Massachusetts Section 8 Calculator & Housing Authority Guide (2026)

How Section 8 Operates in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency & HUD Regional Office

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs across Massachusetts are operated locally by county and municipal Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) under statutory regulations and funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Source of Income Protections & Tenant Rights

Voucher holders in Massachusetts are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. In addition, federally funded housing developments cannot deny eligible applicants because they hold a Section 8 voucher.

Fair Market Rents & Voucher Payment Standards

HUD calculates annual Fair Market Rents (FMRs) and Area Median Income (AMI) limits for every county and metropolitan area in Massachusetts. Local PHAs set voucher payment standards—typically between 90% and 110% of HUD FMRs—to establish maximum subsidy amounts.

Without extra HUD approval, a payment standard is usually any amount from 90% up to 110% of the published Fair Market Rent for that unit size (24 CFR 982.503). Enter your PHA’s written dollar amount in the calculator; otherwise we use 100% of FMR as a stand-in.

How HAP is calculated · Pay by bedroom size