Chester Housing Authority

What Chester Housing Authority does

Chester Housing Authority (CHA) is a government public housing authority chartered in 1937 and headquartered at 1111 Avenue of the States in Chester, Pennsylvania, operating as Chester's largest affordable housing provider. The authority owns and operates or co-manages twelve housing developments serving over 2,500 families and senior citizens through its Public Housing Program, and separately administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP/Section 8) assisting approximately 1,600 additional families in Chester and surrounding Delaware County, with around 500 private landlords participating as housing providers. CHA derives the majority of its operating funding from HUD appropriations (Public Housing Operating Fund, HCVP administrative fees, Housing Assistance Payments to landlords, Capital Fund grants) and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) state grants, supplemented by USDA, foundation, and City of Chester funding; resident rent is income-based at 30% of adjusted income with a flat-rent alternative.

CHA's underlying technology stack is conventional public-housing infrastructure with no proprietary platforms: HCVP program management, TenMast landlord portal at chesterha.tenmast.com, RentPayment.com for online rent collection (including a Best Egg financing option for residents), Google Analytics and Google Maps APIs, Constant Contact for email subscriptions, PennBid for procurement, and McCright and Associates as a contract Housing Quality Standards inspector. Beyond housing, CHA operates two community-development sub-programs: the two-acre Ruth Bennett Community Farm (a food-security and beginning-farmer training program in a designated food desert) and the Entrepreneur Innovation Center (a STEM, music production, apparel design, podcasting, and finance lab at the Booker T. Washington Community Center), along with the Making A Difference Scholarship Fund and ANUME cardiovascular health program.

CHA's go-to-market is community-led and government-funded rather than commercial: residents apply through waiting lists (currently closed) with eligibility screening on income, household size, citizenship, renter history, and criminal background; HCVP landlords are recruited and onboarded via an owner handbook and self-serve portal. CHA is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by Chester's Mayor and City Council to staggered five-year terms, holds a wholly-owned nonprofit subsidiary (Chester Housing Initiatives, Inc.), and is led by CEO Cindy Thompson, appointed September 2024.

Name

Chester Housing Authority

Legal name

Chester Housing Authority

Website

https://chesterha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chester Housing Authority is a government public housing authority, chartered 1937, that owns 12 affordable housing developments serving 2,500+ families and administers Housing Choice Vouchers for 1,600+ additional families in Chester, Pennsylvania, funded primarily by HUD and PHFA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Public Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Public housing services
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable housing programs
• Resident development programs
• Senior housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Housing Rent: Residents pay income-based rent (30% of adjusted income) or flat rent options. This is the primary operational revenue for maintaining public housing developments.
2. Housing Assistance Payments from HUD: Federal funding through the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The CHA administers approximately 1,600 vouchers. HUD pays housing assistance payments to landlords on behalf of participating families.
3. HCVP Landlord Participation: Approximately 500 private owners have invested in the HCVP program, paying rent to participate in the housing voucher ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Chester Housing Authority is a government public housing authority that owns, operates, and co-manages twelve affordable housing developments serving over 2,500 families and seniors in Chester, PA, and administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program assisting approximately 1,600 families through partnerships with about 500 private landlords. Beyond core housing, CHA delivers community development programs including the Ruth Bennett Community Farm, the Entrepreneur Innovation Center, the Making A Difference Scholarship, and resident support services.

Product overview

Chester Housing Authority operates as a unified housing authority offering Public Housing across 12 developments serving over 2,500 families and senior citizens, combined with the Housing Choice Voucher Program assisting approximately 1,600 additional families. The organization complements its core housing mission with community development programs including the Ruth Bennett Community Farm (2-acre urban farm addressing food security), the Entrepreneur Innovation Center (technology/entrepreneurship training), and the Making A Difference scholarship program. Additional offerings include the Ready, Set, Go! health-focused cleaning guide book.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Making A Difference (M.A.D) Scholarship Fund: Scholarship program established in 2019 to assist college-enrolled residents who show strong academic success and involvement in extracurricular activities.
• Ruth Bennett Community Farm
• Entrepreneur Innovation Center

Products and services

• Public Housing Program Chester Housing Authority owns, operates, and co-manages twelve affordable housing developments providing subsidized rental housing to over 2,500 families and senior citizens in Chester, Pennsylvania, with income-based rent (30% of adjusted income) and flat rent options.
• Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) Federal rental assistance program offering tenant-based and project-based rental assistance plus homeownership option, assisting approximately 1,500-1,600 families in Chester and surrounding area through partnerships with approximately 500 private property owners.
• Ruth Bennett Community Farm Two-acre educational farm and environmental education center providing food security, community health initiatives, job-readiness training, and beginning farmer programs for CHA residents and surrounding neighborhoods, including bi-weekly free organic produce box distributions and weekly farmers markets.
• Entrepreneur Innovation Center Technology and entrepreneurship hub at Booker T. Washington Community Center featuring STEM career training, music production, apparel design, podcasting, television/radio production, and a finance lab with stock market capabilities.
• Making A Difference (M.A.D) Scholarship Scholarship program founded in 2019 to assist college-enrolled CHA residents who demonstrate strong academic success and involvement in extracurricular activities, awarding $1,000 scholarships to qualifying students.
• Ready, Set, Go! Action Plan

Quantifiable outcome

• Assists 1,600 families through HCVP
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• City of ChestercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2023Municipal partnership with Mayor Stefan Roots for affordable housing initiatives and community revitalization. CHA is chartered by the city and works closely with city departments.
• United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary federal partner providing funding, regulatory oversight, and program guidance for public housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. CHA receives Capital Fund grants, HCVP funding, and special mobility demonstration grants totaling millions annually.
• Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency (PHFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner providing Housing Options Program grants and other affordable housing funding. Awarded $5 million grant for Ruth L. Bennett Homes rehabilitation.
• Chester Eastside Ministries, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing services including administration support. Board member Tonya Warren serves as Administrator for Chester Eastside Ministries.
• Chester Upland School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership supporting youth programs and educational initiatives for CHA residents.
• Crozer-Keystone Health SystemsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing health services, COVID testing sites, and health education for residents. Partnered on ANUME health program and farm volunteer activities.
• Widener UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership providing carpentry courses, student volunteers, and educational programming for residents. Board member Catherine Feminella serves at Widener University.
• Swarthmore CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege partnership providing student volunteers and social programming opportunities for CHA residents.
• Neumann UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partnership supporting community programs and student engagement.
• The Foundation for Delaware CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic partner providing grants for community farm operations, food distribution, and resident services including funding for CARES Act response.
• St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church (Broomall)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partnership for holiday toy donations and community events. Donates toys for CHA children during holiday season.
• Bethany Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community partner supporting resident services and community programs.
• Delaware County Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partnership for housing mobility demonstration program and regional housing initiatives. Partner in HUD's Housing Choice Mobility Demonstration.
• Chester County Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for housing mobility demonstration program. CHA partnered with Chester County Housing Authority in HUD's Housing Choice Mobility Demonstration receiving 56 vouchers and $3.5 million.
• Legal Aid of Southeastern PennsylvaniaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services partner providing assistance to residents on housing and legal matters.
• Red Brick CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial tenant at William Penn Homes community center providing restaurant services. Partnered for Priority: Delco Thrive events.
• Enrichment AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial tenant providing educational services at CHA properties.
• Avenue PharmacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial tenant providing pharmacy services to residents and community.
• The Food TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood access partner supporting community farm initiatives and healthy food distribution programs.
• Philly FoodworksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood distribution partner supporting farm operations and participated in farm delegation tours to southern farms.
• Pennsylvania Horticultural SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorticultural partner supporting community farm development and programming.
• Council of Large Public Housing AuthoritiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization representing large housing authorities for advocacy and best practices sharing.
• Public Housing Authorities Directors Association (PHADA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association providing advocacy and professional development for housing authority directors.
• Devon Preparatory SchoolmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school whose students designed and built technology labs for the Entrepreneur Innovation Center, including computer donation to resident student.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): The largest public housing authority in Pennsylvania, administering tens of thousands of public housing units and HCVP vouchers in Philadelphia. Directly comparable to CHA as a fellow PA- and HUD-regulated housing authority, though PHA is significantly larger and operates in a major metropolitan market.
• Housing Authority of the City of Wilmington: Mid-Atlantic public housing authority serving Wilmington, Delaware — geographically adjacent to Chester, PA. Comparable in scale and program mix (public housing + HCVP) and serves a similarly distressed mid-Atlantic urban community, making it a close operational peer.
• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh: Major Pennsylvania housing authority operating public housing, HCVP, and resident services programs in Pittsburgh. Comparable as a PA housing authority navigating post-industrial urban housing challenges and pursuing similar HUD demonstration programs.
• Harrisburg Housing Authority: Pennsylvania state capital housing authority operating public housing and HCVP programs. Comparable scale to CHA, with similar program mix and regulatory environment, and serves a similarly sized distressed urban community.
• Reading Housing Authority: Pennsylvania-based housing authority serving the City of Reading. Comparable in size and program mix, serving a small-to-mid-sized post-industrial city with significant affordable housing demand — a structural parallel to Chester.
• Lancaster Housing Authority: Pennsylvania housing authority operating public housing developments and HCVP in Lancaster. Comparable in scale and program structure, providing another PA-urban peer against which to benchmark CHA's operations and program outcomes.

Direct peers

• Delaware County Housing Authority: County-level housing authority that partners with CHA on the HUD Housing Choice Mobility Demonstration. Directly comparable in service model (public housing + HCVP administration) and operates in CHA's immediate service area.
• Chester County Housing Authority: Neighbor county housing authority partnered with CHA on HUD's Mobility Demonstration, sharing 56 vouchers and $3.4M+ in funding. Comparable program administration model and joint service delivery makes this a direct operational peer.
• Norristown Housing Authority: Suburban Philadelphia-area housing authority of similar size to CHA, administering public housing and HCVP in Montgomery County. Close functional peer with similar resident demographics and program scale.

Broad incumbents

• Housing Authority of Baltimore City: Large Mid-Atlantic urban housing authority administering tens of thousands of units and a major HCVP program. Comparable in core function and regulatory framework, with a similar focus on distressed urban housing markets in the same coastal region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzUVvc6xjKYuGKCPsBmetdw
• Facebookfacebook.com/chesterhousingauthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chester-housing-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/chesterhousingauthority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Chester Housing Authority