Frequently Asked Questions

Do Provincetown residents get preference for housing?

For our public housing units, our federal HUD units and our moderate income units Provincetown residents get preference above non-Provincetown residents. Veterans and other classes of applicants.

How long of a wait is it to get public housing?

This is not an easy question to answer. The wait to get housing depends on many things. By regulation, we must first house those applicants who have been granted emergency status. If there is no one on the list with emergency status, we then go to the next person on the list who is a Provincetown resident. If there are no Provincetown residents on the list, then it goes by application date.

How long is the wait for Provincetown Housing Authority  housing?

Currently the waitlist is long and estimated to be within 7 years to 10 years wait. Applicants are taken on a first come, first serve basis.

What are the qualifications for housing?

For all programs there are income limits (see the DOCUMENTS page of this website for current information). In addition, all applicants must pass CORI, credit, sexual predator, and reference check.

What is the difference between public housing and the Gouveia Building units?

Public housing is housing that was built and is subsidized by the State of Massachusetts. Rents paid are based according to income, so you will pay between 30% – 40% of your income for rent, depending on the program. The Grace Gouveia units are deed restricted moderate income apartments that have eligibility requirements that are different from public housing. The rents at the Grace Gouveia are set according to a calculation done based on the Area Median Income (AMI) in Barnstable County.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rent Determination