Portsmouth Housing Authority

What Portsmouth Housing Authority does

Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA) is a quasi-governmental public housing authority established in 1953 under New Hampshire state law, headquartered at 245 Middle Street in Portsmouth, NH. PHA operates as the largest provider of affordable and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) housing in the New Hampshire seacoast region, serving approximately 1,700 residents across 650+ rental units in 12 directly owned and managed properties — including Wamesit Place, Gosling Meadows, Connors Cottage (seniors), Lafayette School (adaptive reuse), Ruth Lewin Griffin Place, and others. Beyond property management, PHA administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, subsidizing private-market landlords to house eligible low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities; tenants contribute 30–40% of adjusted gross income (minimum $50/month) while PHA pays the balance directly to landlords.

The organization consists of two entities: the Portsmouth Housing Authority and an affiliated nonprofit development arm, PHA Housing Development LTD. Revenue is generated through four streams: tenant rental payments, HUD federal operating subsidies, Community Development Block Grants from the City of Portsmouth, and CDFA (New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority) tax credit awards supporting workforce housing development. Active expansion projects include the Sherburne School Workforce Housing conversion and the 1035 Lafayette (Christ Church) mixed-use development, the latter delivering 50 below-market units alongside childcare and Haven headquarters in partnership with Christ Episcopal Church. Operational delivery is supported by approximately 30–40 staff across executive leadership, property management, resident services, maintenance, finance, and occupancy functions, with digital channels limited to tenant/landlord portals and standard social media presence.

PHA's competitive position is anchored by its regulatory franchise as the designated local public housing authority, with no private competitor able to administer federal housing assistance in its jurisdiction. It maintains a 70+ year incumbent advantage in the seacoast affordable housing market, a sustainable cost base subsidized by federal appropriations, and a balanced portfolio spanning traditional public housing, senior housing, accessible housing for people with disabilities, and emerging workforce/mixed-income developments.

Name

Portsmouth Housing Authority

Legal name

Portsmouth Housing Authority

Website

https://porthousing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Portsmouth Housing Authority is a quasi-governmental public housing authority in Portsmouth, NH, founded in 1953, that owns and manages 12 affordable rental properties (650+ units) and administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, serving low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities in the New Hampshire seacoast region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing / Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

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 & Public Housing Asset Management (BPAJAMAI), Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI)

Keywords

• Public housing authority
• Affordable housing
• Housing choice vouchers
• Rental assistance
• Senior housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Portsmouth

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. Rental Income: Rental payments from tenants in public housing properties. Tenants pay portion based on income (generally 30-40% of adjusted gross income).
2. Government Funding: Federal funding from US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for public housing operations and Section 8 voucher program administration.
3. Community Development Block Grants: Funding support from Community Development Block Grant programs for housing development and rehabilitation.
4. Tax Credit Programs: CDFA (New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority) tax credit awards supporting workforce housing development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Portsmouth Housing Authority develops and manages quality affordable rental housing across 12 properties (650+ units) in Portsmouth, NH, and administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rental assistance program. Services are delivered to families with lower incomes, seniors, and people with disabilities, with tenants paying roughly 30-40% of adjusted gross income toward rent and PHA subsidizing the balance. Workforce housing development projects (Sherburne School, 1035 Lafayette/Christ Church) expand the affordable housing supply.

Product overview

Portsmouth Housing Authority operates as an affordable housing provider consisting of two entities: Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA) and PHA Housing Development LTD. PHA develops and manages quality affordable housing and provides rental assistance to families, seniors, and people with disabilities. The portfolio includes 12 residential properties across Portsmouth, NH (Wamesit Place, Gosling Meadows, Feaster Apartments, Pleasant Street, State Street Apartments, Margeson Apartments, Woodbury Manor, Connors Cottage, Atlantic Heights, Lafayette School, Betty's Dream, Ruth Lewin Griffin Place, and 200 Greenleaf Ave), plus a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) program. Workforce housing development projects including the Sherburne School Workforce Housing Project and 1035 Lafayette Workforce Housing (Christ Church) expand affordable housing options. The organization serves 650+ housing units and 1700+ people, having operated for over 70 years since 1953.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program Federal Section 8 rental subsidy program administered by Portsmouth Housing Authority that assists low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities in affording housing by paying a portion of rent directly to private-market landlords. Vouchers are issued for 60 days with up to two 30-day extensions (120 days total) and include portability provisions for use outside Portsmouth. Tenant contribution is generally 30-40% of monthly adjusted gross income with a $50 minimum rent.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Christ Episcopal ChurchflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative development at 1035 Lafayette site providing 50 below-market housing units plus childcare facilities and Haven HQ. CDFA tax credit award recipient for this project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Beacon Communities: National affordable housing developer and manager focused on LIHTC, mixed-income, and public housing redevelopment. Comparable to PHA's affordable housing development activities (e.g., Sherburne, Christ Church projects) but operating across multiple states.
• WinnCompanies: Major national affordable and market-rate housing property manager that manages LIHTC, Section 8, and public housing portfolios. Directly comparable to PHA's property management activities but operates nationally with a much larger portfolio and broader housing services.
• Related Companies (Affordable Housing): Large national real estate developer with a significant affordable housing division developing LIHTC and mixed-income properties. Comparable to PHA's workforce and affordable housing development pipeline but with vastly greater scale and capital access.
• Peabody Properties: Northeast-based property management firm specializing in affordable housing (LIHTC, Section 8, public housing). Comparable to PHA in managing subsidized housing portfolios for public housing authorities and nonprofit owners across the region.

Direct peers

• Boston Housing Authority: Large-scale public housing authority managing public housing units and administering the Housing Choice Voucher program in Boston. Operates the same federal HUD-funded model as PHA but at significantly larger scale in a major metropolitan market.
• Nashua Housing Authority: Another New Hampshire public housing authority providing affordable rental housing and Section 8 voucher administration in Nashua. Closely comparable mission, regulatory structure (HUD-funded), and tenant base.
• Manchester Housing Authority: New Hampshire public housing authority operating in Manchester, NH with similar affordable housing and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program administration. Directly comparable quasi-governmental entity serving low-income families, seniors, and disabled residents in the same state.
• Dover Housing Authority: New Hampshire-based public housing authority serving Dover, NH in the same seacoast region. Closely comparable quasi-governmental entity with similar HUD-funded affordable housing and voucher programs serving low-income families and seniors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PortsmouthHousing
• Instagraminstagram.com/portsmouthhousing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4539604

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Portsmouth Housing Authority