1. What programs can I apply for in CHAMP?

Applicants can use CHAMP to apply for:

• State-aided public housing
• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
• Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)

2. What are the income limits for state-aided public housing, MRVP and AHVP?

• To be income eligible for state-aided public housing and AHVP, your household income must be at or under roughly 80% of the Area Median Income. The income limits change periodically, so for current income limits, please visit the EOHLC website.
• To be income eligible for MRVP, you household income must be at or under 80% Area Median Income. The income limits change periodically, so for current income limits, please visit the MRVP website.

3. What about federally subsidized apartments and Section 8 vouchers? Can I use the CHAMP application?

The CHAMP application is currently only available for state-aided public housing, the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP). Please contact your local housing agency if you are interested in learning more about federally subsidized apartments and Section 8 vouchers.

4. How do I request a translator to help me apply using CHAMP?

Both the online and paper CHAMP applications are available in English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. To request a translator please contact your local housing agency.

5. I have a disability which makes it difficult for me to file a CHAMP application. How can I get some help?

Please contact any housing agency for help.

6. What if I want to apply using CHAMP online but I have to use a public computer?

Your online CHAMP application can be accessed using a smart phone (i.e. android or iPhone), tablet, or computer. If you are using a public computer (at a library for example) make sure you do not save any personal or login information to that device and log off completely after you are done. If you are inactive on the CHAMP website for more than 20 minutes you will be logged off automatically.

7. What should I use as a username when I create a CHAMP account?

You will be required to use an email address as your username when creating a CHAMP account online. This will help you access your account in case you forget your password. If you do not have an email, you can create one using a variety of free websites. If you do not have access to a computer, you may still apply using a paper CHAMP application.

8. I submitted an application for Public Housing, MRVP, or AHVP in the past, was this application entered into the CHAMP system?

Yes, any active Public Housing, MRVP, or AHVP applications previously submitted on paper to a housing agency are now online in CHAMP. You may search for your application and create an account online using the CHAMP website. Click here for instructions for new and returning applicants.

9. I submitted my application a long time ago, will I still have the same timestamp that was on my original application?

Yes, your previous time stamp has been saved online in CHAMP. You will need to log into the CHAMP website or contact a housing agency at least once every two years in order to keep your application active. If you do not keep your application active, it will be given an inactive status and removed from waiting lists after two years of inactivity.

10. I started an application online but did not finish it, how can I go back in to complete it?

If you started an application online, you may finish where you left off by logging into your CHAMP account. You may come back to complete or edit your application at any time. Your application will not be submitted until you have completed the Applicant's Certification AND the Fair Information Practices Act -Statement of Rights at the end of the application and clicked “submit.” You must select at least one program at one housing agency where you want to apply in order to submit your application. Once you have submitted a CHAMP application, you will be able to make changes or updates to your application using your online account.

11. I mailed a CHAMP application to a housing agency. How long will it take for me to see it online?

Approximately two weeks. Processing times vary by housing agencies. All applications receive a timestamp when they are received and will be available on the CHAMP website after they have been processed. To ensure your application is processed fully, be sure to provide all of the required (*) information, make at least one housing selection, and sign the Applicant's Certification AND the Fair Information Practices Act - Statement of Rights at the end of the CHAMP application.

12. How do I add or remove myself from a waitlist?

Every housing agency has a waitlist for each of the housing programs available at their agency. At the end of each program specific section of the CHAMP application, you can apply and make selections. You can add yourself to a waitlist by choosing a selection for the programs that you have applied to. You can also use the Apply All button to apply for a mobile MRVP or AHVP voucher from all housing agencies that administer those programs.

Once you have applied and created a CHAMP account, you can make changes to your application online, including adding or removing Housing Selections. You can also update your application by sending a written request to any housing agency using the forms available on the EOHLC website. If you can't access or print out a form online, contact your local housing agency.

13. Who should I ask if I am having trouble completing the CHAMP application?

For assistance applying with the CHAMP application, please contact a housing agency.

14. Where can I find the CHAMP Paper Application?

You can now apply for state-aided Public Housing, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) online or access your previously submitted application online using CHAMP. To use the paper application instead, click here and mail it or go to any housing agency.

15. I’m confident I have applied for a program in CHAMP, but I cannot claim my application because I am missing information required to look it up (e.g. SSN, Control Number, Application Number). What should I do?

You should contact the housing agency that you applied to. They can look you up in CHAMP. They will then provide you with what you need to claim your application in CHAMP.

Priority / Preference and Eligibility Screening FAQs

16. I got a Notice of Required Verification of Priority and Preference. What do I do?

If you received a Notice of Required Verification of Priority and Preference, this means that the Centralized Screening Office (CSO) requires documentation from you in order to verify information you provided in your CHAMP Application related to your housing situation, local preference, or your veteran status. You must respond to the Notice by submitting the requested documentation to the Centralized Screening Office by the deadline given in the Notice. If you are unable to submit the requested documentation by the deadline, you should still submit what you have as soon as you can.

You can upload the requested documentation online by going to your Screening Homepage in your CHAMP Account (see question #18 below). You can also submit the documents directly to the Centralized Screening Office via email (CSquestions@discoverasg.com), mail (15 Union Street, Suite 207, Lawrence MA, 01840), hand delivery (15 Union Street, Suite 207, Lawrence MA, 01840). Any housing agency can also help you upload information to CHAMP. Please note that any documentation that you provide to verify your application may be shared with all housing agencies where you applied.

17. I got a Notice of Eligibility and Qualifications Screening for housing. What do I do?

If you received a Notice of Eligibility and Qualifications Screening for State-Aided Housing, this means that a housing agency requires documentation from you in order to verify information you provided in your CHAMP Application related to your eligibility and qualifications for state-aided housing. You must respond to the Notice by submitting the requested documentation to the housing agency that asked for it by the deadline given in the Notice. If you are unable to submit the requested documentation by the deadline you should still submit what you have as soon as you are able. You can upload the requested documentation online by going to your Screening Home Page in your CHAMP Account (see question #18 below) or you can mail or hand deliver a paper copy of the requested documentation directly to a housing agency that asked for it. If you upload documentation in response to screening, it is critical to contact the housing agency to let them know. Please note that any documentation that you provide to verify your application may be shared with all housing agencies where you have applied.

18. What happens if I don't answer a Notice of Required Verification of Priority and Preference that I got from the Centralized Screening Office?

If you do not respond, your claim for priority/preference will be denied. You will still remain on all the waiting lists you applied for, but it may take you longer to be offered housing.

If the Centralized Screening Office sends you a Notice of Required Verification of Priority and Preference, you must respond with the requested documentation in order to be granted the priority and/or preference that you applied for. If you do not respond fully by the deadline, your application will not receive the priority or preference that you applied for. You may submit documentation to verify the priority or preference later on, and when you do so, your application may be granted the priority or preference for which you applied if you are eligible. If you are found ineligible for the preference or priority, the Centralized Screening Office will notify you of your right to appeal.

19. What happens if I don't answer a Notice of Eligibility and Qualifications Screening for State-Aided Housing that I got from a housing agency?

If a housing agency sends you a Notice of Eligibility and Qualifications Screening for State-Aided Housing, you must respond with the requested documentation by the deadline set out in the Notice. If you do not respond fully by the deadline set out in the Notice, your application may be delayed or you may be disqualified from housing. If you are unable to submit your documentation by the deadline, you should contact the housing agency to let them know. If you are disqualified, the housing agency will notify you of your right to appeal.

20. Can I upload documents through my CHAMP Account to respond to screening requests from housing agencies and the Centralized Screening Office?

Yes, you can upload documents in CHAMP.

To upload documents to respond to screening requests, log into your CHAMP Account and go to your Screening Homepage by clicking the tab at the top of the page. Here you will find a Screening Summary showing which housing agencies are currently screening your application as well as upload links for each type of document you may have to provide to verify your application information.

While at your Screening Homepage, you may review any screening letters in the My Screening Summary. You can collect the documentation requested in those letters and upload the documents on the correct upload page. If you have trouble using the document upload tools, you can always submit a paper copy of your verification documentation directly to a housing agency.

21. In my CHAMP account, can I see copies of screening letters/notices that a housing agency or the Centralized Screening Office has sent me in the mail?

Yes. In order to see copies of screening letters/notices that a housing agency and the Centralized Screening Office has sent to you, log in to your CHAMP Account, go to your Screening Homepage, and click the 'Letters' link under 'Applicant File'. This will show you a copy of all the screening letters you have been sent in the mail. If you view the My Screening Summary, you can view which housing agencies are currently screening your application, and you can view which screening letters/notices require responses from you.