Public Housing
Affordable Housing for Those in Need
The Fitchburg Housing Authority has hundreds of units of both family and elderly public housing for eligible low and moderate -income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
The FHA has housing options that range from scattered single family houses, townhouse style buildings to high-rise apartments.
Essentially, public housing is low-rent housing for eligible families, the elderly, and people with disabilities who meet the income guidelines and eligibility qualifications.
Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals, whose adjusted incomes are at or below 80% of median income in the community.
Public housing residents pay between 27% - 32% of their total income toward rent.
How to Apply for Public Housing
Applications for public housing can be obtained at the FHA’s main office at 50 Day Street, Fitchburg or you may download the application from the link below, but you must mail or bring the completed application physically to the office.
If you are disabled and need some assistance in completing applications for housing, or need some other accommodations in the application process, please tell us.
You can now apply online directly through the Department of Housing and Development website
Print out a paper copy or view the CHAMP Stated Aided Public Housing application
Print out a paper copy or view the CHAMP State Aided Public Housing application Spanish
Determining if You are Eligible for Public Housing
Many factors are used to determine if someone is eligible for public housing or not. An applicant’s income, criminal history, past rental history, eviction records, ability to pay rent and maintain a clean and healthy home are all taken into consideration.
The Authority may deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the project's environment, however, reasonable accommodations are available if a poor rental history is directly related to the applicant’s disabling condition.
The Elderly and Non-Elderly Disabled Status
Persons who are at least sixty (60) years of age are considered elderly.
Non-elderly low income persons with one or more physical or mental impairments may be found eligible if the impairment is considered to be long and of a continued duration; and if the private market is unavailable to provide the applicant with the necessary special architectural design features and forces him or her to live in substandard housing and/or pay excessive rents.
Determining Veteran Status
Persons who can document that they are veterans will receive priority status for public housing.
Handicapped Status
If you are disabled and need some assistance in completing applications for housing, or need some other accommodations in the application process, please tell us.
For our senior housing properties 13.5% of all units must be set-aside for non-elderly disabled.
Verification of Handicapped Status for State-Aided Elderly/Handicapped Housing
Verification of Severe Medical Condition [needed only if you claim this priority for emergency housing]
If You Have a Housing Emergency
If you are disabled and need some assistance in completing applications for housing, or need some other accommodations in the application process, please tell us.
Checklist of Required Verification Documents for Housing Situation Emergency Priority Status
Housing Search form [needed only for emergency housing applicants]
Other public housing forms and translated forms
Checking the Status of Your Application
The waiting time to begin the screening or final eligibility process varies from 10 weeks to over five years from your date of application, depending on the number of bedrooms and type of unit your household requires, your priority and preference points, and the number of units at the communities you have selected.
When requesting status information, it must be in writing which includes your full name, address, phone number and last four digits of your social security number and you will need to produce a picture identification.
If you are mailing your status request please include a copy of your picture identification.
It is impossible to identify what number families rank on the waiting lists as this number may vary daily.
Therefore, we may only provide a rough estimate of when a family might be selected for the final eligibility screening process.
Updating Your Application
You are required to inform the housing authority in writing of any change that may affect the status of your application. Changes can include:
- Address
- Telephone number
- Household composition
- Section 8/Leased Housing priority and/or preferences
- Public Housing priority and/or preferences
- Reasonable Accommodation needs
You can make these and other changes to your application in the CHAMP system.
Appealing FHA Decisions & Your Appeal Rights
If an applicant is determined not eligible for the claimed priority, preference or housing, the applicant has the right to file an appeal.
Other Forms for Public Housing Applicants
Instructions for Emergency Applications