Move to communities with greater opportunities for you and your family with SNO Mass

Neighborhood matters. It has a big impact on your family.  It can influence your family’s health, the quality of your child’s education, their future income, and quality of life.

Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity in Massachusetts (SNO Mass) helps families with school-aged children use their Housing Choice Vouchers to move to communities that offer greater opportunity. These communities have higher quality schools, parks and open space, and safer, healthier environments overall.

You shouldn’t have to rush into taking any apartment just because it is available. It must be the right place for your family. You have choices. SNO Mass can help you with the choices that matter most to you and your family.

SNO Mass is a collaborative program that works with tenants and property owners. This section is for tenants interested in learning more about the SNO Mass program. Landlords seeking information on joining the program, please click here.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the SNO Mass program you must:
• Be a Way Finders Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participant in good standing
• Have at least one child in your household under the age of 18
• Be living in a high poverty area, according to the Child Poverty Index report

Benefits of the SNO Mass Program

Way Finders works with you to help you find and secure housing in communities of opportunity. We provide SNO Mass participants with:
• Dedicated counselors that provide you with helpful information to consider your family’s needs and preferences.
• Pre-move counseling connects you to available landlords and units.
• Financial assistance to help with moving costs, security deposits, and other fees.
• Post-move counseling is there to support you in your new neighborhood.

What is a high opportunity area?

SNO Mass high opportunity areas are neighborhoods that have educational and health benefits for your family:
• High-quality public schools
• Parks and green spaces
• Supermarkets with healthy food options
• Low poverty rates
• High employment rates

Check out a map of current opportunity areas in western Mass here.

The SNO Mass team will provide custom housing search and support to help determine which opportunity areas are best for your family.

Curious to learn if an apartment you’re considering is in an opportunity area? Use this housing search tool to enter the address of the apartment you’re interested in, and you will find out if that building is in an opportunity area. Click here to use the tool.

Ready to learn more? Contact us!

Phone: 413-233-1620
Email: economicmobility@wayfinders.org