Last updated: July 14, 2026
Bottom line
Massachusetts housing help is not one program. The right first step depends on what is happening now. Emergency Assistance family shelter may help an eligible pregnant person or family with children who has nowhere safe to stay. RAFT may help with a short-term rent, mortgage, utility, or moving crisis. Public housing and vouchers may lower housing costs for the long term, but waiting lists can be long.
Single mothers do not receive automatic approval. Each program checks its own rules, such as income, household members, housing crisis, disability, pregnancy, age of children, and where you live. Apply to every program that fits instead of waiting for one list.
Use ASMOM’s Massachusetts help page for a wider view of state support. The national housing guide also explains common housing terms and next steps.
If you need housing help today
- No safe place tonight: Review the EA shelter application if you are pregnant or have a child under 21. You can apply online at any time or call 866-584-0653, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Rent, mortgage, utility, or moving crisis: Use the official RAFT page to apply and check what proof is needed.
- Unsafe because of abuse: The SafeLink resource page gives confidential statewide support. Use a safer device if someone may be checking your phone or browser.
- Not sure where to start: Contact Mass 211 and ask for shelter, food, legal, utility, and local housing referrals.
- Eviction papers: Do not ignore them or move out only because a Notice to Quit gives a date. Read Massachusetts eviction basics and seek legal help quickly.
ASMOM’s Massachusetts emergency guide and emergency rent guide offer more practical steps while you contact official programs.
Where to start
If you are homeless
Apply for EA family shelter. Ask whether you are eligible, whether you were placed on the Contact List, and what documents or updates are still needed.
If you owe housing costs
Apply for RAFT. Tell your landlord or mortgage company that you applied, save the case number, and ask the regional agency whether your file is complete.
If rent is too high
Apply for state public housing, MRVP, AHVP if it fits, Section 8, and income-restricted apartments. These are separate paths.
If forms feel confusing
Find your local housing education center for free housing information, application help, and local referrals.
Quick guide to Massachusetts housing help
| Your need | Program or route | Who may qualify | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| No safe place to stay | EA family shelter | Eligible pregnant people and families with children under 21 | Shelter space is limited. An eligible family may be placed on the Contact List. |
| Short-term housing crisis | RAFT | Households at or below 50% AMI, or up to 60% AMI when housing risk is tied to domestic violence | RAFT is capped at $7,000 in a rolling 12-month period and may not cover the full balance. |
| Lower rent long term | Public housing, MRVP, AHVP, Section 8 | Low-income households that meet each program’s rules | Applications are separate and waiting lists may take years. |
| Affordable apartment | Income-restricted housing | Households within the property’s income and household-size rules | Each property has its own application, deadline, and waitlist. |
| Eviction or discrimination | Legal aid and fair housing help | Eligibility varies by legal service and complaint type | Court and complaint deadlines can be short. |
Emergency Assistance family shelter
Emergency Assistance, often called EA, is the Massachusetts family shelter program. It is for eligible pregnant people and families with children under 21 who are homeless or face a qualifying housing crisis. The state reviews the household, income, reason for homelessness, and other program rules before making a decision.
You can start online or call the Emergency Family Shelter Contact Line. Ask the worker what proof is missing and how you will receive notices. Keep your phone, email, and mailing address current.
The EA Contact List
Being found eligible does not always mean a shelter placement is ready that day. The state’s EA Contact List page says space and funding are limited. Families may be sorted into tracks based on current state rules and documented needs.
While waiting, answer calls, check messages, and report changes. Ask the worker what you must do to keep your place active. Do not rely on an old screenshot or social media post because shelter rules have changed several times.
HomeBASE
HomeBASE is linked to EA eligibility. It can help an eligible family avoid shelter or move from shelter into housing. The current HomeBASE program page lists up to $30,000 over two years. A shelter or diversion worker helps decide how the money may be used.
HomeBASE is not cash paid freely to the family. It may support approved rent, deposits, furniture, utilities, or other housing costs. Confirm the housing plan before signing a lease or making promises to a landlord.
RAFT for rent and housing emergencies
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) is the state’s main short-term housing emergency program. It can help eligible renters and owner-occupants stay in their home or move to a safer one.
Current rules allow up to $7,000 per household in a rolling 12-month period. RAFT may cover approved rent arrears, mortgage costs, utilities, moving costs, or other costs tied to an immediate housing crisis. The amount depends on the problem, proof, prior help, and whether the payment can resolve or reduce the crisis.
Who may qualify
You may qualify when you are at risk of homelessness or housing loss and your household income is at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. The limit can be up to 60% when the housing risk is connected to domestic violence. The online application checks income for your town and household.
What the application needs
Common items include ID for the head of household, proof of current housing, proof of the housing crisis, and income information. A landlord must complete a separate part when the request involves rent. The state warns that the tenant application can time out when the landlord does not respond within 21 days.
Use ASMOM’s documents checklist before uploading records. Ask the regional agency to tell you whether the file is complete instead of sending the same document many times.
RAFT may not pay everything
If the debt is more than the program limit, you may need a written payment plan, another funding source, or proof that the remaining balance can be handled. Do not promise a landlord that RAFT will pay until the agency approves the case.
Long-term public housing and vouchers
Long-term housing help is slower than emergency help. Apply even if you also have a RAFT or shelter case. You do not have to wait for one application before starting another.
| Housing path | What it does | Where to apply | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| State public housing | Offers lower-rent homes owned by local housing authorities | Use the state housing application | Choose several locations when possible and keep the application updated. |
| MRVP | Provides a state rental voucher for eligible households | Use the MRVP application guide | The current income limit is 80% AMI. Homeless priority needs proof. |
| AHVP | Provides state vouchers for some non-elderly people with disabilities | Use the AHVP application guide | The person with a disability must be under 60 when found eligible, and household income must be at or below 80% AMI. |
| Section 8 | Uses a federal voucher to help pay rent | Read the Section 8 instructions | Many agencies have long waitlists, and some use separate applications. |
| Restricted apartments | Offers lower rent tied to a specific apartment | Search Housing Navigator listings | Apply to each property and follow its income, bedroom, and deadline rules. |
CHAMP and Section 8 are separate
CHAMP is the shared application for most state-aided public housing and state voucher programs. Section 8 is federal. Many Massachusetts housing authorities use the central Section 8 list, but some authorities or developments also keep separate lists.
Apply to both when they fit. ASMOM’s Section 8 guide explains common voucher steps, but the housing authority makes the decision.
Where to get local housing help
Housing offices serve different towns. Use statewide finders instead of calling a random agency that may not cover your address.
| Resource | What it can do | Best question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Consumer Education Center | Explains RAFT, housing search, tenant issues, and local programs | “Which agency handles my town and can someone check my application?” |
| Local housing authority | Handles local public housing and some federal programs | “Which lists are open, and do you use a separate application?” |
| Community Action Agency | May help with energy aid, budgeting, housing referrals, and local crisis programs | “Which housing and utility programs serve my ZIP code?” |
| Mass 211 | Connects callers to shelters, food, legal aid, and local nonprofits | “Which family housing services are open near me today?” |
The state’s housing authority list gives local office details. Its Community Action list helps you find the correct regional agency. ASMOM’s Community Action guide explains what these agencies may offer.
Utility help that may protect housing
A large heating or electric bill can lead to a housing crisis. Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance, also called HEAP or LIHEAP, pays part of eligible winter heating costs. The current HEAP page says the online application opens October 1 for the heating season that runs November 1 through April 30.
As of July 14, 2026, the heating-season application is closed. You can still ask your utility about a payment plan, discount rate, shutoff protections, and other help on the state’s utility bill page. A shutoff notice can also support a RAFT application when the other rules are met.
Use ASMOM’s Massachusetts utility guide and the LIHEAP help guide for related next steps.
Eviction, voucher, and fair housing rights
A Massachusetts landlord cannot legally remove you by changing the locks, throwing out your belongings, or shutting off services to force you out. A court order is required. A Notice to Quit is an early step, not an order that you must leave on the date printed on it.
The Legal Resource Finder can connect you with free or low-cost legal services. The state also lists eviction legal services that may offer information, mediation, or limited representation.
Massachusetts fair housing law protects people from several kinds of housing discrimination, including discrimination based on family status, disability, and source of income. A landlord or agent may break the law by refusing to deal with a qualified applicant only because the person uses Section 8, RAFT, or another housing subsidy. Review the state fair housing page and ask for legal help before giving up the unit.
ASMOM’s Massachusetts legal guide lists more routes. For abuse-related housing problems, the domestic violence guide offers safety-aware national resources.
Documents to gather
| Document | Why it may be needed | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Identity records | Shows who is applying | State ID, license, passport, birth certificate |
| Household records | Shows children, pregnancy, or household members | Birth records, school records, pregnancy letter |
| Income proof | Checks program income limits | Pay stubs, benefit letters, child support, unemployment, self-employment records |
| Housing proof | Shows where and how you live | Lease, tenancy agreement, rent ledger, mortgage statement |
| Crisis proof | Shows the urgent housing problem | Notice to Quit, court papers, shutoff notice, foreclosure notice, unsafe housing record |
| Application records | Helps track calls and missing items | Case number, screenshots, letters, email, call log |
Keep safe copies
Save clear photos or scans and keep originals. When safety is a concern, use an email address or storage place that another person cannot access.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying to only one list. State public housing, state vouchers, Section 8, and restricted apartments use different paths.
- Missing calls and mail. Update every application after a change of phone number, email, address, or household.
- Paying for a shortcut. No person can sell guaranteed public housing, a voucher, shelter placement, or RAFT approval.
- Ignoring court papers. A Notice to Quit is not a court order, but later papers can carry short deadlines.
- Using old income charts. Income limits change by year, location, household size, and program.
- Not asking for access help. Ask for an interpreter, disability accommodation, paper form, or application help when needed.
If housing help is denied or delayed
Ask for the decision in writing. Read the whole notice for the reason, missing documents, review or appeal rights, and deadline. Do not depend only on what someone says by phone.
- RAFT: Ask the regional agency whether the application is complete, whether the landlord section was filed, and what rule caused the denial.
- EA shelter: Ask whether you were found ineligible or eligible but waiting. These are different decisions.
- CHAMP or vouchers: Follow the written appeal instructions if priority, preference, disability, or eligibility was denied.
- Discrimination: Save messages, ads, and names. Ask legal aid or a fair housing office about the next step.
ASMOM’s denied benefits guide explains how to organize notices and calls. Keep a simple log with the date, office, worker, and next action.
Phone scripts
Call for family shelter
Hello, I am pregnant or have a child under 21, and we do not have a safe place to stay. I want to apply for EA family shelter. What proof do you need, and how will I know whether I am eligible or on the Contact List?
Call about RAFT
Hello, I applied for RAFT because of a housing crisis. My case number is [number]. Is my application complete? Has the landlord part been filed? What exact document or action is still needed?
Call a housing authority
Hello, I need long-term affordable housing. Which public housing, MRVP, AHVP, or Section 8 lists do you manage? Do you use CHAMP, the central Section 8 list, or a separate application?
Call legal aid
Hello, I received [a Notice to Quit, court papers, a voucher refusal, or a housing denial]. What deadline should I watch, and can your office help me understand my rights or find representation?
Resumen en español
Massachusetts tiene varios tipos de ayuda para vivienda. Si está embarazada o tiene hijos menores de 21 años y no tiene un lugar seguro, solicite el refugio familiar EA. Puede llamar al 866-584-0653 de lunes a viernes, de 8 a.m. a 5 p.m.
RAFT puede ayudar con una crisis de renta, hipoteca, servicios públicos o mudanza. El máximo actual es $7,000 durante un período móvil de 12 meses. Para ayuda a largo plazo, solicite vivienda pública, MRVP, AHVP, Sección 8 y apartamentos con renta limitada.
Guarde sus documentos, números de caso, correos y cartas. Si recibe una negación o papeles de desalojo, pida la decisión por escrito y busque ayuda legal lo antes posible.
FAQ
Can single mothers get emergency family shelter in Massachusetts?
Possibly. EA family shelter serves eligible pregnant people and families with children under 21 who meet income, household, residency, and housing-crisis rules. Limited space may lead to placement on the Contact List.
How much can Massachusetts RAFT provide?
RAFT can provide up to $7,000 per household in a rolling 12-month period. The approved amount depends on the housing crisis, documents, prior help, and current program rules.
Can I apply for CHAMP and Section 8 at the same time?
Yes. CHAMP covers most state public housing and state voucher applications. Section 8 is federal and uses separate waiting lists. Apply to both when you meet the rules.
Can a Massachusetts landlord refuse Section 8?
A housing provider may violate Massachusetts law by refusing a qualified applicant only because the applicant uses Section 8 or another lawful housing subsidy. Contact legal aid or a fair housing office.
What should I do after a housing denial?
Ask for the written decision, read the reason and deadline, gather missing proof, and follow the appeal instructions. Legal aid may help with shelter, eviction, disability, or discrimination issues.
Is Massachusetts HEAP open now?
No. As of July 14, 2026, the winter heating application is closed. The state says the online application opens October 1 for the season running November 1 through April 30.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 14, 2026, next review October 14, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.