What Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority does

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is a federally chartered public housing authority established in 1934 under the Ohio Housing Law and operating under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Headquartered at 880 E. 11th Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, CMHA administers two principal federal housing programs across Franklin County: the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program with 13,500+ vouchers issued to eligible families in the private market, and a direct public housing portfolio of 5,100+ units across 51 communities. Together these programs serve 159,667 residents across Ohio and Washington, D.C. (via the Assisted Housing Services Corporation / CGI partnership). The organization maintains a $1.2 billion annual rental assistance flow, a nearly $1 billion operating budget, and $486 million in cumulative bond issuances backed by an A+ S&P Global credit rating.

CMHA's core product surface spans housing assistance (HCV), directly owned public housing, the HCV Homeownership Program, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program with escrow savings, VAWA tenant protections, and a digital HCV Portal powered by RentCafe that supports 24/7 applicant intake, document upload, recertification, and messaging. Property management runs on Yardi, and HCV assistance payments to landlords are disbursed electronically via U.S. Bank Supplier Prefer Pay. Specialized housing communities include family housing, senior housing (62+), youth/college/foster housing, and service-enriched housing such as Harriet's Hope (a 52-unit community for human trafficking survivors opened November 2023) and Franklin Station (permanent supportive housing). Recent development activity has averaged $150 million+ annually and reached $275 million in 2024, with new projects in 2025-2026 including Vera on Broad ($29.3 million acquisition), Thornton Hall ($52 million joint acquisition with Licking MHA), Cobblestone Manor ($28.6 million senior housing in Grove City), and AspireCOLUMBUS ($29 million mixed-income).

CMHA's business model is governmental: federal HUD appropriations and HCV subsidies flow through the organization, supplemented by tax-exempt bond financing for development and capital projects. Tenants pay approximately 30-40% of monthly adjusted income toward rent, with CMHA subsidizing the remainder up to HUD-set payment standards. Property execution is delivered through a diversified network of third-party property managers (National Church Residences, Village Green, Oakwood, Barcus, Wallick, Woda, CPO, Ludwig & Co, NRP, Casto, Sawmill Road Management, McCormack Baron) and approximately 13,500+ private-market landlords onboarded via monthly briefing classes. Customer segments served span very low-income families, seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, transition-aged youth, formerly homeless individuals, and trafficking survivors.

Name

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

Legal name

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority

Website

https://cmhanet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is a federally chartered public housing authority administering 13,500+ Housing Choice Vouchers and 5,100+ public housing units across Franklin County, Ohio. It serves 159,667 low-income residents—including families, seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals—via HUD-funded programs and a $1 billion operating budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Administration

NAICS

Other Residential Care Facilities (62399), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), 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), Fair Housing, Compliance & Housing Program Oversight (FSALAKAN)

Keywords

• Public housing authority
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable housing programs
• Rental assistance services
• Public housing management

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program Subsidies: CMHA receives federal funding from HUD to administer the Housing Choice Voucher program. A housing subsidy is paid to landlords directly by CMHA on behalf of participating families, who then pay the difference between actual rent and the subsidized amount.
2. Public Housing Operations: CMHA owns and operates public housing units, receiving federal operating subsidies from HUD to maintain and manage these properties serving low-income residents.
3. Bond Issuances for Development: CMHA leverages bond financing for preservation and creation of mixed-income housing. The organization has received an A+ rating from S&P Global and has leveraged nearly $400 million in bonds for housing development activities.
4. Development Activity: CMHA averages over $150 million annually in development activity, with $275 million in 2024. This includes new construction, renovations, and property acquisitions across Central Ohio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is a federally funded public housing authority that administers two core housing programs: (1) tenant-based Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV), paid as rental subsidies directly to private-market landlords on behalf of very low-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals, and (2) site-based Public Housing, where CMHA directly owns and operates affordable rental housing units across Central Ohio. Supporting these programs are the HCV Homeownership Program, Family Self-Sufficiency Program (with escrow savings), VAWA tenant protections, and specialized service-enriched housing for veterans, foster youth, trafficking survivors, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Product overview

Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) operates as a unified housing authority offering multiple integrated housing programs and services. The core offerings include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program and Public Housing, which together provide rental assistance and managed housing units. Supporting programs include the HCV Homeownership Program (helping voucher holders purchase homes), Family Self-Sufficiency Program (employment and savings support), and VAWA Protections (domestic violence survivor support). CMHA maintains diverse housing stock across multiple property types: Family Housing, Senior Housing, Youth/College/Foster Housing, and Service Enriched Housing. Residents access services through the RentCafe online portal, with additional tools like the HCV Affordability Calculator. Recent expansion includes new developments like Cobblestone Manor (senior housing), AspireCOLUMBUS, and Thornton Hall Apartments, as well as specialized housing like Harriet's Hope for human trafficking survivors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program The Housing Choice Voucher program provides federal rental assistance for very low-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals, allowing them to choose housing in the private market (apartments, townhomes, single-family homes). CMHA pays a housing subsidy directly to the landlord on behalf of the participating family; the family pays the difference between the actual rent and the subsidized amount up to a payment standard based on Fair Market Rent. The program covers Franklin County, Ohio, with 13,500+ vouchers issued. Applications are accepted via the RentCafe HCV Portal and the central office at 1407 Cleveland Ave., Columbus.
• Public Housing Federally funded public housing program for eligible low-income families, seniors, and persons with disabilities. CMHA owns and operates 5,100+ public housing units across 51 communities in Central Ohio, managed through site-based waitlists at each property and supported by federal operating subsidies from HUD.
• HCV Homeownership Program Federal program allowing households with Housing Choice Vouchers to use their voucher to subsidize a mortgage and purchase a home. CMHA assists residents in becoming mortgage-ready and guides them through the homeownership process, enabling voucher holders to transition from renting to owning.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Voluntary program helping families with HCV or Public Housing find and maintain stable employment while building savings. Participants work with FSS Coordinators to set goals, and as their earned income increases, CMHA deposits the resulting subsidy savings into an escrow account that participants can access upon successful program completion.
• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Protections Tenant protection program providing safety and housing stability for residents experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Protections include prohibition on denial of assistance, termination protections, and moving assistance for survivors.
• HCV Affordability Calculator Web-based online calculator helping residents estimate what their Housing Choice Voucher can cover at a given property. The tool determines whether a rental fits within program rules, ensuring that tenant rent share plus utilities does not exceed 40% of monthly adjusted income.
• HCV Portal (RentCafe) Online tenant portal powered by RentCafe providing 24/7 access for residents to view case details, complete annual recertifications, report income/family changes, upload files, and check HCV payments and inspection results from a computer or smartphone.
• Family Housing Family housing units offered across CMHA's portfolio in 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom configurations. Features include full kitchens, washer/dryer hookups, central air, cable access, off-street parking, playgrounds, and private patios, designed to accommodate low-income families with children.
• Senior Housing Housing options for residents aged 62 and older, including apartment and cottage-style homes with on-site laundry, central air, wall-to-wall carpet, and proximity to shopping, dining, and public transportation. Includes dedicated senior-designated CMHA communities such as Cobblestone Manor (82 units, grand-opened April 2026) and Harris, Poindexter Place, Chestnut Grove, Avondale, and others.
• Youth / College / Foster Housing Housing for youth ages 18–24, including dormitory-style communities, former foster youth housing, and student parent housing with education support services delivered in partnership with the OSU ACCESS Collaborative program. Includes Scholar House I, II, and III communities for foster youth and college student parents.
• Service Enriched Housing Service-enriched, permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, living with disabilities, or with other special requirements. Includes properties with on-site supportive services coordination such as Franklin Station and Harriet's Hope (52 units for human trafficking survivors).

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 159,667+ residents across Ohio and Washington, D.C.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Licking Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2026First-ever investment partnership between CMHA and LMHA to acquire Thornton Hall, a newly constructed 264-unit multifamily apartment community in Reynoldsburg for $52 million. The partnership expands affordable housing preservation across Central Ohio.
• 360° Management (Beacon 360 Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2023Development partnership for Harriet's Hope, a 52-unit supportive housing community serving human trafficking survivors. Named for abolitionist Harriet Tubman, this is the first service-enriched housing community exclusive to trafficking survivors in Columbus and among the nation's first.
• CGI FederalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023Partnership with CGI Federal and Central State University (HBCU) to create 'The Collaborative' - CMHA's first-ever affordable housing internship program providing experiential learning opportunities for CSU students while improving access to housing and helping Greater Columbus thrive.
• Central State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023Historically Black College and University (HBCU) partnered with CMHA and CGI Federal for 'The Collaborative' internship program, providing students experiential learning opportunities in affordable housing while supporting Greater Columbus economic development.
• National Church Residences (NCR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing multiple CMHA senior housing communities including Avondale, Chestnut Grove, Poindexter Place, and The Harris.
• Village GreencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing numerous CMHA properties including Canals Edge, Eden Park, New Village Homes, Magnolia Trace, The Orchards, Waldren Woods, Tussing Place, and others.
• Oakwood (Oakwood Properties)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA properties including Gables West, Copperleaf, Cabot Cove, and River & Rich partnership with Casto.
• BarcuscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing multiple CMHA properties including Eastmoor Square, Glenview Estates, Indian Meadows, Jenkins Terrace, Maplewood Heights, Ohio Townhouses, Post Oak Station, Sugar Grove, and The Meadows.
• WallickcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA properties Elim Manor and Thompkins Village (Thornwood Commons).
• WodacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA properties Broadleigh Lofts and McKinley Manor.
• CPO (Community Properties)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party management company managing CMHA properties Franklin Station and Scholar House communities (I, II, III) serving formerly homeless and foster youth populations.
• Ludwig & CocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA properties Crosswinds Village, Winchester Lakes, and Winchester Village.
• NRP (National Realty Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA's Sinclair Apartments property.
• CastocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA's Scioto Ridge and River & Rich (with Oakwood) properties.
• Sawmill Road Management CocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA properties Rosewind, Sawyer Manor/Trevitt Heights, and Worley Terrace.
• McCormack Baron ManagementcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party property management company managing CMHA's Legacy Pointe property.
• CGIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGI administers the Assisted Housing Services Corporation (AHSC) providing rental assistance to Ohio and Washington D.C. households in partnership with CMHA.
• AffordableHousing.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline platform partnership providing enhanced program for listing rental properties. Listings available to potential Housing Choice Voucher tenants seeking apartments, duplexes, single-family homes, or townhomes in the private market.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Housing Authority (SHA): Municipal PHA operating public housing and HCV programs with active mixed-income development pipeline. Comparable programmatic model and HUD funding structure to CMHA.
• Boston Housing Authority (BHA): Municipal PHA serving a major Northeastern metro with public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and mixed-income communities. Comparable programmatic portfolio and tenant population to CMHA.
• District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA): Municipal PHA operating public housing and voucher programs in Washington D.C.—a market that CMHA also serves through AHSC. Direct functional peer with similar tenant demographics and operating environment.
• Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta (AH): Municipal PHA operating both public housing and HCV programs with mixed-income redevelopment focus. Similar operating model and tenant-based/project-based assistance mix to CMHA.
• Chicago Housing Authority (CHA): Large municipal PHA administering HCV program and ~20,000 public housing units with significant mixed-income redevelopment activity. Directly comparable to CMHA in core operating model and mixed-income strategy.
• King County Housing Authority (KCHA): County-level PHA operating public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and affordable homeownership programs in the Seattle metro. Closely comparable to CMHA in operational scope, federal funding model, and mixed-income strategy.

Regional players

• National Church Residences: Largest nonprofit provider of affordable senior housing in the US, and a third-party property management partner managing several CMHA senior properties. Comparable in affordable senior housing operations, though operating as a nonprofit rather than a PHA.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): Largest PHA in Pennsylvania administering public housing, HCV, and family self-sufficiency programs. Directly comparable to CMHA in mission, federal funding model, and mixed-income redevelopment approach.
• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA): Largest public housing authority in the US, operating ~162,000 apartments across 335 developments. Direct functional peer as a HUD-funded PHA administering both public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers in a major metropolitan market.
• Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA): County-level housing authority administering HCV program and affordable housing development across Los Angeles County. Comparable scale and mixed-income development approach to CMHA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Cbusmetrohousingauthority
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColumbusMetropolitanHousingAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-metropolitan-housing-authority/?viewAsMember=true

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority