Pierce County Housing Authority

What Pierce County Housing Authority does

Pierce County Housing Authority (PCHA), legally The Pierce County Housing Authority of Tacoma, Washington, is a quasigovernmental public body corporate and politic established in 1978 under Washington State statute RCW 35.82. It administers federal HUD affordable housing programs within Pierce County outside Tacoma city limits, serving more than 5,100 households annually through three core channels: 2,600 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), 124 Low-Income Public Housing units (currently being repositioned via HUD-approved Section 18 disposition), and 670 owned apartment units across eight properties (Brookridge, Chateau Rainier, DeMark, Hidden Village, Lakewood Village, Oakleaf, Orting, and Village Square). Tenants in subsidized units pay 30% of household income toward rent, with the balance funded by HUD housing assistance payments to landlords via direct deposit since May 2015.

PCHA's technology stack is built on Yardi RentCafe, which provides landlord and resident portals for rent collection, maintenance work orders, housing assistance payment reporting, and tenant communication. The agency also uses MRSC Rosters for procurement, Zoom for public board meetings, and standard PDF tools for bid documentation. It does not expose any public-facing APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities. Operations are supported by less than 40 employees, including a full-time maintenance team, indicating an unusually high revenue-to-headcount ratio relative to private-market property managers.

PCHA's revenue model is structurally a pass-through of federal appropriations: primary funding flows from HUD's HCV and Public Housing programs, supplemented by Washington State government assistance, tenant rental income, and bond issuance authority for capital projects. The agency is currently executing a Section 18 repositioning of its scattered-site LIPH portfolio to unlock up to $200M for affordable housing development, including a 150-unit Faircloth-to-RAD conversion. In August 2025, PCHA rebranded to Housing Pierce County and relocated its headquarters to Puyallup, WA in November 2024 to support growth. Community outreach is delivered through partnerships with 211/United Way, Catholic Community Services, Goodwill, YWCA, Lutheran Social Services, Pierce County Human Services, and workforce programs such as Youth Works and WorkFirst.

Name

Pierce County Housing Authority

Legal name

The Pierce County Housing Authority of Tacoma, Washington

Website

https://pchawa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pierce County Housing Authority is a quasigovernmental public body that administers federal HUD affordable housing programs in Pierce County, Washington, serving over 5,100 low-income, elderly, and disabled households annually through 2,600 Section 8 vouchers, 124 public housing units, and 670 owned apartments across eight properties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate (6500), Services-Social Services (8300)

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 Benefits & Rent Subsidy Administration (BPAIAKAG)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Public housing programs
• Rental assistance
• Housing choice vouchers
• Subsidized housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal HUD Funding: Primary funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Housing Choice Voucher Program and Public Housing operations
2. State Government Funding: Financial assistance from Washington State government for affordable housing operations
3. Rental Income: Collects rent from LIPH residents (30% of household income) and from residents in PCHA-owned apartment communities
4. Bond Issuance: Authority has power to issue bonds for capital projects and development

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pierce County Housing Authority administers federal housing assistance programs including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (2,600 vouchers) and Low-Income Public Housing (124 units), and directly owns and operates 8 apartment communities comprising 670 units across Pierce County, Washington. The agency provides affordable rental housing to low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals at income-based rents (30% of household income), supplemented by Family Self-Sufficiency and Homeownership programs.

Product overview

Pierce County Housing Authority operates as a unified affordable housing platform offering direct property management through eight apartment communities (Brookridge, Chateau Rainier, DeMark, Hidden Village, Lakewood Village, Oakleaf, Orting, and Village Square) combined with rental assistance programs including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and Low Income Public Housing. The organization supports family self-sufficiency through FSS and homeownership programs, and is implementing Section 18 repositioning to replace scattered single-family homes with new multifamily development. Services are delivered through the Yardi RentCafe portal for tenant and landlord access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Federal rental assistance program administered through HUD that makes decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing more affordable to low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families through housing vouchers. PCHA administers 2,600 vouchers, paying landlord portion of rent directly while tenant pays 30% of adjusted income.
• Low Income Public Housing (LIPH) Program allowing Pierce County Housing Authority to offer affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing to families meeting eligibility criteria. Comprises 122 single-family homes and 2 duplex units across Pierce County being repositioned through Section 18 disposition, with residents transferred to Tenant Protection Vouchers.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Program providing employment assessment, job search referral, asset building assistance, and financial education to Section 8 or Public Housing participants. Includes escrow account building for employed participants to support transition to financial independence.
• Homeownership Program Program assisting Section 8 or Low Income Public Housing participants in purchasing homes in Pierce County outside Tacoma city limits through financial preparation and homeownership classes.
• Brookridge Apartments Apartment community in Lakewood, WA with 1 and 2 bedroom units priced from $1,050 + utilities. Features include playground, pool, sports court, and bus line access. No pets policy for new move-ins starting November 1, 2021.
• Chateau Rainier Apartment community in Fife, WA offering 1-3 bedroom units priced from $1,300 + utilities, with washer/dryer included. Amenities include fireplace, indoor pool, spa, sauna, and fitness center.
• DeMark Apartments Apartment community in Tacoma, WA with 1 and 2 bedroom units priced from $1,200 + utilities. Features include outdoor pool, fitness room, entertainment room, and private patios.
• Hidden Village Apartments Apartment community in Tacoma, WA offering 1 bedroom units at $1,050 + utilities in a quiet fenced community with laundry facilities, deluxe kitchens, and parkland area access.
• Lakewood Village Apartments Apartment community in Lakewood, WA with 1-3 bedroom units priced from $1,300 + utilities, near Fort Lewis and McCord. Features include walk-in closets, dishwasher, pool, fitness center, and hiking trail; washer/dryer included.
• Oakleaf Apartments Apartment community in Lakewood, WA offering 1 bedroom starter apartments at $1,000 + utilities, with oak grove, laundry facilities, and proximity to Lakewood Towne Center.
• Orting Apartments Senior and disabled housing in Orting, WA offering 1 bedroom federally subsidized units based on income. Security Deposit $300, Screening Fee $33. Must be disabled OR 62 years of age or older. Includes cabana, laundry, and kitchen facilities.
• Village Square Apartments Apartment community in Lakewood, WA with 1 and 2 bedroom units priced from $1,000 + utilities. Features include fireplace, deluxe kitchen, and playground near Lakewood Towne Center.
• Section 18 Repositioning Program HUD-approved disposition program repositioning 122 Low-Income Public Housing single-family homes to generate proceeds for affordable housing development. Generates up to $200 million for new multifamily units through Faircloth-to-RAD conversion, with $25 million in proceeds to date. Residents are transferred to Tenant Protection Vouchers.
• Youth Works and WorkFirst Programs Partnership programs placing young adults ages 18-21 into entry-level employment and providing WorkFirst welfare-to-work training including office assistant, painter, and maintenance technician positions at PCHA work sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves more than 5,100 households annually
• +3 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

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Relocation Consultant Services (DEV-26-01)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 January 2026Consultant services for relocation of LIPH residents during Section 18 repositioning. Bid opportunity for assisting with Chateau Rainier relocation as part of disposition process.
• Youth Works (Private Industry Council/WorkSource)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to place young adults ages 18-21 into entry-level employment at PCHA work sites. Youth Works provides all wages including Labor and Industry liability. On-the-job training is provided at the work site. PCHA gains entry-level manpower at no cost while worker gains job skills and experience.
• WorkFirst (Welfare Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing low-income welfare participants with on-the-job training through WEX (work-experience) and CJs (community jobs) programs. PCHA provides employment opportunities including Office Assistants, Painters, and Apartment Maintenance Technicians. Participants gain skills needed for gainful employment.
• 211/United Way of Pierce CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated entry system for housing assistance referrals. Many organizations do intake through the 211 number run by United Way. Primary referral pathway for individuals seeking PCHA housing assistance.
• Catholic Community ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal agency providing services to low-income families. Referral source for housing assistance programs.
• Goodwill IndustriesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity agency supporting low-income families with employment and training services. Resource partner for community outreach.
• YWCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWomen's shelter and services organization. Crisis line and referral source for housing assistance for domestic violence survivors.
• Lutheran Social ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity services organization providing assistance to low-income families. Resource partner for community outreach and referrals.
• Pierce County Human ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty government department providing human services including rental assistance programs. Coordination on housing needs.
• General Development Partnership Opportunities (DEV-24-02)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRFP for general development partnership opportunities for affordable housing development. Part of $200M development pipeline from Section 18 repositioning. Award to Hidden Firs Intent to Award.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tacoma Housing Authority: Operates as the neighboring public housing authority within Pierce County, administering Section 8 vouchers and affordable housing for Tacoma city limits, the geography carved out from PCHA's jurisdiction. Most direct functional and geographic peer.
• King County Housing Authority: Washington State public housing authority administering Section 8, public housing, and affordable rental portfolios across suburban King County. Comparable program mix, scale, and regulatory framework.
• Seattle Housing Authority: Major Pacific Northwest public housing authority operating low-income public housing and Section 8 programs. Comparable statutory structure under Washington law and similar resident demographics.
• Snohomish County Housing Authority: Neighboring Washington State housing authority administering Section 8 and affordable housing in Snohomish County. Closely comparable programmatic scope, funding mix, and resident profile.

Broad incumbents

• Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA): Large municipal housing authority operating Section 8, public housing, and affordable development at much greater scale. Comparable statutory structure as a public body politic with HUD funding.
• Boston Housing Authority: Municipal public housing authority administering federal HUD programs in Boston. Comparable program mix including Section 8 vouchers and Low-Income Public Housing units.
• Chicago Housing Authority: Large public housing authority with deep Section 8 and public housing portfolios undergoing repositioning and RAD conversions. Comparable repositioning playbook to PCHA's Section 18 strategy.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): Largest public housing authority in the U.S. operating public housing and Section 8 programs. Provides a useful upper bound on regulatory and capital structure dynamics facing PCHA.
• San Francisco Housing Authority: Municipal housing authority administering federal Section 8 and public housing in a high-cost West Coast housing market. Comparable to PCHA in program mix and West Coast operating environment.
• Atlanta Housing Authority: Public housing authority operating Section 8 and affordable housing programs, including significant mixed-finance repositioning efforts. Comparable repositioning and development strategy to PCHA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Pierce County Housing Authority