Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the hours operation for Brookline Housing Authority's main office?
Our office at 90 Longwood Avenue is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are closed on all legal holidays. All parking spaces in the 90 Longwood Street lot are assigned to either residents or staff. Street parking has a two-hour limit and the Brookline police do ticket.
Q. Are all waiting lists open?
Our 1, 2, & 3-bedroom family waiting lists are closed until further notice. The 4 & 5-bedroom family and the Family Accessible Apartment waiting list are open. Elderly/Disable BHA housing and Section 8 waiting lists remain open. Applications may be download from our "Download Forms" page for these waiting lists.
Q. How do I know if I am eligible to apply for housing and how do I apply?
The criteria for eligibility as well as the ability to download applications can be found on our Family Housing and Elderly/Disabled Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher pages. The BHA has the same application for State and Federal programs except for the Section 8 program which has its own application. Please call our application department at 617-277-1885 if you have any questions.
Q. How long is the wait for housing?
Unfortunately, the wait for housing may be lengthy. We have given suggestions on how to search for affordable housing on our Family and Elderly/Disabled Housing pages and listed agencies that provide assistance on our Helpful Resources page. The more applications that you submit, the better the chances you will have in finding affordable housing. Also, various housing programs have different eligibility requirements which you might qualify for.
Q. How is the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program different from Public Housing?
The Brookline Housing Authority owns and manages the units in Public Housing and must follow the rules and regulations of HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) or DHCD (Department of Housing and Community Development).
The Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers program is part of a Federally-funded, rent-subsidy program in which applicants find their own housing in the private sector. The wait for a voucher may also be lengthy, but there is MassNAHRO'sCentral Waiting List which allows an applicant to be eligible for vouchers from many different Massachusetts' towns. Since a voucher can be used throughout the country and in Puerto Rico, it doesn't matter from where the voucher is received.
To learn more about HCVs visit the HUD website and visit our Section 8 page.
Q. Are there any selection preferences and priorities?
Yes, BHA has the following preferences and priorities (all preferences and priorities must be documented when submitting the application and again, in some instances, before an apartment is offered):
- Resident Preference - The applicant lives or works in Brookline - utility bills in your name or pay stubs
- Veteran Preference - Veteran, spouse, surviving spouse, dependent parent or child, or divorced spouse
with a dependent child of the Veteran - Veteran's discharge or separation papers (form DD214) - Domestic Abuse - provide court or social service agency documentation
- Homelessness due to Natural Disaster or Public Action - appropriate documentation
Q. How do I know if my application has been accepted?
If your application is not complete or if we need more documentation, depending on the circumstances, we will either return your application or request that you provide additional documentation.
If your application is accepted, we will send you a receipt within 30 days with a Control Number. The receipt will inform you what program list(s) your name has been added to and how long we estimate the wait is before your name reaches the top of the list.
Q. What happens when an apartment in one of our developments is available for you?
When your name has been reached on the waiting list and we have an apartment available for you, our Application Department will contact you and ask you for updated documentation so that we may confirm that you are still eligible for the program. We will then do credit, CORI and landlord reference checks.
If you still qualify, one of our managers will make an appointment for you to view the apartment. At this time, we do not accept applications only for specific developments.
If you accept the unit, the manager will calculate your rent amount, require you to sign a lease and other documents, assign a parking space (if applicable and if available), give you a Resident Handbook, and go over other important items and services with you. This usually takes a few hours.
Q. What happens when a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is available for you?
When your name has been reached on the waiting list and we have a Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers available to be given out, our Application Department will contact you and ask you for updated documentation so that we may confirm that you are still eligible for the program. We will then do credit, CORI and landlord reference checks.
If you still qualify, you will be contacted by our Leased Housing Department to attend a Briefing Session at which you will be given the voucher and informed as to what you must do to utilize the voucher. These informative sessions often are two hours long.
Q. How is your rent determined?
Programs differ as to how the rent is calculated because some programs allow deductions for medical, dental, etc. and others do not. However, all programs base your rent on a percentage of your monthly adjusted income. Our Federal public housing programs have a minimum rent of $50.00 and a maximum rent that is adjusted annually.
Your rent portion under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher is figured is figured on your adjusted income and the city or town's rent payment standard. For more information you may go to the HUD HCV fact sheet web page.
Q. How long may I stay in public Housing or keep on a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher?
A resident is allowed to stay in public housing or retain a housing choice voucher without a time limit as long as he/she is not evicted for cause or for failure to pay rent and continues to meet the income eligibility requirements. The resident will not be required to move from public housing unless there is affordable housing available in the private market except when a violation of the terms of your lease or contract has occurred.
Q. Once my application is accepted, can it be removed from the waiting lists?
Yes, applications may be removed from the waiting list(s), including the Centralized Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher list if a bring-up-to-date letter sent out by the Brookline Housing Authority or NAHRO (Section 8) is not answered, an apartment offer is refused or a Section 8 briefing session is not attended. An applicant may ask that his/her name be removed from the waiting lists if he or she finds subsidized housing or no longer needs subsidized housing.
If you move, please notify Brookline Housing Authority's Application Department 90 Longwood Avenue in write. Make sure that you give us your Control Number or Social Security Number and your old and new addresses and phone numbers.
Q. Is there parking for residents in all developments?
All our developments have parking lots, but there is not always parking spaces available. If there is no parking space available at your development, we try to accommodate the resident at another development until a space becomes available at the development in which he/she live.