What the Philadelphia Housing Authority is and who runs it

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is a city agency that owns and manages rental housing for low-income residents across Philadelphia. It is not a private landlord — it is a public authority created by the city to provide stable housing to people who cannot afford market-rate rent. The PHA answers to a board of commissioners and receives funding from the federal government, the city, and its own rental income.

The PHA manages roughly 14,000 rental units spread across the city, from single-family homes to large apartment complexes. It also administers the Housing Choice Voucher program (formerly called Section 8), which gives vouchers to low-income households so they can rent from private landlords instead of living in PHA-owned buildings. These are two separate paths to housing through the same agency.

Key Takeaways

  • The Philadelphia Housing Authority runs public housing units and the Housing Choice Voucher program, which are two different ways to get subsidized rent.
  • To live in PHA housing or get a voucher, you must meet income limits set by the federal government, which change each year based on area median income.
  • The PHA maintains a waiting list for both public housing and vouchers, and wait times can be several years depending on the program and your family size.
  • You can contact the PHA directly by phone, mail, or in person at their office to ask about current openings and how to get on a waiting list.
  • If you already live in PHA housing, you pay rent based on 30 percent of your household income, and the PHA covers the rest.

Income limits and who can live in PHA housing

To be considered for PHA housing or a voucher, your household income must fall below a certain threshold. The PHA uses area median income (AMI) to set these limits — for Philadelphia, the income ceiling is typically 50 percent of AMI for public housing and 50 percent of AMI for vouchers, though the exact numbers change each year. A household of four in Philadelphia, for example, might have an income limit around $35,000 to $40,000 annually, but you should contact the PHA directly to confirm the current year's limits for your family size.

The PHA also considers other factors beyond income: you must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status, you cannot have been evicted for lease violations in the past three years, and you cannot have a criminal history that disqualifies you under federal rules. Each applicant's background is reviewed individually, and the PHA will tell you during the intake process if any issue affects your standing.

Elderly people (62 and older) and people with disabilities may have access to additional programs or priority on waiting lists, so mention your situation when you contact the PHA.

Public housing versus Housing Choice Vouchers

The PHA offers two main paths to subsidized housing. Public housing means you rent a unit that the PHA owns and manages directly. You pay 30 percent of your household income as rent, and the PHA pays the rest from federal funds. The PHA handles maintenance, repairs, and building management. You live under a lease with the PHA as your landlord.

Housing Choice Vouchers work differently: the PHA gives you a voucher worth a certain amount of money each month, and you use it to rent from a private landlord anywhere in the Philadelphia area (or sometimes beyond, depending on the program rules). You find your own apartment, the landlord agrees to accept the voucher, and the PHA pays the landlord directly. You still pay 30 percent of your income, and the voucher covers the rest up to a limit. This gives you more choice in where you live, but you have to find a landlord willing to participate.

Wait times differ for each program. Public housing wait times in Philadelphia can range from several months to several years depending on family size and unit availability. Voucher wait times are often longer — sometimes multiple years — because demand exceeds the number of vouchers the PHA receives from the federal government.

How to get on the waiting list

To explore for PHA housing or a voucher, you must contact the Philadelphia Housing Authority directly. You can call their main office, visit in person, or mail in a request. The PHA's main office is located at 2124 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. You can reach them by phone at 215-684-4000 during business hours to ask about current openings and how to submit an process.

When you contact the PHA, have ready your Social Security number, proof of income (recent pay stubs or tax returns), proof of citizenship or may be able to access immigration status, and identification. The PHA will tell you whether the waiting list is currently open for your program and family size — some programs close their lists when they are full and reopen later as units become available.

Once you are on the waiting list, the PHA will contact you when a unit or voucher becomes available. The order is usually based on when you applied, though some programs give priority to people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, or families with very low incomes. Ask the PHA about priority categories when you explore.

What happens after you are approved

If you are offered a unit or voucher, the PHA will schedule an orientation and walk you through the lease or voucher terms. For public housing, you will sign a lease with the PHA, pay your first month's rent (30 percent of your income), and move in. The PHA is responsible for repairs and maintenance — if something breaks, you report it to the PHA's maintenance department.

For a voucher, you have a limited time (usually 60 to 120 days) to find an apartment and a landlord willing to accept the voucher. The PHA will inspect the unit to make sure it meets housing quality standards before approving the lease. Once approved, you move in and the PHA pays the landlord each month.

In both cases, your rent stays at 30 percent of your income as long as you live there, even if your income changes. If your income increases significantly, the PHA may recalculate your rent, but you will be notified before any change takes effect. You must report changes in household composition, income, or employment to the PHA — failure to do so can result in lease violations.

Maintenance and repairs in PHA housing

If you live in a PHA-owned unit, the PHA is responsible for keeping the building and your apartment in safe, livable condition. This includes plumbing, electrical systems, heating, cooling, appliances (if provided), and structural repairs. You report maintenance issues by calling the PHA's maintenance line or submitting a work order through their online portal or in person.

The PHA aims to respond to emergency repairs (no heat, no water, broken locks) within 24 hours and routine repairs within a longer timeframe. If the PHA does not respond in a reasonable time, you have the right to contact the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections to file a complaint. Keep records of when you reported the issue and any follow-up.

You are responsible for keeping your unit clean and not damaging it beyond normal wear and tear. Damage you cause may result in charges when you move out or, in serious cases, lease violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get housing after I explore?

Wait times vary widely. Public housing in Philadelphia can take anywhere from a few months to several years depending on your family size and the current vacancy rate. Voucher wait times are often longer — sometimes three to five years or more. The PHA will tell you the approximate wait time for your situation when you explore. Some people never reach the top of the list if they move away or no longer meet income requirements.

Can I be on the waiting list for both public housing and a voucher at the same time?

Yes. You can explore for both programs simultaneously. If you are offered one before the other, you can accept it and ask the PHA to remove you from the other list, or you can stay on both lists. There is no penalty for being on multiple lists.

What if my income increases while I am living in PHA housing?

The PHA will recalculate your rent based on your new income, and you will pay a higher percentage of your income as rent. However, there are limits — your rent cannot exceed the market rate for your unit. If your income rises significantly, you may eventually earn too much to stay in the program, but the PHA will give you notice before that happens and time to find other housing.

Can I transfer to a different PHA unit or neighborhood?

Transfer policies vary. Some residents can request a transfer to a different unit or building, but availability is limited and wait times explore. Contact the PHA's leasing office to ask about transfer options and current availability in your preferred area.

What should I do if I have a problem with my landlord or the PHA?

If you live in PHA housing, contact the PHA's tenant services office or file a formal complaint with the agency. If you have a voucher and your private landlord is not maintaining the unit, report it to the PHA — they can inspect the unit and work with the landlord or help you find a new one. You can also contact the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections or a local tenant rights organization for guidance.