Washington County Authority

What Washington County Authority does

Washington County Housing Authority (WCHA) is a government public housing authority established under Pennsylvania state law to administer federally funded affordable housing programs within Washington County, PA. The organization operates two core programs: Public Housing, providing conventional rental units across a distributed portfolio of over 1,000 units spanning family sites, elderly/disabled hi-rise buildings, and scattered-site apartments in municipalities including Washington, Canonsburg, Bentleyville, California, Fredericktown, Donora, Monongahela, and North Charleroi; and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, which enables very low-income households to rent in the private market with WCHA paying a portion of rent directly to landlords. Program eligibility is based on HUD-defined income limits and preference points are awarded to veterans, disabled individuals, and victims of domestic violence, with tenants paying approximately 30% of adjusted gross income in rent.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and process-oriented rather than technologically differentiated: a Wix-hosted website (wchapa.org) provides program information, online pre-applications via an Adobe eSignWidget, a 24/7 maintenance request line, and digital document handling. No proprietary software, mobile applications, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities are documented. Service delivery is augmented through a strategic partnership with Blueprints (a community agency serving Washington & Greene Counties since 1965), which places Head Start classrooms on-site at five WCHA properties and deploys ROSS Service Coordinators for goal planning and supportive services.

WCHA's revenue mechanics are not commercial: the authority is funded primarily through HUD federal operating subsidies and HCV administrative fees, supplemented by tenant rental payments. Pricing is income-based and non-market (30% of adjusted gross income plus a $100 security deposit), with a small ancillary revenue line from $5-per-page notary services. The organization is governed by a board of commissioners and operates with a small staff headcount (11-50 employees), without equity owners, parent company, or capital markets exposure. Expansion is bounded by its HUD-defined geographic jurisdiction and federal program rules, with growth driven by appropriations and policy rather than market competition.

Name

Washington County Authority

Legal name

Washington County Housing Authority

Website

https://wchapa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington County Housing Authority is a government public housing authority in Washington, PA that administers federally funded Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) programs for very low-income families, elderly, and disabled residents across 1,000+ units countywide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Assistance

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

State & Local Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) (FSALAKAA), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Public housing assistance
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable rental housing
• Section 8 vouchers
• Low-income housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. HUD Federal Funding: Primary funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. The authority receives federal funds to operate housing assistance programs for very low-income families.
2. Tenant Rent Payments: Residents pay 30% of their income for monthly rental, with a $100 security deposit required at move-in. Some residents receive utility allowances based on their utility expenses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Washington County Housing Authority (WCHA) is a government public housing agency that administers two core federal housing programs — Public Housing (conventional affordable rental units) and the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program — across multiple sites in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It serves very low-income families, elderly residents, and persons with disabilities, and supports residents through maintenance services, pre-application intake, and community partnerships (Head Start and ROSS programs).

Product overview

Washington County Housing Authority operates as a public housing authority providing affordable housing solutions through two core programs: Public Housing (conventional rental housing at multiple sites across Washington County) and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 rental assistance). The authority administers these programs across numerous housing sites including family sites, elderly hi-rise buildings, and scattered site apartments throughout Washington, Canonsburg, Bentleyville, California, Fredericktown, Donora, Monongahela, and North Charleroi. Community partnerships with BluePrints extend services to include Head Start early childhood education and ROSS self-sufficiency programs. Additional services include maintenance operations, pre-application processing, notary services, and PHADA scholarship opportunities for resident youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Housing Affordable rental housing for low and moderate-income families, elderly, and persons with disabilities across Washington County, PA, delivered through multiple sites and various unit sizes.
• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8) Federal rental assistance program helping very low-income families, elderly, and persons with disabilities afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market, with WCHA paying a portion of rent directly to landlords.
• Maintenance Services Property maintenance services for public housing units covering carpentry, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, painting, and grounds maintenance, with a 24/7 request line.
• Pre-Application for Housing Online and downloadable pre-application process for public housing eligibility, including income verification and placement on waiting lists.
• Head Start Program Comprehensive child development program serving children ages 3-5 and their families in Washington and Greene Counties through the BluePrints partnership, offered in center and home-based options at WCHA sites.
• Resident Opportunities & Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Program On-site service coordination providing goal planning and delivery of supportive services including early childhood education, nutrition, career development, and money management for WCHA residents.
• Notary Services Notary services provided for housing-related documents at $5.00 per page.

Quantifiable outcome

• Administers public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs for Washington County, PA

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PHADA (Public Housing Authorities Directors Association)minorOthers · 3 December 2024PHADA has recognized academic excellence in public and assisted housing youth through its scholarship program since 1985. In 2025, PHADA awarded three scholarships to deserving high school seniors residing in public and assisted housing. WCHA promotes these scholarship opportunities to student residents.
• BlueprintscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueprints is a change agency serving Washington & Greene Counties since 1965. They partner with WCHA through several initiatives including Head Start (with classrooms at Highland Terrace, Jollick Manor, Lincoln Terrace, Maple Terrace, and Valley View Terrace) and the ROSS (Resident Opportunities & Self-Sufficiency) program where a Service Coordinator provides goal planning and coordinates supportive services on-site weekly.
• NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials)coreOthersNational professional organization for housing and redevelopment officials. WCHA participates in NAHRO programs including the annual What Home Means to Me poster contest for children in affordable housing. NAHRO compiles the national calendar featuring 12 winning posters distributed to member agencies and Congress.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh: City-level PHA administering public housing and HCV programs in Pittsburgh, PA. Directly comparable in program structure, federal funding model, and tenant population to WCHA's Washington County operations.
• Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA): Pennsylvania's largest PHA, operating tens of thousands of public housing units and HCV vouchers. Same regulatory framework (HUD/HCV), same resident population profile, but materially larger scale and urban context.
• Allegheny County Housing Authority: Adjacent Pennsylvania county housing authority administering Public Housing and Section 8 programs. Directly comparable in mission, program mix, and regulatory structure to WCHA, but operating at substantially larger scale in the Pittsburgh metro area.

Others

• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO): National membership organization for housing authorities. WCHA is an active NAHRO member participating in its poster contest and other programs. Relevant as the industry association representing WCHA's peer group and policy interests.
• Philadelphia Regional Integrated Collaborative on Housing (PRICH): Coalition of Pennsylvania housing authorities and partners. While not a direct operator, it represents the collective voice and policy platform for PHAs in the region, relevant for understanding WCHA's policy environment and peer benchmarking.
• HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development): Federal funding and regulatory authority for all U.S. Public Housing Authorities including WCHA. As the sole source of WCHA's primary revenue stream and the rulemaker for its programs, HUD functions as the upstream counterparty rather than a competitor.

Regional players

• Fayette County Housing Authority: Southwestern Pennsylvania PHA with similar program mix and resident demographics in a comparable rust-belt county. Useful benchmark for understanding funding and scale dynamics for small/medium PHAs in the region.
• Beaver County Housing Authority: Western Pennsylvania PHA administering Public Housing and HCV programs in a similar demographic and economic setting. Directly comparable in scale, program offerings, and federal funding reliance.
• Greene County Housing Authority: Adjacent Pennsylvania county PHA. Notably, WCHA's partner Blueprints already serves both Washington and Greene Counties, making Greene County a natural peer for shared-services and program-overlap comparisons.
• Westmoreland County Housing Authority: Neighboring county PHA in southwestern Pennsylvania serving a similar exurban/rural population with public housing and voucher programs. Comparable in scale and resident demographics to WCHA.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Washington-County-Housing-Authority-100194934696293
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-county-housing-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Washington County Authority