Connecting people to home
We develop technology that promotes housing equity and we provide data that brings transparency to the affordable housing market.
Housing Navigator MA is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) that addresses a glaring digital divide around one of the most important choices we make – where to live. We center the experience of people seeking their way home every day through our site and leverage our unique vantage point connecting renters, owners, and public agencies to make change.
Massachusetts consistently ranks as one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. Fifty-one percent of renters are cost-burdened (pay more than 30 percent of income as rent) and 27.8 percent are severely cost-burdened (pay more than 50 percent of income as rent).*
The Boston Globe called us “game-changing.” Our first product, a free, 24/7 search tool, gives anyone the information and agency to search for affordable (income-restricted) rentals across the Commonwealth. Our second product, Affordable Housing Supply dashboards, gives anyone quick insights on the where, what and how many of our income-restricted housing stock statewide and town-by-town.
How does our search tool work?
We aggregate reliable information on income-restricted rentals from all over Massachusetts, working in partnership with housing owners, government agencies and our own public records research. We strive to provide a one-stop shop of clear, actionable listings. We are constantly updating and refreshing our information.
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Simply enter preferences like location or number of bedrooms to see options, mapped to transit. Find what’s important to you — elevators, parking, ADA accessibility, pet policies and more. We make it clear if the building is restricted by age or if the rent is “deeply affordable” and adjusts to your income.
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Use our tool just like any marketing site while gaining additional features designed just for income-restricted housing. Upload engaging photos, floor plans and brochures. We make it easy to add critical details on eligibility and availability while showcasing your properties to a broad audience of potential renters.
We’ll keep doing more
Our search tool went live in 2021 with 2,100 properties in 260 cities and towns. In our first year, we had 100,000 users. By 2024, we’ve grown to 3,300 listings and 400,000 users every year. We keep innovating with new features, tools and dashboards, all powered by the most comprehensive inventory of affordable housing in the Commonwealth.
I love how user friendly it is. The filters, the map and the info that pops up, the information I am looking for is easy to find. Other websites have random information or it is disorganized or I don't trust it. This site is one I trust to give the most accurate information.
In partnership with us, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities mandates Housing Navigator MA participation for the roughly 2,000 newly developed affordable units it funds annually. This measure ensures our data continues to be a timely, up-to-date resource for all.
*Statistics from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies