Seattle Housing

What Seattle Housing does

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is a public housing authority established under Washington State law and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1939 and operating with 501-1,000 employees. SHA provides subsidized rental housing and rental assistance to low-income residents of Seattle through three core programs: SHA Housing (8,636 publicly owned and managed units), Housing Choice Vouchers (8,115 tenant-based vouchers used at private rental properties), and Collaborative Housing (3,504 units provided through project-based voucher partnerships with nonprofit housing providers). Together these programs serve approximately 37,589 individuals. The organization also administers Special Purpose Vouchers targeting veterans (VASH), foster youth (FYI), families in the child welfare system (FUP), and mobility-focused moves (CMTO). Underlying technology consists of the SHA Portal, an online self-service platform used by tenants, voucher participants, and landlords, alongside an OnBase document management system and Microsoft Bookings integration for appointment scheduling. No external APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed.

SHA's revenue model is government-funded rather than commercial. Primary funding flows from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through federal grants, voucher allocations, and Choice Neighborhood Grants. Tenants pay 30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities under an income-based pricing model. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: eligible residents apply through SHA's central office, community management offices, or the SHA Portal, with no intermediated distribution layer. The customer base is segmented into low-income individuals and families (primary), Collaborative Housing provider agencies, and participating landlords in the Seattle rental market. Long-standing institutional partnerships — with HUD, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the City of Seattle, Seattle Public Schools, Seattle University, King County Housing Authority, and community-based nonprofits — extend service delivery beyond housing into education, employment (JobLink), health, and youth development. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Seattle Housing

Legal name

Seattle Housing Authority

Website

https://seattlehousing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Seattle Housing Authority is a public housing authority providing subsidized rental housing and rental assistance to approximately 37,589 low-income Seattle residents across owned units, tenant-based vouchers, and nonprofit partnerships, supported by HUD funding and a self-service online portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

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 Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Affordable housing
• Public housing assistance
• Rental subsidies
• Housing choice vouchers
• Collaborative housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Funding: Primary funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to subsidize rental housing and provide rental assistance vouchers to eligible low-income households.
2. Tenant Rent Payments: Residents pay 30% of their monthly income for rent and utilities under the income-based pricing model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) provides subsidized rental housing and rental assistance to low-income residents of Seattle through three primary programs: SHA Housing (8,636 publicly owned and managed units), Housing Choice Vouchers (8,115 tenant-based vouchers used at private rentals), and Collaborative Housing (3,504 units via project-based vouchers with nonprofit partners). The authority also delivers supportive services including JobLink employment assistance, education and scholarship programs, and health and social services, serving approximately 37,589 individuals.

Product overview

Seattle Housing Authority operates a multi-component housing assistance platform consisting of direct public housing management (SHA Housing), tenant-based and project-based rental assistance (Housing Choice Vouchers, Collaborative Housing), and specialized voucher programs for targeted populations. Supporting services include the SHA Portal for online self-service, the JobLink employment program, educational initiatives with scholarship opportunities, and an appointment scheduling system. The organization serves approximately 37,589 individuals across 8,636 SHA-owned units, 8,115 tenant-based vouchers, and 3,504 Collaborative Housing units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SHA Housing SHA's publicly-owned and managed subsidized rental housing units (8,636 units) for people with low incomes in Seattle. Includes eligibility requirements, property search tools, and application processes for tenants.
• Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) Rental assistance program allowing eligible tenants (8,115 active vouchers) to use vouchers to rent from over 1,500 private landlords in the Seattle market. Includes eligibility determination, waitlist management, and portability features.
• Collaborative Housing Partnership program where SHA subsidizes affordable housing (3,504 units) through project-based vouchers and Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab) arrangements with private nonprofit housing providers. Households must earn 50% or less of area median income.
• Special Purpose Vouchers Specialized voucher programs including Foster Youth to Independence (FYI), Family Unification Program (FUP), Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), and Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO), each targeting specific populations such as homeless veterans, foster youth, and families seeking higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
• SHA Portal Online self-service portal for tenants, voucher participants, and landlords to manage accounts, submit maintenance requests, make payments, view caseworker information, and conduct business with SHA electronically 24/7.
• JobLink Employment and education program connecting SHA tenants to job opportunities, training, education, and resources to increase self-sufficiency.
• Online Appointment Booking System Online appointment scheduling system integrated with Microsoft Office 365 for HCV participants, landlords, and applicants to meet with SHA staff including Certification Specialists and Housing Counselors.
• Education & Scholarship Programs Programs supporting educational attainment including K-12 resources, youth engagement, scholarships (Dream Big!, WSOS, NAHRO, HAI, NAHMA), and partnerships with Seattle Public Schools and higher education institutions such as Seattle University.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37,589 individuals served with housing assistance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011HUD awards Choice Neighborhood Grants and allocates Housing Choice Vouchers. SHA received a Choice Neighborhood Grant in 2011 for the Yesler neighborhood to create a cradle-through-college pipeline of learning resources.
• Private nonprofit housing providerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHA partners with agencies and local nonprofits that provide housing through the Collaborative Housing program. Most is funded through project-based vouchers attached to units operated by private nonprofit housing providers. These are long-term funding commitments that stay with the housing units.
• Seattle Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership to support academic and social success of SHA students. Over 5,400 school-age children and teens in SHA-assisted families represent more than 1 in 10 Seattle Public School students. Partnership includes technology access, food distribution, and educational support programs.
• Seattle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Yesler Choice Neighborhood initiative to create educational supports for low-income children from early learning through college preparation and scholarships.
• King County Housing Authority (KCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of Creating Moves to Opportunity (CMTO) program to evaluate interventions effective at encouraging families with vouchers to move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program where HUD allocates vouchers and VA provides case management services for homeless veterans.
• YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program - YMCA voucher specialists help eligible youth with the application process.
• Catholic Community ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides youth tutoring at SHA communities including Jackson Park Village, NewHolly, High Point, Rainier Vista, and Yesler.
• East African Community ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers after-school tutoring for youth at NewHolly SHA community.
• SafeFuturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides tutoring for middle and high school youth at High Point SHA community.
• City of SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Home from School pilot at Bailey Gatzert Elementary to provide stable housing for homeless families, alongside Seattle Public Schools.
• Neighborhood HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts Parent-Child Home Program with 25 families at Yesler community, part of educational support programming.
• Puget Sound Educational Service DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Race to the Top, Deep Dive 3 grant supporting students in Southeast Seattle living in SHA housing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving Chicago's low-income residents with public housing units and Housing Choice Vouchers. Operates a multi-program model similar to SHA across owned housing, vouchers, and supportive services.
• Atlanta Housing Authority: Atlanta's public housing authority providing affordable housing through public housing units, vouchers, and mixed-income redevelopment. Operates a comparable subsidized housing platform for a major US city.
• Boston Housing Authority: Boston's public housing authority administering public housing units, Section 8 vouchers, and partner-managed affordable housing. Operates a similar multi-program affordable housing platform.
• Denver Housing Authority: Denver's public housing authority providing affordable housing through public housing, vouchers, and supportive services. Comparable peer with similar portfolio scale and program structure.
• San Francisco Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving San Francisco's low-income residents with public housing, vouchers, and supportive programs. Comparable peer given similar high-cost West Coast urban market dynamics.
• King County Housing Authority: Regional housing authority serving King County (including Seattle metro). SHA's existing CMTO partner and operates a directly comparable affordable housing and voucher program across the same geographic region.
• New York City Housing Authority: The largest public housing authority in the US, providing subsidized housing and vouchers to low-income residents in New York City. Directly comparable to SHA as a city-level public agency administering public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and partner-managed affordable units.
• District of Columbia Housing Authority: DC's public housing authority administering public housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and supportive services for low-income residents. Comparable in scale, program mix, and urban setting.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority: Philadelphia's public housing authority providing subsidized housing and rental assistance to low-income residents. Comparable as a large municipal housing authority with mixed-income redevelopment initiatives.
• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA): Los Angeles's public housing authority providing subsidized rental housing and Section 8 vouchers. Comparable to SHA in scale, multi-program structure, and operation within a high-cost West Coast metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seattlehousing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seattle-housing-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/seattlehousingauthority
• Xx.com/Seattle_Housing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Seattle Housing