Rockford Housing Authority

What Rockford Housing Authority does

Rockford Housing Authority (RHA) is a municipal public housing authority established in 1951 under Illinois state law, headquartered at 223 S. Winnebago Street in Rockford, Illinois. The agency administers federally subsidized affordable housing programs for low-income families, seniors, disabled individuals, veterans experiencing homelessness, and youth aged 16–24, serving a catchment where 54.3% of residents are seniors or disabled and more than 3,400 children are reached annually. RHA operates a portfolio that includes 300+ scattered-site public housing units (Low Income Public Housing, or LIPH) and a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) program that channels subsidy payments to private landlords.

RHA's core products are HCV, LIPH, and the HUD Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration program, supplemented by an integrated human services stack: Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Jobs Plus, YouthBuild, Leadership Development Institute (LDI), ConnectHome (digital inclusion), Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS), Resident Self-Sufficiency (RSS), and Section III economic development. Resident-facing technology includes a Yardi-based property management back end, an online customer portal (portal.rockfordha.org), an online application system (apply.rockfordha.org), SMS messaging, an FOIA request system, and an internal digital TV channel.

The business model is federally funded rather than market-priced. Revenue flows from HUD Operating Subsidies, Capital Fund grants, Housing Choice Voucher funding, and MTW Block Grants, supplemented by tenant rent contributions (residents pay approximately 30% of adjusted gross income, generating over $2.2 million annually that circulates in the local economy). The agency is governed by a Board of Commissioners, led by CEO Laura Snyder, with 101–250 employees and is not a traditional equity-backed entity. Distribution is direct-to-resident through RHA offices, digital self-service, and a private landlord partnership network that expands voucher utilization.

Name

Rockford Housing Authority

Legal name

Rockford Housing Authority

Website

https://rockfordha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Rockford Housing Authority is a 1951-founded municipal public housing authority in Rockford, Illinois, administering HUD-funded Low-Income Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and a Moving to Work demonstration program, with integrated human services (FSS, YouthBuild, Jobs Plus, ConnectHome) serving low-income families, seniors, disabled individuals, veterans, and at-risk youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), 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), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE)

Keywords

• Public housing services
• Affordable housing programs
• Housing choice vouchers
• Tenant rental assistance
• Resident self-sufficiency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: Primary funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through various grant programs including Operating Subsidies, Capital Fund, Housing Choice Voucher funding, and MTW Block Grants
2. Tenant Rent Payments: Low-income residents pay approximately 30% of their adjusted gross income toward rent, with the remainder subsidized through HUD programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rockford Housing Authority operates federally-subsidized affordable housing programs for low-income residents of Rockford, Illinois, including the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program and Low-Income Public Housing (LIPH). The agency also delivers a suite of human services and self-sufficiency programs—such as Family Self-Sufficiency, Jobs Plus, YouthBuild, ConnectHome, ROSS, RSS, and Section III—designed to promote economic mobility alongside housing stability. Operating under a HUD Moving to Work designation, RHA serves residents directly through its owned housing portfolio, online application portal, and a broad community-partner ecosystem.

Product overview

Rockford Housing Authority operates a multi-program affordable housing portfolio comprising federally-subsidized rental housing (Low Income Public Housing), tenant-based rent assistance (Housing Choice Vouchers), and the Moving To Work demonstration program. Resident services are coordinated through integrated programs including Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS), Jobs Plus, YouthBuild, Leadership Development Institute (LDI), ConnectHome (digital inclusion), ROSS, RSS, and Section III. The organization delivers services through digital channels including a customer portal (portal.rockfordha.org), an online application system (apply.rockfordha.org), SMS messaging, and a digital TV channel. Together, these programs and platforms serve as a unified system designed to provide housing stability as a platform for resident self-sufficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program
• Low Income Public Housing (LIPH)
• Moving To Work (MTW) Demonstration Program
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
• Jobs Plus
• YouthBuild
• Leadership Development Institute (LDI)
• ConnectHome
• Resident Opportunities Self-Sufficiency (ROSS)
• Section III
• Resident Self Sufficiency (RSS)
• Customer Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,400 children served annually through RHA programs and services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersPrimary federal partner providing funding, regulatory oversight, and program guidance for all RHA housing programs including Housing Choice Vouchers, Low-Income Public Housing, and Moving to Work designation. HUD sets policy, provides capital funding, and ensures compliance with federal housing laws.
• Oak Street HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider conducting regular events at RHA locations providing health screenings, wellness programs, and medical referrals for residents. Partnership addresses healthcare access gaps for seniors and low-income populations.
• Northern Illinois Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular food distribution events at RHA properties ensuring food security for residents. Multiple events scheduled monthly at various RHA locations.
• Rockford Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular events bringing library services to RHA residents including bookmobile visits, digital literacy training, and educational resources at multiple RHA locations.
• OSF On CallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare services provider offering mobile health clinic services and telemedicine access at RHA locations, bringing medical care directly to residents.
• Midland BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy programs and banking services partnership providing financial education workshops, account access, and homeownership counseling for residents.
• WSM InsurancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance services partnership providing affordable insurance options and education for residents at community events.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health support and education programs for residents, including regular events and support groups at RHA locations addressing behavioral health needs.
• The Workforce ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment services partnership providing job training, job listings, career counseling, and workforce development programs connecting residents with employment opportunities.
• LifeSTEPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital inclusion and educational services partnership supporting resident technology training, digital literacy, and online safety programs.
• Gorman & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate development partner for major redevelopment projects including Fairgrounds Valley, Orton Keys, and The Grove at Keith Creek. Gorman brings tax credit development expertise and property management for new affordable housing developments.
• Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeownership partnership providing opportunities for RHA residents to achieve homeownership through sweat equity and affordable home construction programs.
• AmeriCorps VISTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal service program providing ConnectHome AmeriCorps VISTA members to bridge the digital divide for low-to-moderate income residents through technology access and training.
• Mobile BeaconsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital inclusion pilot grant supporting technology access and connectivity programs for RHA residents through mobile broadband and digital literacy initiatives.
• AT&TcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital divide initiative partnership providing low-cost internet access and devices for low-income families through HUD and AT&T collaboration at RHA properties.
• Comcast Internet EssentialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffordable internet program partnership providing discounted internet service and computer equipment for low-income families in RHA communities.
• Purpose Built CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network partnership providing guidance and support for comprehensive community development using the Purpose Built model for neighborhood revitalization.
• Choice Neighborhoods InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUD initiative partnership supporting Ellis Heights Transformation Plan for comprehensive neighborhood revitalization combining housing, schools, and community development.
• Bridge Rockford AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Acts for Strong Communities pilot site partnership, one of ten national pilot sites, providing scattered site housing transformation and comprehensive community support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Housing Authority: The largest public housing authority in Illinois and one of the largest in the U.S. CHA operates Low-Income Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and an MTW designation, serving low-income residents in Chicago with a similar combined housing + human services model.
• Housing Authority of Cook County: Illinois's second-largest PHA, administering HCV and LIPH programs across suburban Cook County. Operates a comparable mix of federally subsidized housing programs and resident self-sufficiency services, making it a close geographic and operational peer.
• Milwaukee Housing Authority: Midwest PHA serving a similarly-sized industrial city, administering LIPH, HCV, and family self-sufficiency programs with a comparable mix of public housing scattered sites and voucher-based rental assistance.
• Minneapolis Public Housing Authority: HUD-designated Moving to Work agency operating LIPH, HCV, and family self-sufficiency programs in a comparable mid-size metro market. MPHA's MTW flexibility and resident services portfolio closely mirror RHA's operating model.
• Louisville Metro Housing Authority: Mid-size PHA administering public housing, Section 8, and family self-sufficiency programs with a comparable headcount and asset base. LMHA offers a useful operational and scale benchmark for RHA.
• Atlanta Housing Authority: HUD-designated MTW agency that pioneered MTW-era program innovation including mixed-income redevelopment and self-sufficiency incentives. Comparable to RHA in its MTW-driven approach to combining housing with human services.
• King County Housing Authority: Large Pacific Northwest PHA administering LIPH, HCV, and a broad portfolio of affordable housing developments with comprehensive resident services. A useful larger-scale peer for benchmarking development and service integration.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority: One of the largest PHAs in the U.S., operating traditional public housing, HCV, and scattered-site programs combined with extensive workforce and youth development initiatives similar to RHA's FSS, Jobs Plus, and YouthBuild offerings.

Others

• Gorman & Company: RHA's development partner on Fairgrounds Valley, Orton Keys, and The Grove at Keith Creek, bringing LIHTC and affordable housing development expertise. Comparable as an ecosystem partner rather than a direct housing operator.
• Habitat for Humanity: Nonprofit homeownership partner working with RHA residents on affordable home construction and sweat-equity pathways to homeownership. Provides ecosystem context for RHA's LIPH Homeownership Initiative rather than direct operational competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rockfordhousing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfJi555Xe0eyz9kkhdUN64g
• Facebookfacebook.com/rockfordhousingauthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rockford-housing-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/rockfordhousing

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rockford Housing Authority