PHA

What PHA does

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is a government housing authority established in 1937 and headquartered at 2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. It is the fourth-largest housing authority in the United States, housing approximately 80,000 people across the city through two principal programs: (1) direct management of 13,000 public housing units across 81 sites (family developments, senior-only developments, and scattered sites), and (2) administration of a 22,000+ unit Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that subsidizes rents paid to private landlords. PHA also runs the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, having converted over 3,900 units to the Section 8 platform, and operates an annual budget of $502 million, of which 93% is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

PHA's business model is government-funded rather than commercial: residents pay income-based rent (approximately 30% of adjusted gross income), and PHA supplements this with federal appropriations, tax-exempt bond issuance (over $300M issued; AA- from S&P, AA from Fitch), and city/state partnerships. Distribution occurs directly through PHA-owned properties and indirectly via private landlords enrolled in the HCV program; web-based portals (Public Housing Portal, HCV Client Portal, HCV Owner Portal) handle tenant and owner transactions, and the AffordableHousing.com integration extends HCV listing reach. Resident support services include workforce development, an Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program, homeownership counseling, and a 501(c)(3) subsidiary (PhillySEEDS) that has distributed $4.2M+ in scholarships to 1,600+ residents.

PHA's strategic agenda is centered on the $6.8 billion Opening Doors Initiative launched in 2023 to preserve or redevelop 13,000 existing units and acquire or build 7,000 additional affordable units. Execution through March 2026 includes the Westpark Phase I groundbreaking ($500M mixed-income redevelopment with LMXD & MSQUARED and M&T Bank), five property acquisitions totaling approximately $258M (Brith Sholom, The Dane, Germantown portfolio, Port Richmond, Olde Kensington), $110M in HUD Choice Neighborhoods grants, and partnerships with Pennrose, The Michaels Organization, Building Trades Unions, and PHFA. PHA operates subsidiaries including PhillySEEDS (nonprofit), PAPMC (property management), and PHADC (development corporation), and is led by President & CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah, in office since March 2013.

Name

PHA

Legal name

Philadelphia Housing Authority

Website

https://pha.phila.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is the fourth-largest U.S. public housing authority, managing 13,000 public housing units and administering 22,000+ Housing Choice Vouchers to serve ~80,000 low-income Philadelphia residents, funded primarily by HUD (93% of a $502M annual budget).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing and Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Public housing services
• Affordable housing
• Housing choice vouchers
• Rental assistance programs
• Low-income housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: 93% of PHA's $502 million annual budget comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The fiscal year runs from April 1 through March 31.
2. Rent from Tenants: PHA collects rent from public housing residents based on income (typically 30% of adjusted income). This provides revenue for property operations and maintenance.
3. Partnerships with City and State: PHA works in partnership with city and state governments as well as private investors to supplement federal funding and support development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) provides affordable housing to low-income Philadelphia residents through three primary channels: (1) federal Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) rental assistance administered via private landlords; (2) traditional public housing rental units owned and operated directly by PHA; and (3) Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program conversions that transition public housing units to long-term project-based Section 8 contracts. Wraparound services include workforce development, youth and family programs, homeownership pathways, and in-house public-safety operations.

Product overview

The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) operates a portfolio of affordable housing programs and services rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program for rental assistance subsidies, Public Housing rental properties managed directly by PHA, and the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion program. Supporting services include web-based portals for HCV owners, public housing residents, and HCV clients; property listing services through AffordableHousing.com; resident support programs including workforce development, entrepreneurial fellowship, and youth/family services; and the Opening Doors Initiative strategic redevelopment program. PHA also operates subsidiaries including PhillySEEDS for educational assistance and PAPMC/PHADC for property management and development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rental assistance for low-income Philadelphia households, administered by PHA via private-market landlords; tenants pay roughly 30% of adjusted gross income toward rent with PHA paying the difference through HAP contracts.
• Public Housing Program Direct-leased affordable rental housing owned and operated by PHA across Philadelphia, comprising roughly 14,000 units of low-income public housing with tenant rent based on approximately 30% of adjusted gross income.
• Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion of PHA public housing units into long-term project-based Section 8 contracts, enabling access to additional capital and operating funding while preserving affordability.
• Resident Programs and Partnerships Wraparound supportive programming for PHA residents that pairs affordable housing with workforce development, youth and family services, and homeownership-readiness pathways.
• Homeownership Programs Homeownership pathways and counseling services that help PHA residents transition from subsidized rental housing to homeownership.
• HCV Owner (Landlord) Participation Program Landlord-facing services that recruit, certify, and pay private-market owners renting to HCV holders, including Housing Quality Standards inspections, direct-deposit HAP payments, and an Owner Portal.
• PhillySEEDS Non-Profit Affiliate Services 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliate that delivers workforce development, youth and family programming, and self-sufficiency initiatives to PHA residents.
• Office of Public Safety Services In-house police, surveillance, and emergency-response services delivered across PHA's owned properties by the agency's Office of Public Safety.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sharswood transformation reduced poverty rate from 70% (2014) to 31%, raised median home values by 60% to $222,000, reduced vacant parcels by 78% and vacant buildings by 83%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and major.

• City of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHA works in partnership with the City of Philadelphia on housing and community development initiatives. Mayor Cherelle Parker has partnered with PHA on various redevelopment projects.
• Pennsylvania State GovernmentsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHA partners with state government on housing programs and initiatives.
• LMXD & MSQUAREDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partners for Westpark redevelopment project - a $500M effort to transform the 327-unit public housing site into 1,000 mixed-income housing units. Groundbreaking occurred in March 2026.
• The Michaels OrganizationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for new affordable housing complex celebrations and projects. Working with PHA on various developments.
• AffordableHousing.comsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationPHA partnered with AffordableHousing.com to provide enhanced property listing services for HCV tenants and landlords. Landlords can list rental units, tenants can search for housing.
• PennrosemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Bartram Village redevelopment in Southwest Philadelphia - a $425M project to replace the 500+ unit development with new affordable rentals.
• Temple University College of Public HealthsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with PHA during COVID pandemic to provide free vaccinations at PHA sites and improve access to health services for residents.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with PHA to distribute meals to senior citizens and families during COVID pandemic response to food insecurity.
• Philadelphia Corporation for AgingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with PHA to provide meals to senior citizens during COVID pandemic response.
• Ballard SpahrsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm providing legal support for landmark Philadelphia neighborhood makeover, specifically for Sharswood transformation project.
• Bohler EngineeringsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm supporting PHA's first affordable housing project in Center City, providing engineering and design services.
• PhillySEEDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization founded by CEO Kelvin Jeremiah in 2013 to provide educational, self-sufficiency and empowerment opportunities to PHA residents. Provided $4.2M+ in scholarships to 1,600+ residents.
• EunasecondaryTechnology or IntegrationOnline sourcing platform that streamlines and simplifies government procurement process. PHA vendors must register with Euna to access business opportunities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Detroit Housing Commission: Municipal public housing authority administering HUD-funded public housing and HCV in Detroit. Comparable in operating structure, federal funding, and urban redevelopment focus.
• San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA): Public housing authority serving San Francisco with public housing, HCV, and supportive housing programs. Comparable in urban housing market dynamics and federal funding reliance.
• Houston Housing Authority (HHA): Large Texas public housing authority providing public housing, HCV, and affordable housing redevelopment. Comparable in scale of HCV program and HUD funding dependency.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): The nation's largest public housing authority, administering public housing and Section 8/HCV programs in New York City. Directly comparable to PHA in mission, HUD funding structure, and program portfolio.
• Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA): Large county-level housing authority administering HCV and public housing programs across Los Angeles County. Comparable in HUD program administration and HCV scale.
• District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA): Public housing authority serving Washington, D.C. with public housing, HCV, and LIHTC-supported redevelopment. Comparable in urban scale, federal funding reliance, and mixed-finance redevelopment.
• Housing Authority of Baltimore City: Mid-Atlantic public housing authority providing HUD-funded housing assistance and rental subsidies. Comparable to PHA in regional urban context, HCV administration, and redevelopment pipeline.
• Boston Housing Authority (BHA): Northeastern public housing authority operating public housing, HCV, and supportive housing programs. Comparable in operating model, elderly/special population focus, and HUD funding reliance.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): Third-largest U.S. public housing authority providing public housing, HCV, and mixed-income redevelopment (e.g., Plan for Transformation) in Chicago. Comparable to PHA in scale, program mix, and redevelopment approach.
• Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta (AH): Large southeastern public housing authority administering public housing and HCV programs with significant redevelopment activity. Directly comparable in federal funding structure and resident services model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PhilaHsgAuthPHA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PhillyHousingAuthority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PHA