SMOC subsidies provide rental assistance in Middlesex County, MA

Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) provides rental assistance to Middlesex County, MA residents who need help coming up with their full rent payments. SMOC rental assistance programs serve lower income individuals across 37 Middlesex County communities.

SMOC is one of the leading rental assistance programs throughout Middlesex County. The program focuses on helping lower income tenants become self-sufficient through long-term rent subsidies. The purpose is to bring stability to lower-income households who have struggled over the years to earn enough money to afford rent plus all the necessary utilities.

The primary tool utilized by SMOC to provide meaningful rental assistance is funding that is administered as part of the federal Section 8 program. Funding is passed through the agency to eligible families through the use of subsidies to cover a portion of the normal rent payments.

In order to benefit from rent subsidies, you must be accepted into the Mass Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). This means that your total household income cannot exceed 50% of the area median income in order to be accepted into the program.

While eligibility may be strict to ensure that only the most desperate households are able to receive funding, the benefits are generous. Once approved, you can expect to pay no more than 30 to 40% of your total monthly income towards rent. You’ll receive vouchers that cover the remainder of your rent.

If you represent a lower income household in need housing assistance in Middlesex County, MA then you may contact SMOC at 508-620-2335. Be prepared to answer a couple of initial screening questions, such as your total household income and family size.

Ultimately you will need to complete a full application and return it to the main office located at 7 Bishop St. in Framingham. There is a waiting list and you should be prepared for an extensive waiting before your application may be considered.

Even another may be a delay in receiving benefits, you can still benefit from speaking with the case manager and discussing steps that you may take to improve your current situation. There may even be referrals offered that can help you receive short-term rental assistance while you are waiting for a response to your application. Be sure to ask about referrals into any local rent-controlled apartments, since vacancies could give you a quicker source of aid.

The benefits offered through SMOC are a fantastic alternative to pricey rental assistance loans that must be repaid. If you can be patient enough to make it through the waiting list, you may be rewarded with permanent rental assistance in the form of subsidized rent vouchers.