Earlier this month, The Boston Foundation and the MassINC Polling Group released Voices of Experience: What Works, What Frustrates, and What to Do to Strengthen the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. The report draws on surveys, interviews, and focus groups with MRVP tenants and landlords across Massachusetts. It was developed in partnership with United Way of Massachusetts Bay, CHAPA, Metro Housing|Boston, the Regional Housing Network, BAMSI, and La Colaborativa, with support from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).
The report confirms that the MRVP plays a vital role in promoting housing stability, supporting employment, and ensuring consistent rental income for landlords. At the same time, it identifies opportunities to improve the program’s effectiveness by addressing administrative challenges. Participants and landlords noted areas where clearer communication, more timely processing, and better access to support could make a meaningful difference. While many participants benefit from the program, some continue to face difficulty affording their rent share or achieving long-term financial security. The report recommends building on MRVP’s strengths by codifying and expanding the program, improving agency responsiveness, enhancing outreach and education efforts, and removing barriers to economic mobility for participants.
Read the full report here