About Us
Our Mission:
Connecting people with a place to call home
We are the “front door” to Massachusetts affordable housing.
We envision a world where everyone has the information and equitable access they need to find a secure, affordable home they love.
Our Values
Data Transparency
We bring data into policy-making conversations, improving transparency around housing availability while advancing racial and economic equity in Massachusetts.
Collaborative Innovation
We work hand-in-hand with property owners, service providers, and government agencies to create solutions that work for everyone seeking affordable housing.
Access & Equity
We strive to make everything we produce as functional, understandable, and useful as the equivalent product created by the for-profit market.
Dignity
We stay ever mindful of what works for the people hoping to find their way home by using our tools, keeping their needs at the center of our design.
Our Journey
2018
The Beginning
It all started with a brainstorming session bringing together 31 passionate individuals: housing funding agencies, property owners, homelessness service providers, tenant advocates, and local government officials. United by one question: "How can we make it easier to find and apply for affordable housing?"
It became clear that accurate data collection would be vital before we could launch a search engine.
2021
Taking Action
By August 2021, we launched our innovative housing search engine with 2,100 properties across 260 cities. We took our first step toward making affordable housing truly accessible, keeping growth and transparency at the heart of our mission.
A nonprofit called Housing Navigator Massachusetts launched last week what they say is the first comprehensive, searchable database of affordable housing in the state. It tracks some 160,000 units in 260 cities and towns, with plans to add more, a sort of Zillow for the lower-cost corners of the housing market.
“Finding an affordable apartment in Boston may get a little easier” By Angela Yang. August 16, 2021
We upgraded our search engine with lotteries and First Come, First Served opportunities, as well as accessibility information and enhanced mapping features.
2022–2023
Recognition & Growth
We were honored to be included in the Mass Technology Leadership Council’s "Tech Top 5" alongside tech giants like Toast and Salesforce. In 2023, we became an Ivory Prize Top Ten finalist, selected from 203 nominees for "ambitious, feasible, and scalable solutions to housing affordability."
We added Short Waitlist functionality, allowing renters to see even more actionable opportunities.
2024
Launching Research
We launched public-facing data dashboards, as well as our debut collaborative research initiative, Data Opens Doors. The 2024 edition of this series uncovered a shortfall in accessible income-restricted rental units, while the 2025 edition, published in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, exposed a need for 441,000 more affordable units to match the current demand in the Commonwealth.
Informed by user research, we upgraded the look and feel of our search engine, making it easier for people to access vital information like the most affordable units.
2025
Growth and Impact
Today, our search engine has grown to include over 3,700 listings serving 450,000 users annually. More than 100 property owners actively collaborate with us, and service providers rely on our platform daily. We've made over 10,000 accessible (ADA compliant) homes transparent and we continue to innovate as the need for affordable housing grows.
Housing Navigator MA was awarded the 2025 Excellence in Innovation Award by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.
Our Awards
Tech Top 50 (2022)
Honored by Mass Technology Leadership Council alongside tech giants like Toast and Salesforce.
Ivory Prize Top Ten (2023)
Selected from 203 nominees for 'ambitious, feasible, and scalable solutions to housing affordability.'
Housing Navigator MA was awarded the 2025 Excellence in Innovation Award by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.
2025 Excellence in Innovation Award Winner
Join Our Mission
Whether you are seeking housing, you are a property owner, or you want to support our work, there are many ways to be part of creating a more equitable housing future in Massachusetts.