Local preference means that local residents and others with a connection to the community may re¬ceive an advantage during the lottery for initial occupancy that is used to select buyers or renters for new affordable housing units. Under DHCD’s current policies, local preference categories must consist of the following:
Current residents of the city or town: People living in the community at the time of application for the lottery. (The applicants must be current residents. They cannot be former residents, such as people who grew up in the town but subsequently moved away, or non-resident relatives of current residents.)
Municipal employees
Employees of local businesses (businesses located in the city or town)
Households with children attending the community’s schools, such as METCO students or partici¬pants in the “School Choice” program.