What White River Regional Housing Authority does

White River Regional Housing Authority (WRRHA) is a regional public housing authority established in 1976 and headquartered in Melbourne, Arkansas, operating as a non-profit government entity under federal and state housing program oversight. The authority administers subsidized housing across 13 counties in North Central Arkansas, managing a portfolio of 3,322 income-restricted rental units that includes family housing, senior housing (62 and older), and disabled-accessible properties. WRRHA delivers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, providing federal Housing Assistance Payments to private landlords on behalf of very low-income households and operating a five-year supportive services initiative that combines education, job training, and escrow savings for voucher participants.

The organization's operating model rests on multi-source government funding from HUD (Section 8 HCV and public housing), USDA-Rural Development (rural housing programs), and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (state-level financing). WRRHA serves very low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals, with tenant rent calculated as approximately 30% of adjusted household income and the balance covered through federal subsidies. Property management, tenant portals, and owner-facing systems run on the AppFolio SaaS platform, with iOS and Android mobile applications extending online rent payment, maintenance request submission, and account management to residents across the 13-county service area. Each county has dedicated local contact personnel, supporting on-the-ground operations across a rural geography that would be uneconomical for most private operators.

The leadership team comprises Executive Director Katy Blevins, Chief Operating Officer John Miller, and Chief Financial Officer Mashale Lawrence, supported by regional and program managers. The authority employs 31+ full-time staff and maintains compliance with HUD, USDA-RD, and ADFA regulations, an operating posture that has generated a sustained compliance track record over 47+ years.

Name

White River Regional Housing Authority

Legal name

White River Regional Housing Authority

Website

https://wrrha.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

White River Regional Housing Authority is a regional public housing authority operating since 1976 that manages 3,322 subsidized housing units across 13 counties in North Central Arkansas, administering Section 8 vouchers, USDA-Rural Development programs, and senior and disabled housing for very low-income households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Rental and Leasing Services (532)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), 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), Rural, Tribal & Special-Population Housing Programs (FSALAKAL)

Keywords

• Public housing services
• Affordable housing
• Section 8 vouchers
• Subsidized rentals
• Rental assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments: Government-subsidized rental payments from HUD for Housing Choice Voucher program participants. Housing authorities receive federal funds to make housing assistance payments to landlords on behalf of eligible very low-income households.
2. Income-Based Tenant Rent: Rent collected from tenants based on their income level. Tenant rent is calculated as a percentage of adjusted household income, with the housing authority managing the difference between tenant payment and market rent.
3. USDA-Rural Development Housing Programs: Federal housing programs administered through USDA-Rural Development for rural affordable housing properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

White River Regional Housing Authority (WRRHA) is a regional public housing authority that manages 3,322 income-restricted rental units across 13 counties in North Central Arkansas. It administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, and direct subsidized housing properties for very low-income families, seniors aged 62 and older, and disabled individuals, with rent set at approximately 30% of adjusted household income.

Product overview

White River Regional Housing Authority operates a portfolio of 3,322 subsidized rental units across North Central Arkansas through a multi-product housing platform. The core offerings include the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program and Family Self-Sufficiency Program, supplemented by a Resident Online Portal (web and mobile app) for tenant services including maintenance requests, rent payments, and insurance submissions. Property management is handled through AppFolio, with dedicated Owner and Resident portals. The authority maintains compliance with HUD, USDA-Rural Development, and ADFA standards across 25+ property locations serving families, seniors (62+), and disabled residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Government-subsidized rental housing program enabling very low-income households to access affordable private housing through vouchers that cover a portion of rent. Applicants are placed on waiting lists and notified as assistance becomes available.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Voluntary five-year program for Housing Choice Voucher participants providing supportive services such as education and job training, with an escrow account that rewards families who become self-sufficient.
• Subsidized Housing Properties Portfolio of 3,322 income-restricted rental units across 13 counties in North Central Arkansas, including family housing, senior housing (62+), and disabled-accessible properties managed directly by the authority.
• Housing Quality Standards Inspection Services Inspection services ensuring rental units meet HUD housing quality standards for safety, sanitation, and habitability as part of the voucher program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,322 affordable housing units managed across the region
• +1 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)coreOthersFederal regulatory oversight agency for public housing authorities. Provides Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program funding and sets compliance standards. WRRHA maintains excellent reputation with HUD and operates in compliance with all applicable HUD policies and regulations.
• USDA-Rural DevelopmentcoreOthersFederal agency providing rural housing programs and funding. WRRHA maintains excellent reputation with USDA-RD for rural housing initiatives in North Central Arkansas communities.
• ADFA (Arkansas Development Finance Authority)coreOthersArkansas state housing finance authority providing additional housing programs and financing. WRRHA maintains excellent reputation with ADFA for state-level affordable housing initiatives.
• AppFoliocoreTechnology or IntegrationProperty management software platform powering WRRHA's tenant portal, owner portal, and online property listings. Residents use AppFolio portal for maintenance requests, rent payments, and account management.
• Ozarka CollegeminorOthersLocal college located near WRRHA properties in Melbourne, Arkansas. Properties like Red Brick and White Brick apartments are located adjacent to the college campus.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• WinnCompanies: One of the largest affordable housing property managers in the U.S., managing tens of thousands of subsidized units across multiple states. Represents the scaled private-sector counterpart to WRRHA's direct property management function.
• The Michaels Organization: National developer and manager of affordable and market-rate rental housing. Comparable to WRRHA in its affordable housing management activities, but operates across multiple states with a much larger portfolio.
• Related Management Company: Affordable and mixed-income housing operator affiliated with Related Companies. Performs many of the same functions as WRRHA (property management, voucher program administration) but at national scale.

Others

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing provider serving very low-income families, seniors, and disabled individuals. Operates under similar federal funding programs (LIHTC, Section 8, USDA-RD) and pursues the same mission as WRRHA, but at multi-state scale.
• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO): Trade and advocacy association representing local housing authorities including WRRHA. Provides the regulatory, training, and policy framework within which WRRHA and similar PHAs operate.
• Volunteers of America National Services: National nonprofit that develops and operates affordable and supportive housing across the U.S. Shares WRRHA's mission of serving low-income, senior, and disabled populations, with a comparable non-profit/government-funded operating model.

Direct peers

• Fort Smith Housing Authority: Arkansas-area public housing authority serving low-income families, seniors, and disabled residents through federally subsidized programs — directly comparable in mission, scale, and funding mix to WRRHA.
• North Little Rock Housing Authority: Adjacent Arkansas PHA administering Section 8 vouchers and public housing units. Similar jurisdictional scope and operational model to WRRHA within the same state.
• Little Rock Housing Authority: Another Arkansas-based public housing authority administering Section 8 vouchers and public housing units. Closest geographic and operational peer to WRRHA within the same state regulatory regime.
• Memphis Housing Authority: Regional public housing authority operating Section 8 and public housing programs with a similar blend of direct property management and voucher administration. Comparable organizational structure and HUD oversight framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wrrha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-river-housing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 White River Regional Housing Authority