Section 8

The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe housing in the private market. In this program, a participant is responsible for finding a suitable unit in accordance with program regulations. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the Housing Authority on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the contract rent and the subsidy amount.

The Burlington Housing Authority administers 93 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. The BHA participates in the Massachusetts Section 8 Centralized Waiting List. The Massachusetts Section 8 Centralized Waiting List is a partnership of 101 Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which streamlines the application process for a Section 8 Voucher.

Applicants submit one application to the centralized waiting list system and their application is automatically added to the waiting list for all 101 participating PHAs. Each participating PHA selects participants to their Section 8 Voucher program from the centralized waiting list in accordance with their own local policy. The Burlington Housing Authority offers a preference to applicants who live and/or work in Burlington and Veterans residing in Burlington.

The centralized waiting list will remain open and accept applications indefinitely.

Eligibility: Eligibility for a housing voucher is determined by the HUD Income guidelines based on the total annual gross income and family size and is limited to U.S. citizens and specified categories of non-citizens who have eligible immigration status.

Apply for Section 8 Housing

Payment Standard Schedule 2023

Payment Standard Schedule

Utility Allowance Schedule