Public Housing Authority (PHA)

A Public Housing Authority is a local government agency that administers the Section 8 voucher program, manages waiting lists, conducts inspections, and sets payment standards.

A Public Housing Authority (PHA), sometimes called a Housing Authority (HA), is a local or regional government agency that administers HUD housing programs at the community level. There are approximately 2,200 PHAs across the United States, ranging from small rural agencies managing a few hundred vouchers to large metropolitan authorities overseeing tens of thousands.

In the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, PHAs are responsible for nearly all operational aspects. They maintain and manage waiting lists of applicants, determine eligibility and income calculations, issue vouchers to qualified families, set local payment standards (based on FMR), conduct Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspections, execute Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts with landlords, and perform annual recertifications.

PHAs have significant discretion in how they run their programs. They choose their own payment standard levels (within the 90-110% of FMR range), establish local preferences for their waiting lists (e.g., veterans, working families, homeless individuals), and set administrative policies. This means that the Section 8 experience can vary notably from one PHA to another.

For tenants, the local PHA is the primary point of contact for Section 8 assistance. For landlords, the PHA handles inspections, approves rents, and issues monthly HAP payments. Investors evaluating Section 8 markets should understand their local PHA's payment standards and policies. Look up FMR data for your PHA's jurisdiction at FMR8.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Public Housing Authority?

A Public Housing Authority (PHA) is a local government agency that administers HUD housing programs, including the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. PHAs manage waiting lists, determine eligibility, set payment standards, conduct inspections, and make monthly payments to landlords.

How do I find my local PHA?

You can find your local PHA through HUD's online PHA directory at hud.gov, by calling HUD's customer service center at 1-800-955-2232, or by contacting your local city or county government. Many areas have multiple PHAs with overlapping jurisdictions.

Related Terms

• Section 8 Housing — Section 8 is a federal housing assistance program that provides rental subsidies to low-income families, the elderly, an...
• Housing Choice Voucher — A Housing Choice Voucher is a federal subsidy that allows low-income families to choose and rent privately-owned housing...
• Payment Standard — The payment standard is the maximum subsidy amount a Public Housing Authority will pay for a given unit size. It is base...
• Housing Quality Standards (HQS) — Housing Quality Standards are the minimum health and safety requirements that a rental unit must meet before a PHA will ...
• Section 8 Waiting List — The Section 8 waiting list is a queue of eligible applicants waiting to receive a Housing Choice Voucher. Wait times can...