How long is the Massachusetts Centralized Section 8 waiting list? (2015, foreclosures)

[ABC_123_XYZ]

I applied the day I turned 18 in 2009, and they sent me a receipt back saying that the wait list is 4-6 years. Now that more people have applied, is the wait list longer for me? or is the wait list for me still 4-6 years from 2009, so that would be anytime between 2013 and 2015.

[krystil_mist]

I've never heard of a centralized list. Each town has their own list, which means you'd apply at all of them. They go by priority, someone with the same priority as you would be behind you on the list, when they start accepting applications again, someone who's house just burned down and is in a shelter would go above you. Usually lists are closed for new applications for a few years at a time, to keep the list from getting too long. So if you keep checking every once in awhile a closed town's list might open and you can get on their list upping your odds.

[Beachcomber4]

I have a question. If a family is foreclosed on and gets evicted from their home do they get assistance in finding housing? Would they go to the top of the list for section 8?

[ABC_123_XYZ]

The Massachusetts Centralized Sextion 8 waiting list is one waiting list that is sorted differently by 80 individual housing authorities throughout Massachusetts. Applying to each individual town does not matter, it is only 1 main list that they will add you to... I happened to apply to my local Housing Authority.

[Carefully]

I still don't understand how you get to stay on that for life.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Doug1991

The Massachusetts Centralized Sextion 8 waiting list is one waiting list that is sorted differently by 80 individual housing authorities throughout Massachusetts. Applying to each individual town does not matter, it is only 1 main list that they will add you to... I happened to apply to my local Housing Authority.

True, and getting in depends on the town you are living in and how many vouchers they have. I do think it takes many years and you may never get in.

[krystil_mist]

beachcomber, I'm not sure about foreclosures, I think if you called your local community action they'd help you

doug, ok, when I did it, I sat at a community action office with a list of all the housing authorities and called individually. I asked if they were accepting applications, then had them mail them to me, and I had to fill them all out. then every few months or once a year, I had to call them all back to see where I was on their individual list. guess it's different now

[Beachcomber4]

@Krystil_mist. Thanks for the encouragement but I'm just curious how the system works. Fortunately we aren't in that situation but unfortunately it seems like many families are.

[seeriously]

Originally Posted by Doug1991

I applied the day I turned 18 in 2009, and they sent me a receipt back saying that the wait list is 4-6 years. Now that more people have applied, is the wait list longer for me? or is the wait list for me still 4-6 years from 2009, so that would be anytime between 2013 and 2015.

The day you turned 18? Shouldn't you have applied for college or vocation school? I mean... Section 8 is there for families who find themselves in trouble but right out of the gate??? At 18 you should be able to work 2 or 3 jobs, whatever it takes.

[massnative71]

Who knows the OP could be disabled or whatever. I do know that at 18 getting on Section 8 was the last thing on my mind.