Moving to Work (MTW) Cambridge Housing Authority

General Information

The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) has 1,956 units of federally assisted conventional public housing, and administers a Section 8 program of more than 1,800 units. In addition, it operates a state-assisted public housing program of 785 units and a state leased-housing program of 340 units. CHA's MTW program began April 9, 1999.

Goals

• Preserving CHA’s current state and federal housing stock.
• Preserving and seeking to expand affordable housing in Cambridge.
• Better addressing local housing needs in locally determined ways.
• Securing additional permanent affordable housing in Cambridge.
• Assisting residents in moving off public assistance and increasing household income.

Agreement

	MTW Agreement
	MTW Agreement Amendment No.1
	MTW Agreement Amendment No.2
	MTW Agreement Amendment No.3

Rent Policies

• Implemented a comprehensive Rent Simplification program designed to change the nature of the business relationship between residents and CHA.
• Rent Simplification uses a Rent Schedule supported by Medical and Child Care Deduction Schedule.

Occupancy Policies

• Implement Elderly Former-Cambridge resident preference.
• Retain a Modified Income Diversified policy.
• Implement revised ceiling rents.
  

Self-sufficiency Policies

While mostly emphasizing its Economic Development and Supportive Services (EDSS) grant plan strategies, the CHA also has revised its Family Self-sufficiency Program, established tenant-based initiatives such as an employment advisory council, continued its youth-unemployment prevention program, the Work Force, and enhanced its Section 3 program.

Funding-related Issues

• Single fund budget for Section 8, operating subsidy, and Capital Fund with full flexibility.
• Budget submissions are consolidated, reflecting a single pool of assistance.
• The CHA has developed a budgeting process that emphasizes project-based budgeting and accounting in its conventional program and, to the extent possible, project-based assistance in leased housing.
• CHA established a Block Grant Fund to show and account for MTW activities and the extent of MTW activities.
• The CHA submits one consolidated Comprehensive Housing Plan and one Consolidated Annual Report for all of its federally assisted programs, in lieu of the QHWRA-required PHA plan and Comprehensive Grant Program annual plan.
• CHA has expanded its energy savings-related improvement program, performing as its own energy savings company (ESCo) and exploring the use of tax credits and mixed financing to compensate for declining federal capital improvement assistance.

Support