Contact Cambridge Housing Authority
- Phone
- (617) 864-3020
- Office
- 362 Green Street, 3rd floor, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Website
- cambridge-housing.org
This is Cambridge Housing Authority in Massachusetts. Its central office lists Monday–Friday hours of 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. The waiting-list information line is (617) 499-7041; the main number handles general assistance. Call ahead for the service you need.
Official contact and visiting instructions · checked 2026-10-14VoucherMatch is not the housing authority and does not take applications or hold a waiting list. Applications, status checks and portal logins go through the office above.
Which housing process do you need?
Tenant-based voucher
Look for the tenant-based voucher option in CHA’s application instructions.
This is the route for assistance used in a qualifying private rental after issuance.
CHA housing program choices →A CHA-assisted apartment
Compare the family, elderly/disabled and single-room options before selecting lists.
Properties have different eligibility and bedroom requirements. A property-list entry is not a portable voucher.
Property programs and eligibility →City inclusionary rental housing
Use the City of Cambridge’s separate rental applicant pool.
Joining a CHA list does not enroll you in this city-run program.
City inclusionary rental program →Section 8 waiting list
We have not verified whether this voucher waiting list is open. Check the agency’s current notice for the specific program; an applicant login does not establish an opening. Call (617) 864-3020 and ask whether the Housing Choice Voucher list is open, when it last opened and how the next opening will be announced.
Choose your next step with Cambridge Housing Authority
Use CHA’s Massachusetts applicant instructions for the housing program you want. New applications, application updates and existing voucher forms are separate tasks.
Guidance review date: . Waiting-list status has its own check date above.
I need to apply
Start with CHA’s program instructions and follow its current application link. The pre-application portal lists the available choices and says to submit only one application. Save your confirmation; submitting it is not a housing offer.
I already applied
Use the applicant account login to check your record and report changes. CHA’s waiting-list information line is 617-499-7041. Keep the selected list and confirmation handy when asking about a status you do not understand.
I already receive CHA assistance
Follow the recertification notice sent by CHA. Its voucher-holder page links the recertification and interim-change forms, with a paper alternative for households unable to complete the online process. Your Leasing Officer can confirm which records and review cycle apply.
I want to move
Current participants must request a move and obtain their Leasing Officer’s approval. Project-based assistance is tied to a unit and has different transfer steps from a tenant-based voucher. Identify which type you have before giving notice or assuming assistance can follow you.
Check this agency’s rent rules before choosing a unit
CHA publishes separate 2026 Cambridge ZIP entries: for example, the two-bedroom standard is $4,211 in 02139 and $3,833 in 02140. For a unit outside Cambridge, its instructions point to the Greater Boston/BHA chart. Confirm the applicable date, voucher/unit size and utility allowance with your Leasing Officer. These schedule entries and the HUD benchmark below do not establish your personal subsidy or approve a landlord’s rent.
Before you apply or follow up
- Prepare household names, birth dates and income details before beginning. Keep the confirmation number; CHA’s application portal says duplicate applications are not accepted.
- Use the existing-record login for status checks. Save screenshots of the list name and any status you need help interpreting, without sharing them publicly.
- For recertification, work from the letter CHA sent you. Keep the requested documents and submission confirmation with that letter.
- For an apartment outside Cambridge, give your Leasing Officer the exact town and ZIP; the agency publishes different schedule instructions for those units.
A position or referral is not a move-in date
CHA explains that preferences can change waitlist positions. A “referred to owner” status means further property screening, not a guaranteed apartment. Contact the waiting-list line at (617) 499-7041 for your record. For an existing voucher case, contact the Leasing Officer named in your notice.
Section 8 income limits in Middlesex County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Middlesex County that is $85,700 a year for a family of four, about $7,140 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $164,600.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $36,000 | $60,000 | $96,000 |
| 2 people | $41,150 | $68,600 | $109,700 |
| 3 people | $46,300 | $77,150 | $123,400 |
| 4 people | $51,400 | $85,700 | $137,100 |
| 5 people | $55,550 | $92,600 | $148,100 |
| 6 people | $59,650 | $99,450 | $159,050 |
| 7 people | $63,750 | $106,300 | $170,050 |
| 8 people | $67,850 | $113,150 | $181,000 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. Federal rules generally require at least 75% of admissions from the waiting list each year to be extremely low income families. This does not predict selection or waiting time. For a family of four here, that threshold is $51,400 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the income limit is only one part of eligibility and does not guarantee admission.
Compare your household income with Section 8 limits and see how monthly income becomes an annual estimate.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area, huduser.gov.
HUD rent benchmarks in Middlesex County
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $2,440 | $2,196 to $2,684 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,518 | $2,266 to $2,770 |
| 2-bedroom | $3,008 | $2,707 to $3,309 |
| 3-bedroom | $3,584 | $3,226 to $3,942 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,953 | $3,558 to $4,348 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Middlesex County is $3,008. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $2,707 to $3,309, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
More housing help in Cambridge
Frequently asked questions
- What is the phone number for Cambridge Housing Authority?
- The main office number the agency lists for Cambridge Housing Authority is (617) 864-3020. The office is at 362 Green Street, 3rd floor, Cambridge, MA 02139. Contact details checked 2026-10-14; check the agency’s visiting instructions before traveling.
- Does Cambridge Housing Authority have Section 8?
- Yes. HUD reports that Cambridge Housing Authority administers 7,597 Housing Choice Vouchers.
- Is the Cambridge Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list open?
- We have not verified the current status of this list. Call (617) 864-3020 and ask whether the Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is open, when it last opened, and how openings are announced.
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Middlesex County?
- For FY2026, HUD's very low income limit in Middlesex County is $85,700 a year for a family of four. A household generally has to be at or below that line to qualify for a voucher, and most new vouchers go to households at or below the extremely low income limit.
- How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in Middlesex County?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Middlesex County is $3,008 a month, rent and utilities together. That is a county benchmark, not an adopted payment standard or your subsidy. Ask Cambridge Housing Authority for the schedule that applies to your program, address and bedroom size; ZIP-based schedules, exceptions and Moving to Work policies can differ. Your household calculation, tenant-paid utilities and the agency's rent review also matter.
Sources and review
Prepared by the VoucherMatch editorial team. Source review date: . Each waiting list has its own check date.
- Massachusetts office and waiting-list contact
- Program choices and applicant instructions
- Official online pre-application
- Existing application status sign-in
- Voucher-holder changes and move requests
- Cambridge and Greater Boston schedules
Follow the agency’s instructions and the deadlines on your own notice. Report a correction if a link or agency detail has changed.
All housing authorities in Massachusetts →
Program counts come from HUD’s directory; contact details use the dated agency sources above. HUD agency code MA003. Call ahead before you visit: offices move and hours change.