Gloucester Housing Authority; Essex Housing Authority

What Gloucester Housing Authority; Essex Housing Authority does

The Gloucester Housing Authority (GHA) is a Massachusetts-chartered public housing authority established in 1948 that administers federal and state affordable housing programs for low-income households in the Cape Ann area. Governed by a 5-member Board of Commissioners, GHA currently assists over 1,300 households through a portfolio of programs: 89 units of Federal Public Housing (Willowood Gardens, Arthur Street, scattered sites), 522 units of State-Aided Family and Elderly Conventional Housing (including Riverdale Park, Lincoln Park, Poplar Park, McPherson Park, Sheedy Building, Clark Building), 638 authorized Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, 52 units of Section 8 Mod Rehab Single Room Occupancy housing, a 12-unit Housing First Program, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, Senior Resident Services (including the Senior Supportive Housing Initiative at McPherson Park), and the Cape Ann Homeownership Center (established 2004).

GHA operates on a quasi-governmental revenue model: federal HUD funding for Public Housing and Section 8, state DHCD funding for State-Aided housing and the Housing First case manager, and tenant contributions calculated as a fixed percentage (25%–40%) of adjusted monthly gross income depending on program. Distribution occurs through the MassNAHRO Section 8 Centralized Waiting List, the Massachusetts CHAMP state public housing portal, and direct downloadable applications, with landlords participating via the third-party PHA-Web landlord portal. The customer base spans low-income families, elderly and disabled individuals, homeless and at-risk families referred via closed state referrals, persons with mental illness (via Health and Education Services at 374 Washington Street), veterans with preference, and prospective homeowners served through pre-purchase counseling.

Underlying technology is utilitarian: GHA relies entirely on third-party government housing platforms (PHA-Web, MassNAHRO, CHAMP, Frameworks, mymasshome.org) rather than proprietary systems. The organization has 11–50 employees, no disclosed revenue, no social media presence, and no digital marketing beyond its ghama.com website, board meeting notices, and news updates. It maintains multiple compliance certifications including HUD Housing Quality Standards, VAWA, PHAS, MassNAHRO membership, Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative Seal of Approval, and Division of Banks sub-prime mortgage counseling certification (the only such certified agency in the region).

Name

Gloucester Housing Authority; Essex Housing Authority

Legal name

Gloucester Housing Authority

Website

https://ghama.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Gloucester Housing Authority is a Massachusetts-chartered public housing authority, founded in 1948 and governed by a 5-member Board of Commissioners, that administers federal and state affordable housing programs — including Public Housing, Section 8 Vouchers, MRVP, SRO, Housing First, and the Cape Ann Homeownership Center — serving over 1,300 low-income, elderly, disabled, homeless, and veteran households in the Cape Ann area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (92511)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI), Affordable & Subsidized Housing Property Management (LIHTC, Section 8) (BPAJAFAD), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Public housing administration
• Rental assistance programs
• Section 8 vouchers
• Affordable housing services
• Homeownership counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Gloucester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Housing Assistance Payments: The GHA receives federal and state funding to provide housing assistance payments to landlords on behalf of eligible tenants. Residents pay rent based on 25-30% of their adjusted monthly income, with the balance covered by housing assistance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Gloucester Housing Authority administers public housing, rental assistance, and homeownership programs for low-income, elderly, disabled, homeless, and veteran households in the Cape Ann area of Massachusetts. It operates 611 federal and state public housing units, administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers for 638 households, and provides supportive services including homeownership counseling, Family Self-Sufficiency, Housing First case management, and senior resident services.

Product overview

The Gloucester Housing Authority operates a comprehensive affordable housing portfolio consisting of Federal Public Housing (89 units), State-Aided Family and Elderly Housing (522 units), Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (638 authorized households), Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, and Section 8 Mod Rehab SRO Program. Supporting programs include the Cape Ann Homeownership Center (established 2004), Housing First Program, Family Self Sufficiency Program, and Senior Resident Services. The authority serves Cape Ann area residents through various housing developments totaling over 1,300 households assisted, providing rental assistance, homeownership education, and resident support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Federal Public Housing Federally-funded public housing program providing 89 units at Willowood Gardens, Arthur Street, and scattered-site buildings for low-income families, featuring washer/dryer hook-ups, parking, and 24-hour maintenance.
• State-Aided Family and Elderly Housing Massachusetts state-funded housing program managing 522 units including family housing at Riverdale Park (160 apartments) and elderly housing developments (Lincoln Park, Poplar Park, McPherson Park, Sheedy Building, Clark Building).
• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program HUD-funded rental assistance program authorized to assist 638 households. Participants locate units in the private market; GHA pays the balance of contract rent directly to landlords.
• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) State-funded rental assistance with long-term contracts with local property owners for project-based assistance. Offers SRO, one, and two-bedroom units.
• Section 8 Mod Rehab SRO Program Single-room occupancy housing program administering 52 units at Cape Ann YMCA and 95 Prospect Street for individuals experiencing homelessness or displacement.
• Cape Ann Homeownership Center Housing authority program established in 2004 providing pre-purchase counseling, post-purchase counseling, sub-prime mortgage counseling, foreclosure prevention, and Section 8 homeownership options.
• Housing First Program DHCD-funded program providing 12 units to families referred from state-funded emergency shelters. Includes full-time case manager for ongoing support and stabilization resources.
• Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program Voluntary HUD-funded program for public housing and Section 8 residents. Helps households increase earned income through educational and employment programs with escrow account benefits.
• Senior Resident Services Initiatives Services for elderly and disabled residents including information, referrals, educational workshops, case management, and the Senior Supportive Housing Initiative at McPherson Park.
• Housing Developments Portfolio Portfolio of housing developments including Lincoln Park (52 units, 1960), Poplar Park (76 units, 1963/1968), McPherson Park (97 units, 1976), Sheedy Building (81 units, 1981), Clark Building (56 units, 1986), Riverdale Park (160 units, 1951), Willowood Gardens (60 units, 1955/reconstructed 1992), and Arthur Street (15 units).

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Health and Education ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Manages the transitional home at 374 Washington Street for persons living with mental illness. GHA leases the Victorian home to Health and Education Services who has managed the program since 1990.
• Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)coreOthersState agency providing funding for Housing First Program and Resident Services Coordinator Grant. DHCD oversees state-aided housing programs and establishes income limits and rent levels.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreOthersFederal agency providing funding for Public Housing and Section 8 programs. HUD establishes housing quality standards and program requirements.
• Housing First Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-funded emergency shelters refer families to GHA's Housing First Program. DHCD provides grant funding for a full-time Case Manager. Closed referral process monitored by the State.
• SeniorCaresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages the Senior Supportive Housing Initiative at McPherson Park, jointly developed by DHCD and Executive Office of Elder Affairs to help seniors age in place.
• Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed Senior Supportive Housing Initiative at McPherson Park to bring benefits of assisted living developments to senior residents.
• Frameworks (Homeownership.org)supportingTechnology or IntegrationAdministers online First Time Homebuyers Workshop through 7 video lessons covering mortgage process, credit improvement, and closing procedures. GHA partners with Frameworks to deliver homeownership education.
• MassHousingsupportingOthersCertificates earned through GHA's pre-purchase counseling program qualify participants for MassHousing loans and down payment assistance grants.
• Cape Ann YMCAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHA administers 52 units of Single Room Occupancy housing at the Cape Ann YMCA location.
• Community PartnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHA collaborates with community partners to provide various services, programs, and supports to residents through high collaboration approach.
• Local Property OwnerssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGHA has long-term contracts with local property owners for project-based MRVP assistance and Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contracts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Worcester Housing Authority: Massachusetts PHA administering state-aided elderly and family housing, Section 8 vouchers, and homeownership programs through the same DHCD and HUD funding channels as Gloucester.
• Cambridge Housing Authority: Massachusetts PHA administering public housing, voucher programs, and resident services under identical HUD and DHCD frameworks; comparable portfolio mix with a stronger focus on family and elderly housing.
• Boston Housing Authority: Largest public housing authority in Massachusetts operating federal public housing, Section 8 vouchers, and state-aided housing under the same HUD/Massachusetts regulatory regime as Gloucester; directly comparable operating model at greater scale.
• Brockton Housing Authority: Regional Massachusetts PHA with comparable household count (~1,000+) and a similar mix of family, elderly, and scattered-site public housing units funded through HUD and DHCD.
• Lynn Housing Authority: Regional Massachusetts PHA running federal public housing units and Section 8 voucher programs with comparable scale to GHA; also uses the PHA-Web management platform referenced in Gloucester's tech stack.

Others

• MassHousing (Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency): State housing finance agency that provides mortgage financing, down payment assistance, and homeownership loans referenced in GHA's Cape Ann Homeownership Center partnership; acts as a funder/ecosystem partner rather than a direct operator.
• The Community Builders: Nonprofit affordable housing owner/operator active across Massachusetts with comparable mixed-population housing and supportive service programs; potential RAD or public-private partnership counterparty for GHA's aging stock.
• Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD): State agency that funds and oversees GHA's state-aided housing, MRVP vouchers, and Housing First Program; acts as regulator and principal grant funder rather than operator.
• Beacon Communities: Massachusetts-based nonprofit affordable housing developer and manager operating LIHTC and mixed-income properties; comparable resident-serving mission but with a private-developer business model rather than PHA charter.
• HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development): Federal funder and regulator for GHA's Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, and FSS programs; sets HQS, PHAS scoring, and operating subsidy formulas that govern GHA's revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gloucester-housing-authority

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Gloucester Housing Authority; Essex Housing Authority