January 1, 2025. Please note several steps have to be taken before the HOTMA asset limits take effect at a property and that additional guidance from HUD regarding protection of current tenants' housing is anticipated. 
  • Each Housing Authority will determine when they apply the HOTMA limits. Please contact the Housing Authority that administered your voucher or public housing to find out when they will apply to you. Dedham Housing Authority will implement the new HOTMA asset limits beginning in July 2024. Westwood Housing Authority does not administer vouchers or public housing. 

   

  Private Affordable Housing

  • Private affordable housing property managers dictate their own asset limits in their Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan (AFHMP). For example, one property may not have an asset limit but will calculate the value of assets by multiplying it by a passbook rate of 0.06% if the assets exceed $5,000. Conversely, another property may have an asset limit of $75,000 and include anything in your bank account. When applying to affordable housing, ask the property management if any asset limits apply and how assets are calculated as income, if at all. 

• General | Do I qualify for affordable housing? (AMI)

  Eligibility depends on the unit, so the simplest way to find out is by contacting the desired housing development. Most affordable units are restricted based on the area median income (AMI), meaning an applicant's household income cannot exceed the given limit. Though a household may also qualify for select housings programs if a household member has a disability or is a senior. 

  Affordable units are typically restricted to 80% AMI or less. The AMI is recalculated annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Westwood is calculated as part of the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. 

  View FY2023 AMI Limits

• General | How can I support people in need?

  • Clothing, Textiles, & Small Household Items - CMRK Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters partnered with the Town to pick up clothing, textiles, and small household items upon request. 
  • Gift Giving - Westwood Youth & Family Services runs an annual Holiday Giving Program and Birthday Giving Program. 
  • Financial Assistance - Westwood Community Chest provides financial assistance to Westwood residents related to medical care, taxes, car repair, utilities, home repair, camp, and rent. 

• General | I’m at risk of losing my housing or already lost my housing. Who should I call?

  Housing & Land Use Planner Amanda Wolfe is available to meet individually with residents about matters concerning their housing. Please email awolfe@townhall.westwood.ma.us, call 781-251-2598, or stop by 50 Carby Street during business hours.

• General | What are some tips for navigating waitlists?

  Due to high demand for affordable housing, both affordable housing and vouchers often have a waitlist. Apply regardless and as soon as possible. Applicants can be removed at any time for a variety of reasons, such as being ineligible or finding other housing. As a result, the wait may not be as long as initially anticipated. 

  Tips for Navigating Waitlists

  • Read the application directions thoroughly.
  • Review the qualifications. Income minimums and maximums, State Sanitary Code occupancy limits, and credit requirements may apply. If you're unsure if you would qualify, apply anyway. They will confirm your information once a unit/voucher is available to you, as it will likely change over time. 
  • Ask if priority is given to anyone and for what factors. It may apply to you.
  • If you are unsure if your application was received, check your spam/junk folders, log back into the application portal, or contact the property. 
  • If your contact information changes after applying, log into your application portal to change it or notify the property ASAP so they are able to get in touch with you when a unit/voucher is available. 
  • Respond promptly when a unit/voucher becomes available to you. There will often be a relatively short period of time to respond. 
  • For housing applications, ask if the management company has other properties with sooner availability to which you can also apply. 
  • Consider other subsidies to alleviate the financial burden, such as utility, childcare, and food assistance. 

• General | What food, childcare, other benefit programs are available?

  You can apply to the following programs online by clicking each link. Seniors (60+) can contact Karen Segreve, Council on Aging Outreach Counselor, for help with applications. 

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income households to supplement your grocery budget
  • Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) provides various benefits to low-income households with children under 18 or pregnant individuals:
    • Two cash payments per month for basic needs
    • Enrollment in MassHealth
    • Referral to free employment and training programs
    • Referral for free child care during work and/or school
    • Money for transportation for education, training, or work
    • One time payment for infants under 6 months
    • Clothing allowance for children 
  • Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) assists low-income households that are meet at least one of these criteria:
    • Unable to work due to disability for at least 60 days
    • Seniors waiting for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to begin
    • Living with or taking care of a child that is not closely related
    • Participating in a Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission program
    • Require in the home to take care of a person with disability who would otherwise have to move to an institution
  • Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) provides health foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services free of charge to low-income households with children under 5, a new mom, and/or a pregnant/breastfeeding woman

• General | Where can I print housing applications?

  While most applications are online now, property management will likely be able to provide paper copies. In addition, Westwood Public Library offers printing services even if you are not a resident of Westwood or don't have a library card. Visit their website for more information.  

• Seniors | What are my options for independent and assisted senior housing in Westwood?

  If you are seeking independent senior living, there are four privately-owned developments for seniors in Westwood with a mix of affordable (reserved for income-eligible tenants) and market rate apartments to rent or own. The Town does not have any public senior housing. Contact each property directly for more information:

  Besides the age restriction, independent senior housing may differ by offering resident programming catered to seniors. If that's not important to you, you may want to consider affordable or market rate intergenerational housing. 

  Property	Age Minimum	Rent/Own	Units	Contact
  Highland Glen Apartments (Beacon Communities) 1055 Highland Glen Road	62+	Rent	120 affordable 1-bedroom apartments 59 affordable 2-bedroom apartments	781-214-8999 highlandglenapartmentsbc.com
  The Residences at Highland Glen (Claremont Companies)  4100 Highland Glen Road	55+	Rent	17 affordable 1-bedroom apartments 9 affordable 2-bedroom apartments 76 market rate 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom apartments	781-329-7755 livehighlandglen.com
  Westwood Glen Commons (Wingate) 21 Westwood Glen Road	55+	Rent	156 market rate 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom apartments	978-756-1972 livewestwoodglen.com
  Fox Hill Village  10 Longwood Drive	62+	Own	365 market rate 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom apartments	781-399-7000 foxhillvillage.com

   

  There are two options for assisted living. Contact each property directly for more information:

  Property	Service	Units	Contact
  Fox Hill Village  10 Longwood Drive	Birch Grove Assisted Living White Oak Cottages Memory Care	24 rooms at Birch Grove 24 rooms split among 2 cottages at White Oak Cottages	781-399-7000 foxhillvillage.com
  Bridges by Epoch 140 University Avenue	Memory Care	64 rooms	978-261-3468 bridgesbyepoch.com

  
  

• Utilities | What affordable cable, internet, and phone discounts/services are available?

  Use the links below to learn more and/or apply:

  • Lifeline provides up to $9.25/month toward internet service, home phone service, and wireless phone plan with data (not the phone itself) to income-eligible households.
  • Company discount programs are offered by private service providers to income-eligible households, such as Xfinity or Verizon, and often work in tandem with the aforementioned programs. Contact your service provider to learn more. 
  • Wi-Fi hotspots can be borrowed from Westwood Public Library for short-term use.
  • Safelink Wireless offers free and discounted mobile phones and minutes for income-eligible households. 
  • Affordable Connectivity Program provides up to $30/month toward internet services to income-eligible households. This program is currently closed until funding is renewed by Congress.

• Utilities | What can I do if I received a utility shutoff notice or am behind on payments?

  There are a number of resources available:

  Program	Description	Eligibility
  Self Help, Inc. Call 508-588-5440	Assists those facing a heat/energy crisis	Currently without heat, received a shutoff notice, or nearly out of fuel
  Eversource Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund	Provides assistance to those experiencing a temporary crisis that results in an inability to pay your utility bill	Income-eligible MA homeowners & renters
  Eversource Payment Plans	Payment plans up to 4 months to avoid disconnection	Eversource customers struggling to pay or with a past due balance
  Eversource New Start Program	Eliminate portions of your overdue Eversource balance by making payments on time each month	Income-eligible Eversource customers with balances of $300+ that are 60+ days overdue
  Residential Assistance to Families in Transition (RAFT)	Provides up to $7,000 per 12 month period to pay for rent, utilities, moving costs, and mortgage payments	At risk of homelessness or losing your housing (e.g. Notice to Quit, utility shutoff notice, etc.)
  Westwood Community Chest	Awards funds for costs associated with basic needs, such as medical care, housing, and utilities	Westwood residents experiencing financial difficulty