MASSACHUSETTS

RENTAL VOUCHER
PROGRAM (MRVP)
MRVP provides housing support to low-income
households by providing rental assistance to
families in both publicly and privately owned
housing.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE HOUSING OPTIONS?
Privately owned, or a tenant based voucher
is valid for any housing unit that meets
safety and health standards.
Publicly owned, or project based vouchers,
are for specific housing units or a housing
development. If you receive a project based
voucher and decide to move from your
place of residence, your voucher does not
follow with you and you forfeit the
subsidy.

HOW IT WORKS
The tenant based program offers a state
subsidy of a set amount. This amount is
determined by several factors such as
the tenant's income, household size and
geography. The participant pays the
difference between the value of the
voucher and what the landlord charges
for rent.The project based program
requires participants to pay 35% or 40%
of their adjusted gross income,
depending upon the utilities covered in
their rent.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, your household

income cannot exceed 80% of
Area Median Income. The MRVP
does not require documented
immigration status among
applicants.
HOW DO I APPLY?

You can contact any of the Department of

Housing and Community Development’s
agencies to request an application or you
can download the Massachusetts Rental
YOU CAN HELP US BY PROVIDING MEDICAL
Voucher Program application below and
SUPPORT, DAILYsubmit
NEEDS AND EDUCATION.
a completed application to any of
the regional agencies.

QUESTIONS?

CONTACT THE DIVISION OF RENTAL

ASSISTANCE AT (617) 573-1150

Mass.gov