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Homeownership Program

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Program Information

The Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program provides housing assistance payments on behalf of Section 8 participants who wish to move out of the rental market into homeownership.

Eligibility
Current Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) holders that have been with the Worcester Housing Authority for at least one year and who are currently enrolled in the WHA Family Self-Sufficiency program are eligible to participate in the homeownership program.

Additional eligibility requirements:
    - First-time homeowner or cooperative member.
    - No family member has owned or had ownership interest in their residence for at least three years.
    - Except for cooperative members, no member of the family has any ownership interest in any residential property.
    - Minimum income requirement:
    - Except in the case of disabled families, the qualified annual income of the adult family members who will own the home must not be less than the Federal minimum hourly wage multiplied by 2,000 hours.
    - For disabled families, the qualified annual income of the adult family members who will own the home must not be less than the monthly Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit for an individual living alone multiplied by 12.
    - Except in the case of an elderly or disabled family, welfare assistance is not counted in determining whether the family meets the minimum income requirement.
    - Employment requirement:
    - Except in the case of elderly and disabled families, one or more adults in the family who will own the home is currently employed on a full-time basis and has been continuously employed on a full-time basis for at least one year before commencement of homeownership assistance.
    - Homeownership counseling: The family must attend and satisfactorily complete a pre-assistance homeownership and housing counseling program.

Frequently Asked Questions:


How does the WHA Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership program work?
The Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program works in much the same way as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, however, instead of using the voucher subsidy going toward rental payments, the voucher will be used toward monthly homeownership expenses.

Homeownership expenses are:

    - Mortgage principal and interest

    - Mortgage insurance premium

    - Real estate taxes and homeowner insurance

    - WHA allowance for utilities

    - WHA allowance for routine maintenance costs

    - WHA allowance for major repairs and replacements

    - Principal and interest on debt to finance major repairs and replacements for the home

    - Principal and interest on debt to finance costs to make the home accessible for a family member with disabilities if the PHA determines it is needed as a reasonable accommodation.

How much does the WHA pay?
The WHA makes monthly Homeownership Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) which is the lesser of:

    - The Payment Standard minus the Total Tenant Payment (TTP) or
    - Monthly homeownership expenses minus Total Tenant Payment (TTP)
What is the family's share?
The family pays a minimum of 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income to pay homeownership expenses. It is recommended that the family does not exceed 40 percent. Any homeownership expenses not covered by the HAP are the responsibility of the family.


What is the maximum term of assistance provided by the WHA Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program?
The maximum term of assistance for a non-disabled/elderly household is:

10 years for a 15-year mortgage
15 years for a 20+ year mortgage
*Note: There is no maximum term of assistance for disabled and elderly households


If you are interested in joining or have further questions, please contact us at:

Worcester Housing Authority
Kelly Dolan
Phone: (508) 635-3271
Office: 34 Great Brook Valley Avenue, Suite 2
Email: Dolan@worcesterha.org


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Worcester Housing Authority
630A Plantation Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Phone: 508-635-3000
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM