SNO Mass - Metro Housing Boston

Housing Services

SNO Mass Housing Mobility Program

Supporting Neighborhood Opportunity in Massachusetts (SNO Mass) supports families with school-aged children to use their Housing Choice Vouchers to move to communities that offer greater opportunity. These communities have higher quality schools, parks and open space, and safer, healthier environments overall.

SNO Mass provides a range of supports to help participating families to access and attain residential stability in higher opportunity neighborhoods — locations with high-performing schools, low poverty rates, and environments that have demonstrated positive health and well-being outcomes for children and adults.

Neighborhood Matters

It has a BIG impact on your family.
It can influence your family’s health, the quality of your child’s education, their future income and quality of life.

It is a BIG decision.
You shouldn’t have to rush into taking any apartment just because it is available. It has to be the right place for your family. We will provide you with one-on-one counseling, tailored to your needs, to help you make an informed decision.

You have CHOICES.
SNO Mass can help you with the choices that matter most to you and your family

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the SNO Mass program you must:

Be a Metro Housing or LHAND federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher participant
Have at least one child in your household under the age of 18
Be in good standing with your landlord and voucher provider (Metro Housing or LHAND)

Benefits of the SNO Mass Program

Dedicated counselors that provide you with helpful information to use when deciding whether to move and, if so, to which community that is best for your family.

Pre-move housing search help connects you to available landlords and units.

Financial Assistance is available to help with moving costs, security deposits, and other fees, such as children’s sports and other activities.

Post-move counseling is there to support you in your new neighborhood.

Information for Landlords

Why Rent to a SNO Mass Family?

Helping a family have a better future
While we know that property owners are in the business to make a return on their investment, an ancillary benefit of renting to a SNOMass family is that the landlord is helping a family with children have a chance for a better life.
You could help a child become a doctor, lawyer or even president.

Rent guaranteed even in economic downturns

Voucher holders pay only 30% of their income towards rent and the rest is paid by Metro; if their income decreases, the portion that Metro pays goes up.
Voucher holders therefore are a safe bet irrespective of their income or credit.
SNOMass rent ranges are more generous than a typical rent range for voucher holders to allow them to enter high-cost neighborhoods.

SNOMass Staff Serve as Liaisons during the leasing process and for two years after

We return phone calls and emails within 24 hours. We help collect and review all paperwork.
We remain a point of contact for two years after leasing up if any concerns arise.

Expedited leasing processes

Metro will schedule inspections within one business day of after the property owner submits the request to rent to the SNO Mass applicant.
Metro will then complete the inspection within 3 business days if the unit is available for inspection or within 3 business days of the date of availability.
If the unit passes inspection, Metro will then be ready for leasing within 24 hours.

Signing bonus for the landlord/property owner – A property owner who rents to a SNO Mass family is entitled to a $1000 bonus; $500 is awarded at lease execution and the remaining $500 is awarded at the one-year mark if:

The landlord renews the lease with the original SNO Mass family, or
The landlord rents to a different SNO Mass family, or
The family moves out and there is damage more than any security deposit.

What is a high opportunity area?

SNO Mass high opportunity areas are neighborhoods that have educational, health, and socioeconomic benefits for your family:

High-quality public schools
Parks and green spaces
Supermarkets with healthy food options
Low poverty rates
High employment rates

The SNO Mass team will provide custom housing search and support to help determine which opportunity areas are best for your family.

Click the map below to see a larger view of Metro Housing and LHAND’s opportunity communities.

How will SNO Mass help you to move to a high opportunity area?

SNO Mass provides Special Supports to families who choose to move to a high opportunity area:

Help with housing search
Apartment listings in opportunity areas
Potentially higher voucher value
Information on schools and assistance with transfers
Financial assistance, such as moving costs and security deposits, before and after you move

The SNO Mass team will continue to support you after your move to assist with the transition into your new community.

Providing assistance in locating resources and services in your new community.
Trouble-shooting any issues that might arise.

SNO Mass Interest Form

Name
First Last
Email Address
Email Confirm Email
Address
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code
Phone Number
What is your preferred language?
Why are you interested in the program?

Community Profiles

The following are the opportunity communities that are open to Metro Housing and LHAND Section 8 participants. To learn about each community, click on the link below for the specific community profile.

Please note that the communities marked with an asterisk (*) are only partially eligible. Be sure to check with your SNOMass counselor regarding the eligibility of your future home.