HUD-assisted housing in Cambridge, MA

Cambridge has 5 HUD-assisted multifamily rental properties on file with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, providing a combined 246 federally-assisted apartment units. The list below mixes Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, Section 202 housing for the elderly, Section 811 housing for persons with disabilities, and other Project-Based programs administered by HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing.

Of the 5 properties in Cambridge, roughly 3 serve general families, 2 are designated for elderly households (typically age 62+), and 0 are designated for non-elderly households with disabilities. The largest community in the city is BRISTON ARMS at 237-239 GARDEN ST, with 73 assisted units operating under the HUD-Assisted Multifamily program.

How rent is calculated

At HUD-assisted properties in Cambridge, eligible tenants generally pay 30% of their adjusted monthly income toward rent and utilities. HUD pays the property the difference between that household contribution and the negotiated contract rent. Income limits are set annually by HUD based on the local Area Median Income (AMI) — most properties on this page accept Very Low Income households (50% AMI) and many also serve Extremely Low Income households (30% AMI).

How to apply for housing in Cambridge

Each property keeps its own waitlist, separate from your local Public Housing Agency’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher list. Practical steps:

• Call the on-site management number listed for each property below to ask whether the waitlist is open and how to apply.
• If most local waitlists are closed, also apply for a portable Housing Choice Voucher through the PHA serving Cambridge — see our step-by-step guide.
• Cast a wider net by checking nearby cities in Massachusetts — HUD vouchers are typically portable within the same metro area.
• Confirm what you may qualify for using our eligibility guide before you call.