Jersey City Housing Authority

What Jersey City Housing Authority does

Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) is a governmental public housing authority established in 1938 and headquartered at 400 US Highway #1 (Marion Gardens) in Jersey City, New Jersey. JCHA is New Jersey's second-largest public housing authority and administers approximately 7,100 housing units serving over 15,000 residents across every ward of the city. Its portfolio is split between roughly 2,500 conventional public housing units (across developments such as Marion Gardens, Booker T. Washington, Hudson Gardens, Holland Gardens, Curries Woods, Berry Gardens, Dwight Street Homes, Thomas J. Stewart Apartments, and Webb Apartments) and over 4,600 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVP/Section 8), supplemented by 9 privately managed HOPE VI mixed-finance developments under property managers including The Michaels Organization, McCormack Baron Ragan, Ingerman, and Pennrose.

The authority's product surface consists of two core HUD-funded programs — Public Housing and HCVP — together with a layered set of self-sufficiency and supportive programs: the HUD-funded ROSS Service Coordination and Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs with interest-bearing escrow accounts; a Workforce Development program; the RECE (Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement) department launched in 2018; the ConnectHome USA-aligned Digital Inclusion program partnered with broadband providers Andrena and Starry Connect; and the RISE Foundation-sponsored Healthier Homes wellness app. Digital service delivery is enabled through Securecafe-powered Resident, Applicant, HCVP, and Landlord portals, with internal operations on Microsoft SharePoint.

JCHA's revenue model is grant- and subsidy-driven, not commercial. Primary funding flows from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing operating subsidies and capital fund programs, plus HCVP Housing Assistance Payments with annual appropriations exceeding $30 million. Tenant rent is set at 30% of monthly adjusted income per federal formula, and HCVP payment standards moved to Small Area FMRs effective January 1, 2025. The go-to-market is non-commercial: residents enter through application portals, HCVP waiting lists, and targeted preferences (including a 75% working-family preference), while property owners participate through the Landlord Portal. JCHA maintains HUD High Performer status across 9 consecutive years and achieved highest-in-agency-history SEMAP scores in recent periods.

Name

Jersey City Housing Authority

Legal name

Jersey City Housing Authority

Website

https://jerseycityha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) is New Jersey's second-largest public housing authority, administering about 7,100 housing units and serving over 15,000 low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities in Jersey City, NJ, via federally-funded Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Programs plus wraparound self-sufficiency and digital inclusion services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Public housing services
• Affordable housing programs
• Housing choice vouchers
• Section 8 administration
• Resident self-sufficiency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jersey City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: Primary funding source from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing operations, Section 8 vouchers, and grant programs including ROSS and FSS grants
2. Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments: HCVP program with annual appropriations of more than $30 million, providing rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of eligible families
3. Tenant Rent Payments: Public housing residents pay rent calculated at 30% of their monthly adjusted income, providing ongoing revenue stream

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Jersey City Housing Authority (JCHA) administers public housing units and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) for low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities in Jersey City, NJ. It manages approximately 2,500 conventional public housing units and over 4,600 Housing Choice Vouchers, supplemented by self-sufficiency, workforce development, digital inclusion, and wellness programs delivered through its RECE department.

Product overview

The Jersey City Housing Authority operates as New Jersey's second largest public housing authority serving over 15,000 residents with a portfolio of approximately 7,100 housing units. The organization's offerings consist of two core housing programs—conventional Public Housing (approximately 2,500 units) and the Housing Choice Voucher Program/HCVP (over 4,600 vouchers)—supplemented by an array of supportive services. Digital service delivery is provided through multiple online portals (Applicant Portal, Resident Portal, HCVP Resident Portal, Landlord Portal) powered by Securecafe, alongside internal operations on Microsoft SharePoint. JCHA's Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement (RECE) department coordinates wraparound services including the ROSS and FSS self-sufficiency programs, workforce development, digital inclusion initiatives, and the Healthier Homes wellness app. The organization also manages mixed-finance and affordable housing communities through partnerships with private property managers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Housing Program
• Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
• Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
• Workforce Development Program
• Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement (RECE)
• Healthier Homes Wellness App
• Applicant Portal
• Resident Portal
• HCVP Landlord Portal
• Project Based Vouchers

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest HUD SEMAP performance scores in agency history for three consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• HUD ConnectHome USA (CHUSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCHA joined HUD's ConnectHome USA initiative in 2018 to bridge the digital divide for public housing residents. Program includes free/reduced cost devices, digital literacy programming, and affordable broadband partnerships.
• RISE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRISE Foundation sponsors the Healthier Homes wellness app, a free wellness application designed to help JCHA residents build healthier habits through fitness activities, challenges, educational resources, and rewards.
• Greater Bergen Community ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides early childhood education services through Head Start program for JCHA residents. Located at various JCHA developments.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides comprehensive afterschool programming for JCHA youth residents. Active at multiple JCHA developments.
• Jersey City Department of Health and Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides senior lunch programs at Berry Gardens, Holland Gardens, and Hudson Gardens. Also provides Healthy Greens JC indoor vertical farms at Marion Gardens and Curries Woods, and various health services.
• Hudson County Community CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with JCHA for workforce development and training programs for residents.
• HOPES CAP, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial literacy workshops and one-on-one counseling services for JCHA residents.
• Jersey City Medical CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site health screenings for JCHA residents as part of wellness programming.
• WomenRisingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides workforce development services and serves as ROSS partner at Booker T. Washington development.
• GoodwillmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners for workforce development and training opportunities for JCHA residents.
• Rising Tide CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides workforce development programming for JCHA residents.
• Year UpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides workforce training and development opportunities for JCHA residents.
• AndrenacoreTechnology or IntegrationInternet service provider providing broadband connectivity at Berry Gardens, Booker T. Washington, and Curries Woods developments with ACP discounts up to $30/month for eligible residents.
• Starry ConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternet service provider providing broadband connectivity at Hudson Gardens and Thomas J. Stewart with ACP discounts up to $30/month for eligible residents.
• EveryoneOnmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner for digital inclusion, connecting residents to free and low-cost internet services and computers through the ConnectHome USA program.
• Community Food Bank of New JerseycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides supplemental meal delivery programs for eligible JCHA residents, particularly seniors and disabled individuals during COVID-19 pandemic.
• SNAP-Ed / Rutgers UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides nutrition education services for JCHA residents.
• Coalition for Food and Health EquityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides supplemental meal delivery programs and food insecurity services for JCHA residents.
• Hoboken Family PlanningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site health screenings for JCHA residents.
• Act Now FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site health screenings and wellness programs for JCHA residents.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA): Mid-to-large size municipal PHA with combined public housing, HCVP, and mixed-income development portfolio. Operates HUD-regulated programs with similar SEMAP performance evaluation and comparable scale in a major US metro area.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): The largest public housing authority in the United States, NYCHA administers public housing units and Section 8 vouchers in NYC. Operates the same programmatic structure as JCHA (public housing + HCVP) but at dramatically greater scale with similar HUD-funded governance and SEMAP performance frameworks.
• Houston Housing Authority (HHA): Major Texas municipal PHA with comparable public housing and HCVP programs under HUD oversight. Similar operational scale, federal funding structure, and resident self-sufficiency program portfolio to JCHA.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): Major municipal PHA serving ~3,500 public housing units and a large HCVP portfolio. Comparable urban PHA model with mixed-finance redevelopments (Plan for Transformation), HUD performance benchmarking, and similar resident self-sufficiency programs.
• Atlanta Housing (AH): Major municipal PHA that has executed significant mixed-finance redevelopments through its Moving to Work designation. Operates comparable urban public housing and HCVP programs and is widely benchmarked for performance among large urban PHAs.
• Boston Housing Authority (BHA): Northeast municipal PHA administering public housing units and Section 8 vouchers. Operates similar HUD-regulated programs with comparable resident services and self-sufficiency initiatives; serves as a useful size-comparable peer for JCHA's 7,100-unit portfolio.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): Large municipal PHA serving over 80,000 residents through public housing and HCVP. Direct peer to JCHA in Northeast urban PHA landscape with comparable HCVP administrative scale and similar mixed-finance/partnership development models.
• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA): Major municipal PHA administering one of the largest Section 8 voucher programs in the country alongside public housing. Comparable business model with HUD funding, mixed-finance developments, and similar SEMAP performance evaluation framework.

Others

• Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA): Industry trade association representing large PHAs including JCHA. Provides advocacy, training, and grant funding (CLPHA awarded JCHA COVID-19 relief funding) - an enabling/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Newark Housing Authority (NHA): Newark's designated PHA, the largest in New Jersey. Operates public housing and HCVP programs under the same HUD regulatory structure as JCHA, with shared state-level oversight. Stephen Cea, JCHA's Executive Director, previously served as Senior Development Manager at NHA, indicating direct operational and strategic linkage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JerseyCityHA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBQDE0Nfde_obGch2HQ8WFg
• Facebookfacebook.com/JCHousing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jchousingauthority
• Instagraminstagram.com/jerseycityhousingauthority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jersey City Housing Authority