The Town of Westford’s Affordable Housing Trust Committee is pleased to announce the continuation of its emergency rental assistance program. WERAP was created using funding through the Town of Westford Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The Program was created to support individuals and families who are adversely affected by housing instability and are in jeopardy of losing their housing. To qualify for assistance, Households must be in arrears on their rent, must have Income below 100% AMI, Total Assets under $25,000, AND have applied or RAFT and found eligible, OR applied for RAFT and found ineligible for: over 80% AMI, applied within one year, or unsustainable rental. For qualified applicants, WERAP will provide funding up to 50% over what the RAFT Program provides.
Income limits
Family Size Income Limit 2025
- $96,250
- $110,000
- $123,750
- $137,580
- $148,500
- $159,500
- $170,500
- $181,500
Households must complete an application to determine eligibility. Questions regarding WERAP should be directed to Westford Housing Authority at 978-692-6011. Applications are printable from the Town of Westford website Housing Authority | Westford, MA and should be sent to the WERAP Program, Westford Housing Authority, 65 Tadmuck Rd., Westford, MA 01886. Application assistance, accommodations for disabilities, and assistance for applicants with Limited English Proficiency, is available as needed.
Westford Rental Assistance Program (WRAP): Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis for WRAP
The Westford Rental Assistance Program (WRAP) provides rental assistance for qualified income-eligible households. The goal of the program is to provide greater housing stability and housing opportunities to cost-burdened renters in Westford. Subject to funding, rental assistance available through the program in the form of interim rent subsidies, i.e. partial rent payments, can be available for up to three years for eligible participating households. The program is administered by the Westford Housing Authority (WHA).
The intent of the program is to assist up to eight households who are renting or plan to rent housing units in Westford. For an applicant household to be eligible for the WRAP, it must meet the following criteria:
1. the annual household gross income must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the Greater Lowell area (1 person-$50,050, 2 person-$57,200, 3 person-$64,350, four person-$71,500, five person-$77,250),
2. the household must have less than $75,000 in assets, and
3. the household must spend more than 30% of its gross household monthly income towards rental housing costs (including rent, water, electric, gas, sewer, propane).
Households receiving government-funded rental assistance-such as Section 8, MRVP, or State or Federal subsidized housing, are not eligible to participate in the program. Households who may be on a wait list are eligible for Federal or State tenant-based housing assistance programs at the time of application are eligible to participate in the WRAP, but once a household is accepted into any State or Federal housing assistance program, they will forfeit their WRAP funding.
WRAP aims to assist the most cost burdened renters in Westford by offering an interim housing subsidy paid directly to the landlord. This is a voluntary program, and the landlord/owner must agree to accept WRAP payments directly. Payments will not be made to landlords/owners that are relatives or family members.
Subject to available funding, so long as a household remains income eligible for the WRAP, the household will be allowed an opportunity to apply for renewed participation for a total of three years based on an annual updated application supporting eligibility for assistance. In the first year of participation, the program can subsidize up to $700 of the household’s monthly rent. In years two and three in the program, households can receive up to $500 per month.
During the time that households are participating in the program and receiving funding, recipients must agree to work with the Town of Westford’s Social Worker to develop a Housing Stabilization Plan and work toward a sustainable long-term housing situation in order to remain eligible for WRAP. In order to qualify for renewed participation in the program, the household must also show that it is working on mutually agreed upon goals with the Social Worker. For renewal consideration, participating households must submit a new application annually prior to the end date.
Households seeking to participate in WRAP must complete the WRAP application.
Information requests and questions should be directed to Westford Housing Authority by calling 978-692-6011. Applications are available through Westford Council on Aging at 978-399-2325, Westford Housing Authority at 978-692-6011, and are printable from the Town of Westford website Housing Authority | Westford, MA. Applications should be sent to Westford Housing Authority, 65 Tadmuck Rd., Westford, MA 01886. Application assistance, accommodation for disabilities, and assistance for applicants with limited English proficiency is available as needed through the Westford Housing Authority or Town Social Worker.
