Worcester Housing Authority

Open: Massachusetts Housing Choice Voucher Centralized

This housing authority participates in the Massachusetts Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List, which is a partnership between most of the housing authorities in Massachusetts. Applicants submit one application to apply to a centralized waiting list. Selected applicants will be placed on the centralized waiting list, and will be under consideration for every participating housing authority.

The Massachusetts Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Centralized Waiting List is currently open.

The Massachusetts Centralized waiting list will accept applications from January 6, 2003, until further notice.

There are three ways to apply during the opening period:

1. Complete the online application available here. 
2. Download and print the application online. Select the link titled "Preliminary Application" in your native language.
3. Contact a participating housing authority request an application by mail. Participating housing authority contact information can be found here.

Once the paper application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to any participating housing authority. Participating housing authority address information can be found here.

Income limit information can be found here.

The waiting list will be sorted differently by each housing authority according to its own preferences.

Participating housing authorities may have any of the following preferences: Activated military personnel to Persian Gulf; Board of Health condemnation; Disabled; Displaced by hate crime or reprisal, Displaced by landlord non-renewal; Displaced by natural disaster;  Displaced by public action; Displaced by domestic violence; Elderly (62+); Near elderly (55+); Extremely low income; Health disability affecting housing need; Homeless; Participant in Metro Program in Wayland school; Rent burdened 50% of income; Rent burdened 40% of income; one-person family; substandard housing; tenants of Project-Based units; clients for Project-Based units; Veteran; Working. Further explanation of each preference can be found here.

Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the application has been received, by order of preferences.

For more information, visit the website here, or contact a participating housing authority listed here.

Sources: This information was verified by the Massachusetts Centralized page on December 28, 2022.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via 1-877-868-0040.

Last Updated on 02/23/2024.

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Open: Worcester Housing Authority Public Housing

The Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) waiting list for Public Housing apartments is currently open. Applications are being accepted since at least June, 2015, until further notice.

There are two ways to apply:

1. Complete the online application.
2. Complete an application at the WHA Admission Department, located at 40 Belmont St, Worcester, MA 01605.

This waiting list has the following preferences:

• Worcester Resident
  • Lives or works within City
• Veterans
  • Veteran with service connected disability
  • Family of deceased veteran whose death is service connected
• Displacement by Disaster
  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Other Natural Disaster
• Displacement by Action of Housing Owner
  • Owner sells property
  • Owner has extended family moving in
  • Owner renovation unit
  • Property foreclosed required to move
• Displaced due to Domestic Violence
  • Victim of abuse which occurred recently or is of a continuing nature
• Displaced by Hate Crimes
  • Prejudice and harassment of family member
• Displacement to avoid Reprisals
  • Law enforcement agency requests alternative
    housing to avoid risk of violence against family
• Displacement due to Inaccessibility of Unit
  • Mobility or other impairment that prohibits
    access to current apartment
• Substandard Housing
  • Landlord's failure to provide safe and adequate shelter and endangered the health, safety and/or well being of the family
• Rent Burden
  • Paying more than 50% of household income towards rent and utilities for a period of at least 90 days
• Homeless
  • Lacks fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residency
  • Primary nighttime residence that is a supervised public or private operated shelter designated to provide temporary living accommodations
  • A public or private place not designated or normally used as a regular sleeping place for humans

Selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list by date and time the application is received, weighed by order of preferences.

For more information, visit the WHA website.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (508) 635-3000.

Next Steps

Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.

Last Updated on 02/23/2024.

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