Chelsea Housing Authority

What Chelsea Housing Authority does

CHA's business model is government-funded rather than market-priced: revenue derives from federal HUD operating subsidies and capital fund allocations, Massachusetts DHCD state appropriations, and tenant rent contributions capped at 30-40% of adjusted monthly income. The Authority is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners (four appointed by the Chelsea City Manager, one by the Governor of Massachusetts) and is non-appropriable equity. GTM motion is direct-to-applicant through online portals and CHAMPS, plus community partnerships; pricing is administratively determined by HUD/DHCD formulas, and the customer base is structurally concentrated in two counterparties (federal and state governments) and a defined low-income resident pool. CHA READ Corporation, the nonprofit arm applying for 501(c)(3) status, extends the funding envelope to private philanthropy and tax-credit vehicles.

Name

Chelsea Housing Authority

Legal name

Chelsea Housing Authority

Website

https://chelseaha.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chelsea Housing Authority is a government municipal entity that administers 818 public housing units and federal/state voucher programs for low-income, elderly, and disabled households in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Residential Property Managers (531311), Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (531110)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

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), Affordable Housing Property Management (BPAJAGAJ), Housing Voucher & Rental Assistance Programs (Tenant-Based/Project-Based) (FSALAKAI)

Keywords

• Public housing programs
• Affordable rental housing
• Housing choice vouchers
• Rental assistance programs
• Subsidized housing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chelsea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Federal Housing subsidies: Housing assistance provided through HUD-regulated Federal Public Housing (354 units across 3 sites) and Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Revenue is derived from federal appropriations and housing assistance payments.
2. State Housing subsidies: Housing assistance provided through DHCD-regulated State Public Housing (464 units across 4 sites) and state voucher programs (MRVP, AHVP). Revenue is derived from Massachusetts state appropriations.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chelsea Housing Authority administers and manages 818 units of affordable public housing across 8 developments in Chelsea, Massachusetts, comprising 464 state-aided units and 354 federally-aided units. The Authority also administers tenant-based rental assistance programs including the HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (for Chelsea, Reading, and Saugus), the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), serving low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals.

Product overview

Chelsea Housing Authority operates a platform of affordable housing programs and supportive services across 8 developments with 818 units. The core offerings include State Public Housing (464 units across Fitzpatrick, Prattville, Innes, Union Park, and Buckley developments) and Federal Public Housing (354 units across Scrivano, Mace, and Margolis developments). The organization administers multiple rental assistance programs including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), and Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP). Supporting these housing programs are self-sufficiency initiatives (FSS and SSP programs), workforce development, food assistance, senior services, and resident security programs. The portfolio also includes project-based vouchers at Carter Heights and Caritas. Residents access services through PHA-Web online portals for self-service functions including recertifications and document management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHA READ Corporation: Non-profit arm of Chelsea Housing Authority, stands for Chelsea Housing Authority Resident Empowerment and Development Corporation, registered with State of Massachusetts and applying for 501(c)(3) designation.
• The Pratt

Products and services

• Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program HUD-subsidized federal program that provides rental vouchers to low-income families, elderly, and disabled individuals, allowing participants to find and lease housing in the private market while paying approximately 30-40% of adjusted income toward rent. Administered by Chelsea Housing Authority for Chelsea, Reading, and Saugus, MA.
• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) State-administered mobile rental vouchers for low-income families and individuals throughout Massachusetts, valid for any housing unit meeting state sanitary code standards, with voucher value determined by income, household size, and geography.
• Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) State-funded mobile rental vouchers for non-elderly disabled applicants under age 60, with tenants paying 25-30% of net income toward rent and the housing authority covering the difference. Vouchers are valid throughout Massachusetts.
• Mainstream Section 8 Program Housing assistance program for non-elderly individuals with disabilities offering mobile vouchers that tenants can take with them when moving.
• Carter Heights Project Based Voucher (PBV) Project-based voucher tied to specific one- and two-bedroom units at Carter Heights Apartments, with preference given to local residents, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence.
• Caritas Project Based Voucher (PBV) Single Room Occupancy housing offering one private bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, tied to a specific bedroom at the Caritas building.
• State Public Housing State-aided public housing regulated by DHCD with 464 units across family developments (Fitzpatrick, Prattville, Innes) and elderly/disabled developments (Union Park, Buckley) in Chelsea, MA. Rents are income-based.
• Federal Public Housing Federally-aided public housing regulated by HUD with 354 units across family developments (Scrivano, Mace) and an elderly/disabled development (Margolis) in Chelsea, MA. Rents are income-based.
• Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) State emergency program providing up to $10,000 in funding for rent/mortgage arrears, security deposits, or other displacement-related expenses for households earning up to 50% AMI (60% AMI for domestic violence survivors).
• Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) Massachusetts program for households in the 50-80% AMI range, providing up to $4,000 for rent/mortgage arrears accrued after April 1, 2020, and/or upcoming payments to prevent displacement.
• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program Federal program for Public Housing and Section 8 residents that helps families achieve economic independence through partnerships with support agencies throughout Massachusetts, including case management and escrow savings incentives.
• Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP) State program for State Public Housing and MRVP/AHVP residents providing pathways to self-sufficiency through stable employment, job coaching, GED training, higher education support, and financial stability resources.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chelsea Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident Officer Program (adopted 2010) places officers in CHA developments. Officers conduct monthly crime watch meetings, meet with site managers, and report monthly to CHA Senior Staff on crime statistics and quality-of-life strategies. Nationally recognized as a best practice for increasing safety and improving police-resident relations.
• Chelsea Senior CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrown Bag food delivery program provides a month's worth of healthy groceries at no charge to senior residents. The center also offers classes and services for senior citizens in Chelsea.
• T-MobileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the City of Chelsea and T-Mobile helps close the 'digital divide' for young people in public housing who cannot afford internet access.
• TND/ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with CHA on the Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP) and assists residents in navigating resources in multiple languages, including help with filling out paperwork and navigating systems.
• Everett Housing AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CHA to bring the Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP) opportunity to State Family residents.
• Chelsea CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssists in training resident councils on housing-related issues; helps distribute food from Senior Center to residents; provides assistance in finding resources in multiple languages.
• MASS Union of Public Housing TenantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to train resident councils to become empowered and engaged in housing-related issues.
• GoSection8.comminorOthersThird-party platform for tenants to find Section 8 rentals and landlords to list properties for free.
• ZumperminorOthersThird-party apartment rental search platform featuring Chelsea, MA listings.
• MGH (Massachusetts General Hospital)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Fallon and CHA along with City of Chelsea to conduct COVID-19 testing for elderly CHA residents early in the pandemic.
• Metro Housing BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers the RAFT (Residential Assistance for Families in Transition) program application portal used by CHA residents.
• Salvation ArmyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers brown bag food service for Seniors in Chelsea. Registration required by calling and leaving a message with contact info.
• Mystic Valley Elder Services (MVES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects senior residents with services including counselling, protective services, nutrition, referral programs, caregiver support, and at-home care support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cambridge Housing Authority: Comparable Massachusetts PHA administering public housing units and Section 8 vouchers under the same federal/state regulatory framework as CHA, serving an adjacent urban community.
• Boston Housing Authority: The largest public housing authority in Massachusetts; directly comparable as a HUD/DHCD-regulated PHA administering federal and state public housing plus Section 8 vouchers, with a similar mix of family and elderly/disabled housing.
• Quincy Housing Authority: Massachusetts PHA administering public housing and Section 8 vouchers under state and federal programs; comparable in portfolio size and regulatory environment.
• Everett Housing Authority: Adjacent Massachusetts PHA partnering with CHA on the SSP program; operates under the same HUD/DHCD regulatory structure with a similar family/elderly housing mix.
• Lynn Housing Authority: Regional Massachusetts PHA administering federal and state public housing plus Section 8; comparable size, mission, and funding sources to CHA.
• Somerville Housing Authority: Nearby Massachusetts PHA operating public housing developments and voucher programs under HUD/DHCD oversight; directly comparable in scope, regulatory regime, and resident-support services.
• Lowell Housing Authority: Massachusetts PHA administering public housing units and voucher programs under the same federal/state funding framework as CHA.

Others

• Massachusetts Housing Partnership: Statewide public-nonprofit housing intermediary working with local PHAs on affordable housing finance and production; relevant peer as a funder/partner in CHA's redevelopment pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Worcester Housing Authority: Larger Massachusetts PHA with a broader portfolio and more programs; relevant as a larger-scale peer with overlapping HUD/DHCD funding mechanics and supportive services structure.
• MassHousing: Massachusetts' state housing finance agency; broader in scope than CHA but directly relevant because it funds and regulates state-aided public housing (CHAMP) developments managed by authorities like CHA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/ChelseaHousingAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chelsea-housing-authority

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Chelsea Housing Authority