In accordance with 760 CMR 5.09(1)(d), the Housing Situation Priority Policy issued by EOHLC sets out the criteria to be used by the CSO to determine the priority to be granted to applicants claiming Housing Situation Priority. The CSO shall require the applicant to provide verification of the housing situation that was claimed on the application. If the applicant fails to respond to CSO's request or if the applicant fails to submit all documentation necessary to verify the Housing Situation Priority that was claimed on the application within the timeframe established by EOHLC guidance, then the application will be granted Priority 7 - Standard Applicant. If at any subsequent time the applicant submits verification of the previously claimed Housing Situation Priority, the CSO will grant the verified priority as of the date and time of the applicant's initial claim. If an applicant submits documentation that fails to verify any criteria of the claimed Housing Situation Priority, then the CSO shall deny the priority, grant the applicant Priority 7 - Standard Applicant, and inform the applicant of the right to appeal the determination pursuant to 760 CMR 5.13. An applicant may claim or delete an existing claim of Housing Situation Priority at any time. Any grant of a claimed priority by the CSO shall be made only after verification of the circumstances that meet the criteria for the priority as set out in the Housing Situation Priority Policy. Any change to an application's priority, including the grant or denial of a priority, that is made by the CSO shall affect the position of the application on the wait lists for the program for which the applicant is being considered at all LHAs that applicant has applied to in the Statewide Online Application System.

The Housing Situation Priority Policy shall be posted at all times on EOHLC's website at https://www.mass.gov/doc/housing-situation-priority-policy-for-cso/ download and in the LHA's administrative office where applications are received and shall be a public record.