Public Housing (PH) is intended to provide safe and sanitary rental housing for eligible low-income families, elderly, and persons with disabilities. In its broadest definition public housing includes apartments owned and managed by housing authorities. PH comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high-rise apartments. In Massachusetts further public housing aid is provided to local housing authorities by EOHLC (formerly known as DHCD).
The CHA is responsible for the management of its public housing and voucher programs. Ongoing functions: Lease compliance, unit inspections, annual household income redetermination, and maintenance of apartments and property.
Apartments owned and managed by the CHA are under the Public Housing Program. These apartments provide safe and sanitary rental housing for eligible low-income families, elderly & persons with disabilities. CHA is the landlord, with accompanying responsibilities of administration, maintenance, and management of all apartments. These apartments are supported by funding from the Massachusetts EOHLC which regulates the eligibility and other requirements of each property.
Rental Voucher Programs (like Section 8 or MRVP) use rental vouchers to subsidize a qualified family's rent paid to private landlords. This allows eligible low-income families, elderly, and persons with disabilities the opportunity to afford private rental apartments. The CHA is an issuing agency for only the MRVP (Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program) and performs the duties as outlined by MRVP regulations on the eligibility and other requirements of the specific Housing Voucher Program.
There are two categories of subsidized housing programs: Public Housing Programs where the Housing Authority, like the Chatham Housing Authority, is the landlord, and Leased Housing or Rental Voucher Programs (like MRVP) where private individuals, companies or corporations are the landlord.
CHA programs are intended for low-income families & individuals. Eligibility is based upon annual household income. You may qualify as elderly/disabled individual, as a family, U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. References and CORI's are used to verify if you and your family will be good tenants. Income limits are set by EOHLC for eligibility purposes for all programs. Please call us (508) 945-0478 to determine program eligibility.
Please call (508) 945-0478 for applications, apply online at https://publichousingapplication.ocd.state.ma.us or refer to the "Resource" tab under "Documents" and "CHAMP" to print the public housing application.
Monday - Thursday – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday by appointment only
We are closed all State and Federal holidays
A completed and signed CHAMP Application. You may apply directly online at https://publichousingapplication.ocd.state.ma.us/
Once your CHAMP application is signed and completed, you may bring to our offices for us to upload to CHAMP (or you may apply directly online at https://publichousingapplication.ocd.state.ma.us). Your application is then "time and date stamped" to hold your place in line. CHAMP has a "Priority and Preference" categorization-please call with further questions (508)945-0478. Documents may be uploaded online through your CHAMP account if you are computer savvy.
The Names, sex, date of birth, & relationship to the family head of household; present address and telephone number; Family characteristics (e.g. veteran) or circumstances (e.g. living in substandard housing) that might qualify the family for tenant selection preferences; Names and addresses of current and previous landlords for information about your family's suitability as a tenant; estimate of your household anticipated income for the next 12 months and the sources of that income.
The CHA may visit you in your home to interview you and your family members to see how you manage the upkeep of you current home. The names/addresses of employers, banks, and any other information the Authority would need to verify your income and deductions, and to verify the family composition.
Yes, the Housing Authority will request documentation necessary to verify the information on your application (e.g., birth certificates, tax returns, direct verification from your employer). As part of the application process, you will be asked to sign an authorization form releasing pertinent information to the Housing Authority. You can upload documents online in your CHAMP account or at the local Housing Authority.
The CHA will review all information/documentation provided in your application for public housing or for voucher assistance. Upon the completion of the review, a decision on your eligibility will be made. If you are eligible, the CHA will send you written confirmation indicating that your name has been placed on the respective program(s) waiting list(s). Once your name is nearing the top of our waiting list, you will be contacted immediately.
If you are ineligible, the CHA will send you written notification indicating the reason of ineligibility. You may request an informal hearing to discuss the circumstances of the Housing Authority's decision.
A client who has accepted an apartment offered in a Public Housing Program (apartments owned and managed by the Chatham Housing Authority), will sign a lease with the Housing Authority. In addition, the client may be required to provide a security deposit. A representative of the Housing Authority will review the lease with the client to make certain the client understands his tenant responsibilities as well as the Housing Authority's responsibilities.
A lease for the unit will be signed by both the client and the private landlord. The client also signs a voucher contract with the Housing Authority. The CHA is not the landlord for the property. The client may be required to provide a security deposit. The Housing Authority will inspect the apartment to be leased to make sure it is safe, sanitary and well maintained. The voucher contract will be reviewed with the client to make certain the client understands his tenant responsibilities.
Yes, there are preferences to specific groups of families. These preferences enable the Housing Authority to direct its limited housing resources to the families with the greatest housing needs. The Housing Authority determines these preferences from the information provided during the application process.
Rent is based upon your family's gross annual income, with deductions and exclusions according to applicable regulations. Deductions and exclusions vary with different programs. Typical deduction examples include: allowances for dependents, elderly family members, disabled individuals, and medical expenses for families headed by an elderly person or a person with disabilities. These examples may or may not be applicable to the program you are applying for and to your family's situation.
The formula used in determining your family's rent varies from program to program but is generally a percentage of your monthly adjusted income (Monthly Adjusted Income is annual income less deductions allowed by the regulations), or a minimum rent established for that program by the Housing Authority, or welfare rent (if applicable) or a market (flat) rent.
Yes, parking is provided at all developments. Availability of parking for apartments under the Leased Housing Voucher Programs varies from apartment to apartment.
In general, you may stay in public housing or retain your voucher as long as you comply with the lease or terms of the voucher contract and meet the income eligibility requirements of the program. You will not be required to move from public housing unless there is affordable housing available for you in the private market except for violation of terms of your lease or contract--and this only after due process.