Philadelphia Housing Authority
2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Philadelphia Housing Authority is the public housing agency based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It runs 25,063 Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8).
Contact Philadelphia Housing Authority
- Phone
- (215) 684-4000
- Office
- 2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121
- Website
- pha.phila.gov
VoucherMatch is not the housing authority and does not take applications or hold a waiting list. Applications, status checks and portal logins go through the office above.
Section 8 waiting list
Waitlist closedChecked September 2026
HCV waitlist is closed. It last opened Jan 23 to Feb 5, 2023 by lottery, and PHA is only calling names from that 2023 list. Reopening will be announced in the media and on pha.phila.gov. 2023 applicants can check status at 215-684-4300 with their six-digit client ID.
- Ask which lists are open. Vouchers, public housing and any project-based buildings each keep their own list, and you can be on more than one.
- Have ID, Social Security numbers and proof of income ready for everyone in the household. Income is verified before any assistance is offered.
- Keep your mailing address, phone and email current with the office. Authorities remove applicants who do not answer an update letter.
Section 8 income limits in Philadelphia County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Philadelphia County that is $61,350 a year for a family of four, about $5,110 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $122,700.
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $25,800 | $42,950 | $68,750 |
| 2 people | $29,450 | $49,100 | $78,550 |
| 3 people | $33,150 | $55,250 | $88,350 |
| 4 people | $36,800 | $61,350 | $98,150 |
| 5 people | $39,750 | $66,300 | $106,050 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $71,200 | $113,900 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $76,100 | $121,750 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $81,000 | $129,600 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. The extremely low column matters for how fast you are reached: housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to extremely low income families, which for a family of four here means $36,800 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the limit makes you eligible; it does not move you up a closed or full waiting list.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA, huduser.gov.
HUD rent benchmarks in Philadelphia County
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,438 | $1,294 to $1,582 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,558 | $1,402 to $1,714 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,860 | $1,674 to $2,046 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,216 | $1,994 to $2,438 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,445 | $2,201 to $2,690 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Philadelphia County is $1,860. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,674 to $2,046, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
Voucher-friendly listings available now in Philadelphia
19 listings
$1,300/mo2 bed · 1 bath6109 Market ST
Haddington, Philadelphia
$2,300/mo3 bed · 2 bath1843 E Huntingdon St
Kensington, Philadelphia
$1,900/mo3 bed · 2 bath4815 Fairmount Ave
West Powelton, Philadelphia
$1,325/mo1 bed · 1 bath2449 S 61St St
Paschall, Philadelphia
$1,150/mo1 bed · 1 bath2717 W Glenwood Ave
Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia
$2,720/mo2 bed · 1 bath871 N 23Rd St
Fairmount, Philadelphia
More housing help in Philadelphia
Frequently asked questions
- What is the phone number for Philadelphia Housing Authority?
- The main office number HUD lists for Philadelphia Housing Authority is (215) 684-4000. The office is at 2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121.
- Does Philadelphia Housing Authority have Section 8?
- Yes. HUD reports that Philadelphia Housing Authority administers 25,063 Housing Choice Vouchers.
- Is the Philadelphia Housing Authority Section 8 waiting list open?
- When we last checked in September 2026, the voucher waiting list was closed to new applications. HCV waitlist is closed. It last opened Jan 23 to Feb 5, 2023 by lottery, and PHA is only calling names from that 2023 list. Reopening will be announced in the media and on pha.phila.gov. 2023 applicants can check status at 215-684-4300 with their six-digit client ID. Lists open and close with little notice, so confirm with the office before you plan around it.
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Philadelphia County?
- For FY2026, HUD's very low income limit in Philadelphia County is $61,350 a year for a family of four. A household generally has to be at or below that line to qualify for a voucher, and most new vouchers go to households at or below the extremely low income limit.
- How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in Philadelphia County?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Philadelphia County is $1,860 a month, rent and utilities together. That is HUD's benchmark. Philadelphia Housing Authority sets its own payment standard, usually between 90% and 110% of it, so ask the office for the adopted figure.
All housing authorities in Pennsylvania →
Contact details and unit counts from HUD's Public Housing Authorities directory, agency PA002. Call ahead before you visit: offices move and hours change.