Help is a few clicks away

At Way Finders, our goal is to help you find and secure stable housing for you and your family. Please read the sections below to learn about important programs that can help.

Get help with overdue rent and utilities from the RAFT program

The Commonwealth’s Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program helps keep households in stable housing when faced with eviction, loss of utilities, foreclosure, and other housing emergencies.

  • RAFT provides qualifying households with up to $7,000 per household in a 12-month period to preserve current housing or move to new housing. RAFT can cover overdue utilities, moving costs, and overdue rent or mortgage payments.
  • RAFT requires an application from both the tenant or homeowner, and landlord. For other emergency needs such as overdue utilities or moving costs, only the household must apply.

You must apply online here: Apply for RAFT (emergency help for housing costs) | Mass.gov

If you are a tenant or homeowner who needs assistance with this application, please visit one of our Housing Centers, or call 413-233-1600. Please understand that overwhelming demand means it can take time to reach us.

Already applied for RAFT? Check the status of your RAFT application online

Avoid the lines at our Housing Centers and waiting on hold when you call by checking your RAFT application status yourself! Massachusetts has created a RAFT portal for all applicants to use. Ready to learn more and check your status?

Click here

Housing subsidies: learn more and apply

There are two rental housing subsidy programs available to those in need of housing assistance. These programs can pay some or all of your rent, depending on your family income. Learn more about them below.

Section 8

Section 8, or the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants can find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments.

As of January 13, 2025, the Massachusetts EOHLC has closed the waiting list for the Section 8 program until further notice. 

If you applied before this date, you may contact Way Finders at 413-233-1510 to confirm your Section 8 waitlist status, or you may email your questions to rentalsupport@wayfinders.org. Due to high demand, it will take time for a representative to respond to your inquiry.

Keep your address up to date with us

Use this Change of Address form to submit a change in your address, telephone number, or email address. Bring it or mail it to a Way Finders Housing Center or email it to rentalsupport@wayfinders.org. Failure to submit a change of address or change in contact information may result in your application being removed from the wait list. You will be notified by mail within 30-60 days of receipt that the change has been processed. If you have changed your name, you will need to contact a Way Finders representative at 413-233-1510.

We offer assistance to anyone seeking help with applying for Section 8 or MRVP. Visit one of our Housing Centers for individual assistance.

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)

The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, or MRVP, is like Section 8 but it is provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, not the federal government.

MRVP is a rental voucher that helps you pay your rent. There are two types of vouchers: project-based vouchers, which are tied to specific housing units, and mobile or tenant-based vouchers, which can travel with you to new locations in Massachusetts.

For either voucher, you will pay at least 30% of your net monthly income towards rent. High demand for MRVP means that all eligible households will be placed on a waiting list for available vouchers.

To learn more about applying for MRVP, visit this link: Apply for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) | Mass.gov

Keep your address up to date with the state of Massachusetts

Make sure you don’t lose your spot on the waiting list if you move! Visit this website to log in and change your address on your MRVP application.

We offer assistance to anyone seeking help with applying for Section 8 or MRVP. Visit one of our Housing Centers for individual assistance.

 

Have a housing subsidy? Learn more about saving for a home purchase, moving to a higher income town, or getting a better job!

For Section 8 subsidy holders

Family Self Sufficiency Program

Did you know that families receiving Section 8 vouchers through Way Finders can earn up to $25,000 to use to purchase their first home, buy a car, or further their education?

Way Finders Family Self Sufficiency program (FSS) will match money saved by participating families, up to $4,000 per year for a $12,000 max. Upon graduation from the program, the family’s savings and matching funds are released to be used towards purchasing a home, starting a business, and more.

Learn more

SNO Mass

Did you know that if you have a Section 8 housing choice voucher and school-aged children in your household, you can work with Way Finders to move to communities that offer greater opportunities like higher quality schools, parks and open space, and safer, healthier environments overall? That’s the goal of the Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity in Massachusetts (SNO Mass) program. Benefits of this program include:

  • Dedicated counselors that help you identify your family’s needs and preferences.
  • Pre-move counseling that connects you to available landlords and units.
  • Financial Assistance to help with moving costs, security deposits, and other fees.
  • Post-move counseling to support you in your new neighborhood.

Learn more

For MRVP subsidy holders

Self Sufficiency Program

Way Finders’ Self Sufficiency Program (SSP) works with MRVP voucher holders to increase their income through employment opportunities or furthering their education. As household income increases, which causes an increase in the share of rent, the difference between the prior rent and the new rent is set aside in an escrow account. Rather than losing subsidy support by increasing their income, families save the difference for use in the future.

SSP Participants have used the program save up to $15,000 toward the purchase of a car, to further their education, or pursue home ownership.

Learn more

Mass Career Pathway

Mass Career Pathways is a program that provides employment support to Way Finders’ Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program holders. Way Finders refers households to this program. The goal is for families to access higher-paying jobs and increase family self-sufficiency through education and training resources like:

  • Preparation and guidance for job interviews
  • Support to look beyond initial employment by focusing on a career
  • Job readiness preparation
  • Career Exploration – Employment search support
  • Resume and Cover Letter Writing support

Learn more

Experiencing housing discrimination?

Housing discrimination is a pervasive problem that affects renters and homebuyers across the country, despite being illegal under both state and federal law. All renters, landlords, homebuyers, and sellers should know that it is always against the law to deny anyone housing based on:

  • Race
  • Receipt of public assistance, housing subsidies or rental assistance – including Section 8 housing assistance.

In almost all instances, it is also against the law to deny anyone housing based on:

  • Color
  • Sex (may include victims of domestic violence)
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Presence of minor children in household (especially families with children under age six if the property was built before 1978 and has no proof of lead compliance)
  • Disability (mental/physical)
  • Marital status
  • Age
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity and expression
  • Military or veteran status
  • Ancestry
  • Genetic information

These are all categories of protected classes – people who are protected from discrimination by state or federal law. If you are not being discriminated against because of the above reasons, you are in an unprotected class or category.

What does housing discrimination look like?

Typically, housing discrimination occurs when a member of an unprotected class is treated more favorably than a member of a protected class. Is it discrimination to choose a white tenant with a good rental history over a tenant of color with a problematic rental history? No. Is it discrimination if the white tenant has a problematic rental history and is chosen over the tenant of color with a good rental history? Yes. Fair housing laws are meant to ensure that all tenants are held to the same standard.

This is a short summary of some kinds of housing discrimination. For more in-depth information, visit the Fair Housing Law page of this website.

If you believe you may be experiencing illegal housing discrimination, contact the Way Finders Fair Housing Information Program.

Phone: 413-233-1609
Email: fairhousing@wayfinders.org