Winter Haven Housing Authority

What Winter Haven Housing Authority does

Winter Haven Housing Authority (WHHA) is a government public housing authority established in 1978 and designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer federal affordable housing programs in the City of Winter Haven and Greater Polk County, Florida, including Auburndale, Bartow, Haines City, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, and Lake Wales. WHHA operates two core programs: Public Housing, under which it directly owns and operates 164 rental units across three complexes (Lake Deer, Lucerne Park, and Grove Manor/Palm Place, plus the Lakeside Terrace Apartments and a single-family home pilot in the Florence Villa Community Redevelopment District), serving low-income families, elderly residents, and persons with disabilities; and the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) program, under which WHHA issues vouchers and disburses Housing Assistance Payments to private-market landlords on behalf of eligible families. Resident rent is calculated at approximately 30% of adjusted monthly income, while voucher holders pay no more than 40% of adjusted monthly income toward rent, with payment standards set by HUD Fair Market Rent schedules (FY 2025 standards ranging from $1,226 for an efficiency to $3,753 for a 6-bedroom unit).

WHHA's revenue model is fundamentally dependent on federal HUD appropriations covering both administrative fees and pass-through Housing Assistance Payments, supplemented by small rental income from public housing residents (income-based), and periodic grant funding from county and city sources (e.g., $38,000 CDBG-COVID-19 grant in 2020, $1 million employment training grant in 2023). The organization is actively pursuing an aggressive inventory expansion strategy, partnering with Miami-based Pantheon Development Group on the $28 million Hillcrest Reserve project (expanding Lucerne Park from 60 to 120 units) and Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities on the $22.5 million Florence Place project (88 units targeting 40-60% of AMI). Supporting programs include the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, a 5-year initiative delivering job training, credit repair, transportation assistance, tutoring, and money management through partnerships with local social service agencies and Habitat for Humanity.

Name

Winter Haven Housing Authority

Legal name

Winter Haven Housing Authority

Website

https://winterhavenhousing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Winter Haven Housing Authority is a HUD-designated public housing authority, established in 1978, that administers Public Housing and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs for low-income families, elderly, and disabled residents across 164 units in Winter Haven and Greater Polk County, Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), State & Local Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) (FSALAKAA), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Public housing programs
• Affordable rental housing
• Housing choice vouchers
• Section 8 administration
• Family self-sufficiency

Headquarters

HQ city

Winter Haven

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Funding and Subsidies: Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to operate Public Housing and Section 8 HCV programs. Funding covers housing assistance payments to landlords and administrative costs.
2. Rental Income - Public Housing: Rent payments from public housing residents, calculated as approximately 30% of adjusted monthly income. Residents pay their share of rent based on income-based formula.
3. Housing Assistance Payments: Federal subsidies paid to landlords on behalf of Section 8 HCV participants. WHHA receives HAP funds from HUD and disburses to property owners for assisted units.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Winter Haven Housing Authority (WHHA) operates as a HUD-designated Public Housing Authority providing affordable rental housing through two core programs: Public Housing (directly operated rental units for low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities) and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, which provides rental subsidies in the private market. It also administers the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, a 5-year initiative that helps participants achieve economic independence through job training, credit repair, transportation assistance, and other supportive services delivered via community partnerships.

Product overview

The Winter Haven Housing Authority operates as a public housing authority providing affordable housing services through multiple programs. Its core offerings include Public Housing (rental units for low-income families, elderly, and disabled persons), the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, and the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. The organization administers 164 public housing units across three properties, plus HCV vouchers, serving the City of Winter Haven and Greater Polk County. Additional services include senior housing properties, a scholarship program, youth tutoring, and an interactive housing locations map. The organization was established in 1978.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Housing Program Rental housing program for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. WHHA has been the sole provider of Public Housing in the City of Winter Haven since 1978, operating 164 units across three complexes including family communities and a dedicated elderly site (e.g., Grove Manor).
• Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8 HCV) Program Federal rental subsidy program that enables eligible low- and moderate-income families to rent housing in the private market. WHHA issues vouchers, families locate qualifying units, and the Housing Authority disburses Housing Assistance Payments directly to participating landlords on behalf of voucher holders, with families typically paying no more than 40% of adjusted monthly income toward rent.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program A 5-year HUD program that helps Public Housing and HCV participants achieve economic independence and transition off federal housing assistance. Services include job training, credit repair, transportation assistance, tutoring, childcare referrals, substance abuse treatment, parenting skills workshops, and money management, delivered through partnerships with local social service agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Families pay no more than 40% of adjusted monthly income toward rent under Section 8

Named customers3 records

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• United Way of Central FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2023United Way of Central Florida has partnered with WHHA on meal distribution programs for seniors and other residents during COVID-19, delivering hundreds of meals to public housing residents.
• Pantheon Development GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2021WHHA is partnering with Miami-based Pantheon Development Group to redevelop Lucerne Park Apartments. The $28 million Hillcrest Reserve project will double the complex from 60 to 120 units with new one, two, three, and four-bedroom units.
• Blue Sky CommunitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2021WHHA is partnering with Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities on the $22.5 million Florence Place project, an 88-unit affordable housing development targeting families earning 40-60% of AMI.
• Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (FAHRO)minorOthersWHHA is a member of FAHRO, a state-level professional organization for housing authorities in Florida, providing networking and advocacy resources.
• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)coreOthersWHHA is a member of NAHRO, the national professional organization for housing and community development officials. Executive Director Lisa Jones Watkins serves on the SERC-NAHRO Public Relations Committee responsible for the quarterly SERCulator Magazine publication.
• Public Housing Authority Directors Association (PHADA)coreOthersWHHA is a member of PHADA, an organization of 1,900 housing authorities across the United States that advocates before HUD on regulations governing public housing. PHADA offers scholarship programs for resident youth.
• SERC-NAHRO (Southeast Regional Council)coreOthersWHHA participates in SERC-NAHRO, the Southeast Regional Council of NAHRO, which publishes the SERCulator Magazine. Executive Director Watkins serves on the SERC-NAHRO Public Relations Committee.
• Habitat for Humanity of East Polk CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabitat for Humanity speaks to WHHA Family Self-Sufficiency Participants about their homeownership program and conducts tours of Habitat homes under construction. Several WHHA families have benefited from this program.
• City of Winter HavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Winter Haven donated land for WHHA's pilot single-family home initiative in the Florence Villa Community Redevelopment District and has committed $1 million toward Hillcrest Reserve and $460,000 toward Florence Place projects.
• Local Social Service AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHHA partners with a host of local social service and independent agencies throughout the greater Winter Haven community to provide job training, credit repair, transportation assistance, tutoring, childcare referrals, substance abuse treatment, parenting skills workshops, and money management services through the Family Self-Sufficiency Program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lakeland Housing Authority: Neighboring public housing authority serving Lakeland, FL, also within Polk County. Operates Public Housing and Section 8 HCV programs with comparable program structure and regulatory framework, making it the closest functional peer.
• Bartow Housing Authority: Direct municipal peer located in Bartow, FL, also in Polk County. Provides the same Public Housing and Section 8 services to a small, low-income population, making it a near-equivalent scale and scope operator.
• Polk County Housing Division: The county-level housing counterpart in WHHA's service area. Operates similar federal- and state-funded affordable housing programs, including rental assistance and rehabilitation, serving overlapping populations in Polk County.
• Haines City Housing Authority: Local housing authority in central Polk County administering Public Housing and HCV programs to a similarly-sized low-income population. Directly comparable jurisdiction and program portfolio.

Regional players

• Hillsborough County Housing Authority: Tampa-area public housing authority. Comparable in mission and program mix (Public Housing, HCV, special programs) but operates at a much larger scale and serves an adjacent metropolitan region.
• Orlando Housing Authority: Central Florida public housing authority serving the Orlando metro. Operates the same HUD-funded programs (Public Housing, HCV, FSS) at materially larger scale, providing a relevant operational benchmark.
• Tampa Housing Authority: Tampa-based public housing authority operating Public Housing, HCV, and affordable housing development. Comparable program structure but with significantly larger portfolio and urban operating context.
• Charlotte County Housing Authority: Regional Florida housing authority on the Gulf Coast. Operates Public Housing and Section 8 programs for a similar small-metro population, providing a comparable institutional model in a hurricane-exposed region.

Broad incumbents

• Jacksonville Housing Authority: One of Florida's largest public housing authorities. Operates an extensive portfolio of Public Housing, HCV, and mixed-finance affordable housing developments, providing a scaled comparable model for HUD program administration.
• Miami-Dade Public Housing Agency: Largest public housing agency in Florida, administering Public Housing, HCV, and special programs in Miami-Dade County. Provides a scaled-up comparable for HUD program administration in a high-demand urban market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winter-haven-housing-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Winter Haven Housing Authority