Housing Navigator Massachusetts Inc. (HNMI)
Since launching in 2021,
Housing Navigator has helped people search for affordable housing across 2,100 properties in 260 cities and towns
By 2024, the platform grew to 3,300 listings
and now supports over 400,000 users annually—
with someone starting a search nearly every minute
Founded in 2019, Housing Navigator Massachusetts Inc. (HNMI) is one of the first efforts of its kind in the nation. The organization aims to bring transparency and accessibility to the affordable housing ecosystem through a free, online tool that allows users to easily search for affordable rental housing across the state.
HNMI was founded by Jennifer Gilbert, who brings over 20 years of experience in the housing space. She formed a Steering Committee of experts and led discussions to address a pressing question: “How can we make it easier to find and apply for affordable housing?” It quickly became apparent that the state hadn’t published an inventory of affordable housing since 1986. This gap became the focus of HNMI’s early efforts, which centered on gathering publicly available data on affordable housing units.
To expand their reach, HNMI engaged with private owners, meeting with affordable housing developers and operators across Massachusetts. They brought together a cohort of early adopter owners to input property listing information, cultivating relationships that strengthened the effort. This collaboration resulted in the documentation of more than 190,000 affordable rental units across over 3,100 properties statewide. By partnering with 75 property owners, they built a comprehensive and updated resource for Massachusetts’ affordable housing ecosystem.
In 2021, HNMI launched its web-based tool, which allows users to search for available properties based on zip code or town/city. The tool provides detailed information on properties, including pictures, square footage, accessibility features, and pricing/income requirements.
On average, the website attracts 18,000 users per month across Massachusetts. In 2022, the platform identified 46 buildings in 31 communities with vacant units available for immediate occupancy — opportunities that were previously unlisted.
Since Partnering with The Lynch Foundation
Housing is one of the most well-documented social determinants of health, with numerous studies linking stable housing to improved health outcomes. These include better mental health for children, shorter hospital stays, reduced levels of psychological distress, and a decrease in intimate partner violence. Furthermore, when families spend less on rent, they have more financial resources to spend on necessities like food, medical treatment, and medications.
The Foundation provided a grant to support Housing Navigator in deepening its impact by enhancing its online tool for individuals and families seeking affordable housing. The grant will support new website features, including increasing the number of available properties, adding a waitlist feature, and streamlining the application process for affordable housing.
The tool benefits not only renters but also property owners, housing advocates, homelessness providers, and housing funders. Moving forward, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development has mandated that all newly developed affordable units it funds participate in Housing Navigator’s platform.
This ensures that the website remains a central hub for affordable housing information, simplifying the search process and enabling more people to access safe, affordable housing.