Applicants can claim one or more of the following preferences on their pre-application (to be verified at the time of screening). Applicants with a preference have priority on the waitlists over applicants without a preference. All of the preferences listed below carry equal weight and are not ranked or combined to give certain applicants more priority points or a “higher” preference.
- Cambridge Resident – The applicant is a permanent resident of Cambridge (this includes Congregate Housing and Single Room Occupancy [SRO] located in Cambridge) on the date that he/she submitted a preliminary application, the date of screening, and the date of final certification. If the applicant is temporarily living with relatives in Cambridge, or living in a shelter, in or outside of Cambridge, and the applicant’s last permanent resident was in Cambridge, the applicant is considered a resident of Cambridge.
- Cambridge Shelter or Transitional Facility – The applicant is living in a Cambridge shelter or transitional facility or was living in a Cambridge shelter or transitional facility and was relocated by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) or other service provider to a facility outside of Cambridge.
- Employment in Cambridge – The applicant is not a resident of Cambridge; however, the applicant or household member is employed or about to be employed in Cambridge on the date of application, the date of screening, and the date of final certification.
- Veteran’s Status – The applicant is an honorably discharged individual that performed wartime service or the spouse, surviving spouse, parent or other dependent of an honorably discharged veteran.