Applications open for brand-new, affordable senior apartments in South Boston

Seniors interested in one of the 46 permanently affordable, brand-new apartments at 5 O’Connor Way can now apply to be included in the tenant selection process. 

O’Connor Way Senior Housing is an elevator building featuring 46 one-bedroom apartments, a shared community room with kitchenette and bathroom, shared laundry facilities, an onsite resident manager, plus a full-time senior advocate to help residents access services and programs. Three apartments are designed for people with mobility impairments, and one apartment is designed for people with hearing and/or vision impairments. All apartments are one-bedroom and approximately 600 square feet. The building is currently in construction and expected to open to tenants this fall.

Applications for South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation’s latest project became available on Monday, June 29, and will be available through July 28. All applications must be submitted by Aug. 4. 

“We know how hard it can be for seniors to stay in South Boston,” said Donna Brown, Executive Director of South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, the local nonprofit that is building O’Connor Way in partnership with Caritas Communities. “Even if they are somehow able to afford increasing rents on a fixed income, they are often living in homes that were not designed with older people in mind. O’Connor Way apartments are permanently affordable homes specifically designed for seniors.”

The rental process for income-restricted apartments is strictly governed by Fair Housing laws and is different from the process with which most people are familiar. Prospective applicants should carefully review the following information, and call South Boston NDC at 617-464-2483 or email o’[email protected] with any questions, before submitting an application.

All apartments at O’Connor Way are age-restricted, so residents must be at least 62 years old by the move-in date, and there is a preference for Boston residents. These apartments are also income-restricted, which means that prospective tenants cannot earn more than a maximum annual income.

Five of the apartments are designated for households earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), which is $24,900 for a household of one person, or $28,440 for households of two. Seventeen apartments are available to households earning between 30% and 50% of AMI, or up to $41,500 ($47,400 for households of two). 

The remaining 24 apartments are reserved for households earning between 50 and 60% AMI, or up to $53,760 ($61,440 for two-person households). These apartments will be filled by a lottery process. 

The maximum rent at O’Connor Way is $1,333, and tenants with lower incomes will pay less.

TO APPLY

Due to the ongoing pandemic, applications are only available by mail or online. Applications cannot be picked up in person. 

Please see below for details on how to obtain an application, which is determined by the applicant’s annual household income and size. 

For households of 1 person:

• Earning no more than $41,500 (up to 50% AMI): Apply through the Boston Housing Authority. Apply online at www.bostonhousing.org/en/For-Applicants/How-Do-I-Apply-for-BHA-Housing.aspx or call 617-988-3400 to request an application by mail.
• Earning between $41,501 – $53,760 (50-60% AMI): Apply through South Boston NDC. Apply online at https://bit.ly/OConnorWaySeniors. If you are unable to apply online, call 617-464-2483 to request an application by mail. Submit paper applications to 273 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127.

For households of 2 people:

• Earning no more than $47,400 (up to 50% AMI): Apply through the Boston Housing Authority. Apply online at www.bostonhousing.org/en/For-Applicants/How-Do-I-Apply-for-BHA-Housing.aspx or call 617-988-3400 to request an application by mail.
• Earning between $47,401 – $61,440 (60% AMI): Apply through South Boston NDC. Apply online at https://bit.ly/OConnorWaySeniors. If you are unable to apply online, call 617-464-2483 to request an application by mail. Submit paper applications to 273 D Street, South Boston, MA 02127.

IMPORTANT DATES

• June 29: First day that applications are available.
• July 28: Last day that applications are available. By law, no applications can be given out after this date.
• Aug. 4: Completed applications must be submitted or postmarked by this date. By law, no applications can be accepted after this date.  

For more information, visit www.sbndc.org/oconnor-way-senior-housing. 

South Boston NDC is South Boston’s nonprofit affordable housing and community development organization. SBNDC has developed more than 300 units of affordable housing in South Boston since the organization’s founding in 1983. SBNDC also currently owns and manages more than 120 affordable homes, provides housing counseling to neighborhood residents, operates the South Boston Farmers Market and the local Chamber of Commerce, and organizes the South Boston Street Festival, Taste of South Boston, and the Christmas and Spring Strolls. Visit www.sbndc.org to learn more.