Reports

Shaping Action: Findings on Use of Housing Choice Vouchers is the first statewide and regional analysis in Massachusetts or elsewhere, written by CHAPA’s Housing Policy Action Center using analyses provided by NYU’s Furman Center.

For more than 50 years, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program–often referred to as Section 8–has been our country’s largest rental assistance program. As of September 2025, more than 92,000 Massachusetts households rely on HCVs. However, funding uncertainty and potential changes to the program, like time limits and work requirements, have threatened the stability of HCVs.

This report shows the program’s direct impact in addressing our state’s housing affordability challenges, promoting housing access and choice across the state, and easing the burden for many households with very low incomes, including working families.