760 C.M.R. 5.09 – Selection Categories

(1) Priority Categories. The following priority categories shall be used in descending order in determining the order of tenant selection:
1. (a) 1st Priority. An otherwise eligible and qualified Homeless Applicant Displaced by Natural Forces, as defined in 760 CMR 5.03.
2. (b) 2nd Priority. An otherwise eligible and qualified Homeless Applicant Displaced by Public Action (Urban Renewal), as defined in 760 CMR 5.03.
3. (c) 3rd Priority. An otherwise eligible and qualified Homeless Applicant Displaced by Public Action (Sanitary Code Violations), as defined in 760 CMR 5.03.
4. (d) 4th Priority. Other Priority situations as described in the Housing Situation Priority Policy established by EOHLC pursuant to 760 CMR 5.11.
5. (e) 5th Priority. AHVP Participant an applicant, otherwise eligible and qualified, who is living in a non permanent, transitional housing subsidized by the AHVP.
6. (f) 6th Priority. Transfer for Good Cause.
7. (g) 7th Priority. Standard Applicant an applicant, otherwise eligible and qualified, who does not fit within any of the previous six priority categories.
(2) Preference Categories. In accordance with 760 CMR 5.05(4)(a) and apart from the affirmative action preference to be applied pursuant to 760 CMR 5.10(3), the following preferences shall be used in descending order within each of the priority categories in determining the order of tenant selection:
1. (a) Veteran. Any Veteran applying for Elderly/Disabled Housing receives this preference. A Veteran applying for Family Housing receives this preference in all St. 1948, c. 200 Units or, if the LHA has no St. 1948, c. 200 Units, in all St. 1966, c. 705 Units. In St. 1948, c. 200 and St. 1966, c. 705 Units the order of preference is as follows:
  1. 1. Veterans with service-connected disability;
  2. 2. families of deceased Veterans whose death was service connected; and
  3. 3. other Veterans.
2. (b) Local Resident. Any Local Resident applying for public housing receives this preference.
(3) Limit on Number of Priority Claims. An applicant may claim no more than two priority categories. EOHLC may, through guidance, specify additional circumstances in which an applicant may request to claim additional priority categories. For the purposes of this limitation on number of priority claims, subcategories of the 4th Priority contained in the Housing Situation Priority Policy issued by EOHLC in accordance with 760 CMR 11.00: Modernization and Development of State-aided Public Housing shall each count equally as distinct priorities. In the event that the CSO determines that a priority category claimed by an applicant is not the highest appropriate priority category for which an applicant is eligible, the CSO shall, with the consent of the applicant, revise the applicant's priority claim to the highest appropriate priority category.