Housing

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Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Introduction

A person-centered housing plan is critical because housing is the foundation for your loved one to be able to live as independently as possible with the support needed to keep them safe, happy, and connected to their community. Before you begin exploring affordable housing opportunities, think about the level of care your loved one requires as a starting point to identify all housing options, resources, and funding available.  

Individuals (IDD) with high support needs require housing with full-time staff (24 hours/7 days a week), which is very different from housing where an individual requires part-time support for daily or weekly check-ins or help with specific activities of daily living.  While you don’t need home services or staff in place (or even fully identified) to be on a waitlist for a subsidized apartment, affordable housing is a path most easily suited for individuals with low or moderate support needs.  Regardless of the specifics of your situation, a good housing plan focuses on the individual while exploring various options.  

Housing and Support Needs – Learn More

Takeaway Tips

  • Housing is critical and must be person-centered  
  • Identify options, funding, and resources based on level of support needed  

Affordable Housing

There are many local, state, and federal affordable housing opportunities for people with disabilities, but waitlists to receive vouchers are long (between 5-12 years). Individuals should apply for affordable housing as soon as they are eligible at 18 years old. Individuals do not need home supports in place to be on a waitlist, and they can be on multiple waitlists at the same time, so apply for as many affordable housing programs as possible. 

Some vouchers are tenant-based, meaning the voucher stays with the individual and can be used for any available subsidized unit that meets the state’s standards regardless of location. Other vouchers are project-based, which means the voucher is tied to a specific housing unit. There also are private housing options where developers offer a percentage of their units to eligible applicants at affordable housing rates, which enables them to receive tax incentives. With so many different and varied housing opportunities, applying for everything and keeping track of it all can be daunting. Fortunately, the Housing Resources section includes some tools and shortcuts to make the application process more manageable.  

When completing the housing applications, select all the options that are relevant to the individual’s situation and the people who will be living with them. These factors may move the applicant higher up on the waitlist, such as living/attending school in the community to which they are applying for a project-based apartment, having a disability, being at-risk or currently homeless, living with caregivers who are elderly and/or veterans, etc.  

Make sure to keep applications updated, especially contact information. When a Housing Authority reaches out, respond quickly. If  they don’t hear back (in some cases within 48 hours), they may drop applicants from the waitlist and go to the next person in line!  

Takeaway Tips

  • Apply EARLY – as soon as the individual turns 18  
  • Apply OFTEN – Get on all housing waitlists  
  • Check off all factors that pertain to the individual 
  • Keep applications updated and check status regularly  
  • Reply ASAP to Housing Authority or they may lose their place in line  

Affordable Housing Resources

  • Housing Navigator Massachusetts: Helpful online tool that provides listings of current and upcoming affordable housing statewide, including lotteries. 

Housing Navigator site tips:  

  • You can filter the search for “rent based on income,” which means you pay a fixed percentage of your income on rent (usually 30%).  
  • You can use filters to narrow your search by location, number of bedrooms, etc. 
  • First Come/First Serve units are available for immediate occupancy, but you must act quickly! 
  • Lotteries list details of application deadlines and expected occupancy date, including those with short waitlists.
     
  • Home – CHAMP: The Common Housing Application for Mass Programs, which enables individuals to apply for state-aided public housing and state-funded rental vouchers across Massachusetts with one application. Not all communities use the Common Application, but many do, so it’s worth completing.
  • Find local affordable housing and other public housing sorted by town. In most cases, when applying  for affordable housing in a community where the individual is already a member (such as parents’ home), the applicant will move up the list. https://hedfuel.azurewebsites.net/ 
  • Autism Housing Pathways: This non-profit organization offers extensive information about affordable housing, housing options and how to complete the applications, as well as monthly meetups for 1:1 help with completing applications. 
  • handout-Finding-Home-A-Guide-to-Help-You-Find-and-Keep-Housing.pdf Updated in April 2025, this lengthy, comprehensive guide provides assistance and worksheets for organizing the search for affordable housing and identifying resources to help in the search among other things. 
  • The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) for people with a disability under 60 years old. The program offers one-bedroom units for 30% of income and accepts the CHAMPS application. For more about AHVP: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-the-alternative-housing-voucher-program-ahvp 
  • The Mass Rental Voucher Program offers tenant-based and project-based vouchers for people of all ages and those with disabilities: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-the-massachusetts-rental-voucher-program-mrvp 
  • Section 8 or Housing Choice Voucher Program https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-the-section-8-housing-choice-vouchers-program-hcvp 
  • Need accommodations within family home for an individual with a disability?  Look into the home modification loan program   https://www.mass.gov/home-modification-loan-program-hmlp 

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)?

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are residential living spaces located on the same lot as another single-family home. They can offer an independent living option for adults with special needs and help them live at home longer. 

ADUs can be…

  • Inside an existing home (e.g. converting a basement into an apartment)  
  • An attachment to the primary home as an addition   
  • Completely detached (e.g. a cottage or converted garage in a backyard)  

Financing an ADU

  • Funding for ADUs is available through the state’s Home Modification Loan Program, which provides zero interest financing up to $50k for those eligible. Find out if you are eligible.   
  • The loan is paid back when the house is sold or transferred.  

Additional Resources

 

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