Eligibility & referrals
MACV-owned housing is intended for veterans who — for any number of reasons — are unable or unlikely to access traditional landlord housing because of their background or the level of support they need to stay stable.
Community options come first
When a veteran can be housed successfully with a traditional or partner landlord, that is usually the better outcome — it keeps MACV's roughly 230 units available for the veterans who have no other viable path. If community housing looks workable for you, staff will help you pursue it. Either way, you are welcome to apply.
What MACV considers
These are the factors staff weigh to assess whether an MACV-owned unit is the right fit and likely to be a stable, successful placement.
Can rent be afforded?
We look at income and whether a subsidy — HUD-VASH, SSVF, Grant & Per Diem, a Housing Choice Voucher — is in place or possible. If income alone is not enough, staff work with you on what programs could close the gap.
Are there barriers to traditional landlords?
Evictions, judgments, thin or no rental history, credit, background checks, and repeated denials all make private-market approval harder. The more of these you face, the more an MACV-owned unit makes sense.
Are there geographic needs or limits?
Conditions of release, work, family, treatment, transit, and school can all restrict where a home has to be. Tell us what is required and what is off-limits so we only match you to workable locations.
Is there recent justice involvement?
Some convictions, supervision terms, or registry requirements limit where someone can legally live, and a few situations raise safety considerations for neighbors. We ask so we can place you correctly — not to screen you out by default.
What does rental history look like?
Past non-payment, evictions, or damage to a unit are reviewed in context. A difficult history is common among the veterans we serve and does not automatically disqualify anyone.
How much support is needed for stability?
Some veterans need regular case management, treatment coordination, or peer support to keep a lease. Knowing the level of need up front lets MACV pair housing with the right services.
Are there accessibility needs?
Full ADA units, zero-step entry, roll-in showers, first-floor placement, elevator access, and service animals are matched against specific units, so we ask for the details early.
How referrals work
- Referral code. If you already work with an MACV case manager, they can give you a code that links your application to your record.
- Self-referral. New to MACV? Apply directly and staff will verify eligibility with you.
- Partner referral. Case managers and external service providers can submit on a veteran's behalf and stay as the contact of record.
After you submit, staff review the application, verify eligibility and service needs, and match you to a unit. Accepted applications become tenancy records and MACV coordinates move-in. You can check progress any time with your confirmation code.
Not sure where you stand?
Take the short screening — about ten questions. It never rejects anyone; it just tells you which path looks most promising and carries your answers into the application.