CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center released its first research report, Shaping Action: Findings on Use of Housing Choice Vouchers, today. The report is the first statewide and regional analysis in Massachusetts or elsewhere, using analyses provided by NYU’s Furman Center.
For more than 50 years, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program–often referred to as Section 8–has been our country’s largest rental assistance program. As of September 2025, more than 92,000 Massachusetts households rely on HCVs. However, funding uncertainty and potential changes to the program, like time limits and work requirements, have threatened the stability of HCVs.
This report shows the program’s direct impact in addressing our state’s housing affordability challenges, promoting housing access and choice across the state, and easing the burden for many households with very low incomes, including working families.
Major Findings:
- 9.2% of all Massachusetts renter households rely on an HCV, compared to 5.6% nationally.
- HCVs are distributed throughout the state rather than concentrated in Boston—only 18% of mobile vouchers are used in the city.
- Mobile voucher holders are less likely to live in a high-poverty area than households in project-based units.
- Older adults and persons with disabilities head the majority of HCV households.
- Length of time in the program exceeds national numbers.
- The majority of “work-able” households are working; however, a not insignificant number show no reported wage income.
Read the full report on our website. Missed the webinar? Watch it in full on YouTube or view the slides.