Belchertown, PA

ALERT
PUBLIC NOTICE

 In an effort to mitigate potential exposure of the Corona virus we would like to encourage everyone to attempt to conduct business with the Housing Authority electronically. In the best interest of our residents and our staff, our offices have been closed to the general public. While our offices are closed we are still working and still available to our residents. We encourage everyone to contact us via email or phone in lieu of coming into the office. We would also like to encourage documentation and rental payments to either be sent to our office via the mail, email, fax, or be dropped in the black drop box installed on the exterior of our office building. Thank you for your cooperation during this time, and we apologize for any inconvenience. 

The Belchertown Housing Authority (BHA) was established on February 26, 1969 under Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 121b. We are a non-profit organization which is managed by an Executive Director, who is appointed by the town elected Board of Commissioners. We operate according to the policies of the Belchertown Housing Authority (BHA), as well as the guidelines and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). We offer three different types of public housing programs: Elderly (667), Disabled (689), and Family (705). These programs are subsidized by the Commonwealth; we do not receive Federal funding.  Eligibility for housing is based on age, disability, family size, and income. Prospective tenants are thoroughly screened for qualification, including background checks, criminal history, as well as personal and prior landlord references. Applicants must be 60 years of age or older to be eligible for elderly housing.  Disabled applicants need to submit the doctors verification form for handicap/disabled status to be eligible for disabled housing. At this time the BHA is unable to participate in Section 8, MRVP, or any other voucher programs. Maximum income limits for our area are as follows:

Number of people in household	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Net income limit	$45,200	$51,650	$58,100	$64,550	$69,750	$74,900	$80,050	$85,250

These income limits are issued every two years, and the preceding table is effective as of March 2019.

       Units at Everett Ave., also known as Everett Acres, consist of 48, 1 bedroom apartment units for elderly/disabled living. Apartments are located on first and second floors. Each unit has a living room/kitchen combination, bedroom, and bathroom. On site parking is available but not assigned. The office building contains a coin operated laundry room and a community room, which has additional amenities for tenant use and can be reserved for private functions. There is on site maintenance and a 24 hour answering service. Tenants at Everett Acres pay 30% of their net monthly income for rent, which includes utilities such as heat, electricity, and trash pick up (but not cable/phone). Rents vary widely according to each tenant's income and allowable deductions.

   Family housing is located at both State Street and George Hannum Road. Each family apartment has a living room, kitchen/dining room combination, bedrooms, laundry room, full bath on the second floor, and a half bath on the first floor. Off street parking is available and trash pick up is included in the rent. At each location we have four 3 bedroom units, one 2 bedroom unit, one 4 bedroom unit, and one unit which is set aside for a disabled tenant and that is leased to the Department of Developmental Services. Tenants in family housing pay 27% of their net monthly income as rent, as their utilities such as heat and electricity are not included in the rent.

            Our East Walnut St. location contains four units that were originally designated and used for disabled housing.  We are currently in the process of renovations that will transfer this property into four two bedroom family units.