Housing Resources for Individuals & Families
As new programs, funding opportunities, and community resources become available, we will continue to update this page with information to help individuals, families, older adults, and caregivers navigate their housing options.
Here you’ll find links to the JFS Home-Share Program, information about the Massachusetts Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) initiative, guidance on applying for RAFT and public housing, and other local, state, and nonprofit housing resources designed to support housing stability and expand affordable housing opportunities.
JFS Home-Share – A Creative Affordable Housing Solution for Older Adults
- Introducing JFS of Metrowest’s Home-Share Program!
- JFS Home-Share: Innovative Housing Solution That Connects Older Adults & Prevents Homelessness (video)
- Senior citizens are moving in together to make ends meet (video, CBS Mornings)
- Growing number of older Americans choose to live with roommates (video, CBS Mornings)
- More news and information about JFS Home-Share
- To express interest in participating in this program, click here and complete this form
Massachusetts Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) initiative – Helping Homeowners Create Small, Independent Homes on Their Property for Rent or Home-Sharing
- MassHousing Announces New Accessory Dwelling Unit Construction Loan Program – Second mortgages of up to $250,000 will help low- and moderate-income homeowners add an additional unit to their home (January 14, 2026, masshousing.com)
- Massachusetts ADU Resource Center
- Boston goes big on little homes: ADU event aims to spur homeowners to build (May 12, 2026, WGBH.org)
- Mass Clean Energy Center – Mass CEC has a very comprehensive website with many resources for learning more about ADU including calculating financial feasibility. This is really the best overall Massachusetts ADU web resource. Some of the resources are for a Western Mass pilot program but most of the resources are statewide.https://goclean.masscec.com/adu/resources/
- Backyard ADU – Backyard ADUs is company that builds modular ADUs in Massachusetts and Maine and has a lot of resources on their website including recorded webinars.
- Mass Housing Partnership ADU Incentive program – The Mass Housing Partnership is launching a statewide program to enable homeowners to assess the feasibility of building an accessory dwelling unit
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (Mass HLC) – Mass HLC has a resource page with the state regulations on “by right” ADUs and other explanatory resources.
- Mass ADU Design Challenge – Recently Governor Healey sponsored an ADU design challenge that highlighted innovative ADU designs
RAFT (emergency help for housing costs) – The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program provides short-term emergency funding to help you with eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies.
State-funded public housing – There are 41,500 public housing apartments for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and families. These units rent for much less than the average apartment.
- Click here to learn how to apply for state-funded public housing
- CHAMP (Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs)
Emergency Shelters
- Emergency Housing Assistance – Massachusetts individuals and families seeking emergency housing will find shelter programs and related services here. Families already living in shelter will also find related program information here.
- SMOC – South Middlesex Opportunity Council
- Family Promise Metrowest
HomeBASE – HomeBASE helps families who are eligible for Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter find stable housing.