What Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority does

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority (WMHA) is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, established in 1969 and headquartered at 345 North Market Street in Wooster, Ohio. The organization administers federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidized housing programs across Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties, serving approximately 1,400 households. Its core offerings include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV/Section 8) program, which administers rental subsidies to over 900 families in the private market, and Public Housing comprising 224 units of directly owned apartments and single-family houses, plus 100+ additional managed units (apartments, duplexes, group homes, single-family homes). Specialty housing for elderly and disabled residents is operated through named properties (Secrest Village, Shreve Manor, Rittman Towne Manor, Townview Terrace, Interfaith Properties, Northgate, Madison Heights, Perkins Manor), while Special Use Housing serves clients of the Wayne County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Mental Health and Recovery Board (Home Place Housing, 29 units), and youth in the child welfare system (Asha House, managed by Cherokee Rose). Supporting programs include the Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) grant program administered for the City of Wooster, City of Orrville, Wayne County, and the Ohio Development Service Agency; a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program; and a Section 8 Homeownership Program.

The operating stack consists of standard housing-authority management systems rather than proprietary technology. WMHA uses HUD-mandated reporting tools and a Yardi/Secure Cafe-based case portal (caseportal-waynemha.securecafe.com) providing separate applicant, resident, and landlord login environments for online applications, maintenance requests, and unit listings. Outreach is driven by referrals through a network of more than a dozen community partners (OneEighty, Community Action Wayne Medina, Anazao, the Counseling Center, Goodwill, the DD Board, Viola Startzman Clinic, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Salvation Army, and the WCFCFC Diversion Team). No APIs, AI/ML capabilities, patents, or proprietary technology platforms are described.

WMHA's revenue model is non-commercial: federal HUD appropriations fund Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) and administrative fees for the HCV program and operating subsidies for Public Housing. Tenant rent is set at 30% of adjusted annual income for both programs; the HCV program contracts with over 300 private landlords at Wayne County Fair Market Rents (e.g., 2BR $950/mo, 3BR $1,166/mo, payment standards at 110% effective 01/01/2026). CHIP and Home Place Housing operate on grant funding from the Ohio Development Service Agency and the Mental Health and Recovery Board. The organization is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by Wayne County officials and led by Executive Director Rodney Mitchell, with approximately 12 staff across administrative, finance, HCV, property management, maintenance, and intake functions.

Name

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority

Legal name

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority

Website

https://waynemha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority is a HUD-funded public housing authority in Wooster, Ohio, administering Section 8 vouchers and public housing across Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties for approximately 1,400 low-income households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Administration

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Public housing administration
• Housing choice vouchers
• Affordable housing programs
• Subsidized rental housing
• Community housing preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wooster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Federal HUD Subsidy Administration: WMHA receives federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer subsidized housing programs including Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and Public Housing. Funding is used to make housing assistance payments on behalf of eligible low-income families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority administers federal and state subsidized housing programs for low and moderate-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals across Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties in Ohio. Core offerings include the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program serving 900+ families, 224 units of directly owned Public Housing, the CHIP home repair/rehabilitation grant program, the Family Self-Sufficiency program, and a Homeownership program, supplemented by specialized housing for elderly, developmentally disabled, and mental health clients.

Product overview

Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority operates a portfolio of housing programs and properties across Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties in Ohio. The core offerings include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, which provides rental subsidies to over 900 families, and Public Housing with 224 units across eight properties. Supporting programs include the CHIP home repair/rehabilitation program, Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program, and Homeownership Program. WMHA also owns and manages numerous properties including elderly/disabled housing (Secrest Village, Shreve Manor, Interfaith Properties, Townview Terrace, Rittman Towne Manor), family housing (Northgate, Madison Heights, Perkins Manor, Scattered Sites), and special use housing (group homes, Home Place Housing, Asha House). Residents and landlords access services through online portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) / Section 8 Program Federal housing assistance program administered by WMHA that provides rental subsidies to very low-income families, elderly, and persons with disabilities to afford decent housing in the private market. WMHA examines tenant income and household composition, and ensures units meet Housing Quality Standards. The program currently serves over 900 families in Wayne, Holmes, and Ashland Counties.
• Public Housing WMHA-owned housing consisting of 224 units across eight projects in Wayne County, including 120 units designated for elderly and/or disabled residents in high-rise buildings, plus family housing with one to four bedroom units. Rent is calculated at 30% of adjusted annual income.
• CHIP Program (Community Housing Impact & Preservation) Grant and deferred loan program administered by WMHA and funded through Ohio Development Service Agency (ODSA), offering home repair assistance, private owner rehabilitation loans, and rental rehabilitation for low-to-moderate income households in Wayne County.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Program promoting economic self-sufficiency by helping families develop skills, education, and self-confidence through connections to supportive services including housing, childcare, education, job training, and financial counseling. Includes escrow savings accounts for participants.
• Homeownership Program Section 8 homeownership assistance enabling qualified HCV participants to purchase and own a home instead of renting, with counseling and financing support.
• Secrest Village Apartments HUD project-based subsidized property with 45 one-bedroom and efficiency apartments for elderly and/or disabled persons, located 3 miles from Wooster at the Historic Wayne County Home site, with 23 cottages.
• Shreve Manor Property with 45 one-bedroom and 1 two-bedroom apartments for elderly or disabled persons in Shreve, Ohio, with income-based rent, on-site resident caretaker, and Meal on Wheels services.
• Interfaith Properties 16 scattered units around Wooster including 10 three to four bedroom single family homes and 3 one to three bedroom duplexes, formerly owned by Wooster Interfaith Housing Corporation.
• Townview Terrace 70-unit assisted living facility combining public housing with assisted living services for elderly and/or disabled residents in downtown Wooster, Ohio.
• Rittman Towne Manor 50 one-bedroom apartments for elderly with spacious layouts, built in 1980, with utilities included and on-site laundry facility.
• Northgate Apartments 30 one to four bedroom apartments on 4.8 acres in north Wooster, with central air conditioning and storage areas.
• Perkins Manor 19 two and three bedroom units located on Perkins Avenue in Wooster.
• Madison Heights 15 one to four bedroom units located on Perkins Avenue in Wooster with additional storage for larger units.
• Special Use Housing Housing for individuals with special needs, including group homes with 24-hour on-site care for clients of the Wayne County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and a 6-unit licensed group home for female clients.
• Home Place Housing 29 units developed with the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties providing housing to clients with mental disabilities.
• Asha House Multi-system collaboration house for youth served by Wayne County Family and Children First Council, managed by Cherokee Rose and providing respite care and emergency placement.
• Scattered Sites 20 three-bedroom units located throughout rural areas of Wayne County, newly constructed triplexes from 1990 with washer/dryer hookups.
• Scattered Sites Rehab Homes 5 substantially rehabilitated homes in the City of Wooster with modern accommodations and energy conservation improvements.

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of OrrvillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014City of Orrville partnered with the City of Wooster and Wayne County starting in 2014 as part of the CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) Program, applying jointly for Ohio Development Service Agency funding administered by WMHA.
• Wayne CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Wayne County partnered with the City of Wooster and City of Orrville starting in 2014 for the CHIP Program, with grants funded through Ohio Development Service Agency and administered by WMHA for eligible households in Wayne County.
• Ohio Development Service Agency (ODSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ODSA is the funding body for the CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) Program. Grants from ODSA are administered by WMHA for home repair, private owner rehabilitation, and rental rehabilitation across Wayne County.
• OneEightycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOneEighty provides comprehensive services including addiction and substance abuse support, domestic violence and sexual assault services, mental health counseling, and housing support services. WMHA connects clients to OneEighty for wraparound support beyond housing assistance. VAWA coordination team assists residents who are victims of non-random crimes.
• Community Action Wayne Medina (CAWM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAWM serves low-income children, families, and seniors in Wayne and Medina Counties, providing linkages to job training, GED preparation, vocational education, income management, credit counseling, domestic violence crisis assistance, family development programs, food pantries, emergency shelters, and low-income housing development.
• Anazao Community PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnazao provides treatment, intervention, and prevention services to residents and organizations throughout Wayne and Holmes Counties, specializing in rapid access and program development. Recognized as a leader in building innovative community partnerships.
• The Counseling Center of Wayne Holmes County (CCWHC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCWHC provides comprehensive and confidential mental health services in Wayne and Holmes Counties. WMHA partners with CCWHC for Home Place Housing which provides housing to clients with mental disabilities.
• Goodwill Industries of Wayne and HolmesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill provides training to help participants obtain employment so they can gain self-sufficiency and decrease reliance on public assistance programs. Works with FSS program participants for employment readiness.
• Wayne County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMHA has purchased properties specifically for clients of the DD Board, many as group home settings with 24-hour on-site care. Capital Assistance Funds from Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and low-interest USDA Rural Development loans fund these homes.
• Viola Startzman ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerViola Startzman Clinic provides access to quality, comprehensive medical care for community members in need. Serves as a health resource referral for WMHA clients.
• Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOOD is the State of Ohio agency that empowers Ohioans with disabilities through employment, disability determinations, and independence. Referrals and support services for WMHA clients with disabilities.
• City of WoostercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Wooster partners with WMHA and Wayne County as part of the CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) Program. CHIP is a collaborative housing initiative funded through Ohio Development Service Agency.
• Salvation ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMHA partners with the Salvation Army as part of its network of local agencies providing emergency services referral support for clients navigating life challenges.
• Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with WMHA to develop Home Place Housing, a 29-unit development in Wooster for clients with mental disabilities. Joint funding and oversight for mental health housing initiatives.
• Wayne County Family and Children First Council (WCFCFC) Diversion TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-system collaboration including Wayne County Children Services Board, Juvenile Court, Mental Health and Recovery Board, DD Board, Wooster City Schools, and Tri-County Educational Service Center. Oversees youth in service coordination including Asha House.
• Cherokee RosecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCherokee Rose is a provider licensed by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities that manages Asha House, a multi-system collaboration home for youth served by the WCFCFC Diversion Team. They partner with WMHA for housing management of this specialized youth residence.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority: Also an Ohio public housing authority administering HUD-funded Section 8 and Public Housing programs in Summit County. Operates with a similar program structure (HCV, Public Housing, FSS, homeownership) and governance model as WMHA, making it a directly comparable PHA peer within Ohio.
• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving Cuyahoga County (Cleveland area), administering HUD-funded HCV, Public Housing, and specialized housing programs with the same federal regulatory framework as WMHA.
• Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority: Ohio PHA serving the Toledo area with Section 8 HCV, Public Housing, and resident services programs. Operates under identical HUD regulatory structure with comparable programs to WMHA.
• Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA): Ohio's largest public housing authority serving Franklin County. Administers Section 8 HCV, Public Housing, and affordable housing development programs with comparable HUD-funded structure to WMHA, though at substantially larger scale.
• Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority: Ohio PHA serving Stark County with HUD-funded HCV and Public Housing programs. Geographic neighbor of WMHA in northeast Ohio with similar program portfolio and small-to-medium scale.
• Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority: Ohio public housing authority administering HUD-funded housing programs in Lorain County. Comparable mission, regulatory framework, and program structure to WMHA as a mid-sized Ohio PHA.

Others

• Ohio Housing Finance Agency: State-level housing finance agency that partners with Ohio PHAs like WMHA on affordable housing financing, tax credits, and homeownership programs. Comparable ecosystem participant providing funding and policy infrastructure to PHAs.
• National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO): Professional membership association representing housing authorities including WMHA peer agencies. Not a direct competitor but provides the broader ecosystem, training, and advocacy framework that governs PHA operations comparable to WMHA.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=TG5795Wbgjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Wayne-Metropolitan-Housing-Authority-110966841473804
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wayne-metropolitan-housing-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wayne Metropolitan Housing Authority