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Unauthorized Occupants

Unauthorized Occupant Program

General Information

The Worcester Housing Authority provides housing to more than 13,000 participants. We work hard to ensure that our families have safe and sanitary housing and offer other services to help improve the quality of their lives. However, a few residents try to take advantage of the state and federal rules that provide the funding for their programs.

Unauthorized Occupant

An unauthorized occupant is anyone living in a Worcester Housing subsidized unit who is not listed on the lease as an approved household member. This applies to all federal and state public housing voucher programs. Guests are allowed but they may only stay for a limited period of days, which is outlined in the lease agreement signed by the Head of Household. Anyone who stays beyond these limits is considered an unauthorized occupant, which is a serious lease violation and may result in lease enforcement actions, including eviction.

Why Unauthorized Occupants Are a Problem

Unauthorized occupants can create several issues, including:
  • Overcrowding or unsafe living conditions due to additional unapproved people in the unit
  • Program fraud, if the individual earns income that is not reported as required it potentially violates federal or state program rules
  • Safety concerns, since unauthorized occupants have not been screened like approved residents
  • Increased crime and lease violations, which are frequently linked to individuals who are not authorized to live on the property

How to Avoid Violations

You can prevent unauthorized occupant issues by:
  • Reviewing the guest policy guidelines in your lease so you are aware of your limits
  • Keeping track of stays in your unit and for how long, including friends and family members
  • Notifying your Property Management office if you plan to have a guest stay for more than a few days
  • Contacting your Management office as soon as possible if you want to add someone to your household so they can begin the screening and approval process
  • Asking questions if you are unsure whether someone should be added to your lease and contacting your Management office

A Community Effort

Unauthorized Occupancy undermines the safety, fairness, and integrity of our housing programs. The Worcester Housing Authority works every day to ensure that all units are occupied by eligible and approved residents. We do this through strong, trusted partnerships across our community.

Preventing unauthorized occupancy requires ongoing collaboration. The WHA depends on the support and involvement of:
Residents Your eyes, awareness, and willingness to share concerns help us maintain safe, stable, and respectful neighborhoods. Worcester Police Department Their partnership strengthens our ability to address safety concerns and verify information when necessary. HUD Field Agents Their oversight and guidance ensure that our efforts follow federal regulations and reflect best practices in public housing management. These partnerships allow the WHA to respond quickly, protect limited housing resources, and make sure assistance is reaching the families who truly qualify.

A Strong, Coordinated Approach

The WHA collaborates with multiple partners to keep our community safe and supportive. Working with residents, WHA staff, the Worcester Police Department, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we implement a mixture of education and enforcement to provide safe suitable housing to qualified individuals. We:

  • Educate residents on the importance of listing all household members.
  • Encourage residents to report and add any unlisted occupants.
  • Identify and address unauthorized occupants.
  • Take appropriate lease‑enforcement actions when needed.

How We Address Unauthorized Occupants

The WHA uses consistent, targeted strategies to prevent and resolve unauthorized occupancy:

New residents receive clear guidance on guest rules and the Unauthorized Occupant Program during orientation.
We meet with tenant associations to share updates and gather feedback.
Information from residents, staff, and community partners helps us identify concerns early.
“Knock and talk” visits occur only when information suggests a possible unauthorized occupant.
Lease enforcement is taken when appropriate to ensure compliance.

The WHA is fully committed to protecting program integrity, community safety, and fairness for all eligible families. With strong partnerships and a proactive approach, we are ready to respond to concerns and uphold the standards that keep our communities strong.