Housing Search
Due to the high volume of cases and our small team, WATCH is not able to:
- Help apply for rental assistance for clients who are otherwise able-bodied, literate, and able to fill out applications for various programs
- Perform individual housing searches
- Provide referrals for non-housing or immigration-related legal assistance
WATCH does not own or rent affordable housing and does not provide housing or shelter. We also do not provide childcare or transportation.
Here you will find resources about what affordable housing is, how to find affordable housing, how to find public housing, and how to do a general housing search
Affordable Housing
What is "affordable housing"?
Housing is considered to be affordable if total housing costs (rent or mortgage, plus utilities, taxes, insurance, etc.) are no more than 30% of a household’s gross income.
The state or federal government designates an apartment as “affordable housing” based on deed restrictions limiting the rent. Most apartment complexes of 8 units or more are required to set aside a certain number of units as “affordable housing.” These units have reduced rent and can be accessed through lotteries and have eligibility requirements such as 60 or 80% Area Median Income (AMI).
How to know if I meet the income thresholds?
To learn more about the current income limits used to determine eligibility for housing programs, click here:
Housing Programs Income and Rent Limits | Boston.gov
Lottery for Affordable Housing
What is a lottery for housing? Lotteries are to decide who gets apartments that are set aside as ‘affordable.’ in each apartment complex. This can be done for 2 reasons:
- Private, subsidized affordable housing is privately developed, owned, and operated and is often created by a private non-profit organization that aims to provide affordable housing, like WATCH. Such properties are deed restricted to keep rents or mortgage payments affordable for the long term.
- Privately developed affordable housing was created by for-profit companies as part of a mandated program to create affordable housing.
Public Housing
Please note that ALL state public housing must now be applied to through CHAMP's website. The tenant must create and apply for public housing through CHAMP to be considered.
Massachusetts Housing Authorities' Locations and Contact Information - List of housing authorities’ locations and contact information in MA. Waltham residents can pick up applications for federal housing here.
Open:
- Mon-Fri 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM.
Phone: (781)-894-3357
Address: 110 Pond Street, Waltham, MA, 02154
Rental Vouchers
A voucher allows a tenant to live in market-rate housing at a reduced rate.
For details about the list and how to apply click on the following link.
MRVP (Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program)
Application can now be done online through CHAMP's portal. Get more information on the application and/ or print the paper application here.
For general questions, please contact the Division of Rental Assistance at (617) 573-1100 ext. 4
Guidance for standard public housing applications, emergency housing applications, and to learn about Section 8 Voucher.
Senior Housing
- Search for senior-specific housing by type (varying levels of care) and location.
- Apply for “elderly housing” priority (60+) online through CHAMP or in person at a local housing authority.
Congregate Housing- Shared Community Living Spaces
- Must contact Congregate Housing Contractors and follow their application process
- About Congregate Housing & Eligibility
- Contacts for Congregate Housing Contractors
Housing Navigator
- Website
- Filter search for “age restricted”
- Click on “view listing” and contact the management company to apply
Case Management for Seniors:
Handicap Accessible Affordable Housing
The official online listing and search tool for accessible and affordable rental homes in Massachusetts.
Provides transitional housing to the homeless that are disabled or have mental health needs. Client will need to fill out an application either online, by mail/paper, or by phone.
The official online listing and search tool for accessible and affordable homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts.
To find handicap accessible affordable housing, under "Special Features," select "Disability Access."
To find handicap accessible affordable housing, after searching for your desired location, click to open the menu under "Amenities"; then select the options which best fit the needs of your disability.
To find handicap accessible affordable housing, under "Community Amenities," select "Disability Access."
To find handicap accessible affordable housing, select "Search by Amenities," and then under "Special Features," select "Disability Access."
**This Site NOT Found**
To find handicap accessible affordable housing, after searching for your desired location, select "More", then select "Disability Access" under "Amenities".
Fair Housing
Fair Housing - If you want to learn more about fair housing or believe that you have been discriminated against in your search for housing, you can find resources on this website.
Need to Find Emergency Shelter? For information on emergency shelters, click here.
General Housing Search
Resource: How To Do A General Housing Search on Craigslist
Resource: How To Do A General Housing Search on Hotpads
General Housing Search Sites
- Zillow - A widely used website to buy, rent, sell, and find loans for houses.
- Trulia - Find apartments available for rent in Waltham
- Apartment Guide - A website that helps you to find and filter apartments up to your needs.
- Padmapper - Easily search apartments for rent across the US and Canada
- Apartments.com - A widely used website to find apartments for rent.
- My New Place - Search for housing opportunities by cities and zipcodes. **NOTE: Site Not Found**
- People with Pets - Search to find pet-friendly housing opportunities.
- Home Finder - Find real estate and homes near you
- Homes.com - Search to find houses and agency
- Apartment List - Rental apartment search site
- Walk Score - Find life resource and guidance by your neighborhood
- For Rent - Rental apartment search site
- Apartment Finder - Rental apartment search site
- Apartment Search - Rental apartment search site
- MySmartrenter - Verify Landlord Information through MySmartrenter
- Craigslist - Roommate search
- Roommates.com - Website that helps you find roommates and rooms for rent near you
- JumpOffCampus - Search by college or university. Also a good way for current student renters to find other students to sublet (in cooperation with the landlord).