Housing Resources

Boston housing is expensive, difficult to find and the wait list for housing assistance seems to take forever. There are agencies available in Boston and the surrounding areas to help you access housing, answer your questions about housing options, help you understand your rights as a tenant, etc. Below is a list** of places to start with your housing concerns. All housing agencies listed below have Spanish options for callers.

**This list is not a complete and comprehensive list of all housing advocacy agencies in the greater Boston area, but will serve as a place to start with your housing questions and concerns.

Housing Resources

Greater Boston Legal Services

1-617-371-1234 or 1-800-323-3205

Offers information and representation in the following areas:

Eviction Defense
Expiring use/expiring section 8 cases
Representing tenants of foreclosed properties
Helping families access emergency shelters or who are threatened with eviction from shelters
Helping families obtain permanent affordable housing
Advocating for victims of abuse

ABCD - Action for Boston Community Development

1-617-348-6000

Safe and affordable housing counseling
Scattered site shelter services for approved families
Housing and homelessness prevention including:
- Educating tenants on rights and responsibilities
- Advocating for tenants in court
- Supporting tenants during mediation with landlords or property managers
Housing stabilization – case management for families just out of shelters
Housing search workshops

LARC - Legal Advocacy and Resources Center

1-617-603-1700 or 1-800-342-LAWS

Offers legal help for:

Cases of eviction
Landlord/ tenant issues
Public housing
Housing conditions/ problems
Foreclosure issues

Watch CDC - Housing Advocacy Clinic For Tenants

1-781-891-6689 ext. 203

Information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities including walking tenants through how to resolve housing issues
Offers resources and referrals
Offers trained advocates to help answer your questions regarding:
- Landlord conflict
- Eviction threat
- Need for renovation or weatherization
- Rent increases
- Apartment searches
- Poor living conditions
- Filling out public housing applications
- General housing concerns

Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership

www.mbhp.org

1-800-272-0990 or 617-859-0400

Rental assistance information and help with section 8 applications
Hoarding and sanitation initiatives for renters
Housing supports and homelessness programs
Fair housing facts and information
Housing consumer education center at 617-425-6700
Information and links to other community resources

To access Boston family shelter system, call the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCH) at 1-877-418-3308 to determine eligibility.

To access Boston domestic violence shelter resources, contact SafeLink at 1-877-785-2020 to determine eligibility.

To find a night-to-night shelter available to the public, call the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at 1-781-595-7570.

Community Benefits
(Health and Wellness)

Housing Resources