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Ralston Mercy-Douglass House

3817 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Ralston Mercy-Douglass House is an income-based apartment property for seniors at 3817 Market St in Philadelphia, PA. 54 of its 55 apartments are subsidized, in 1-bedroom sizes. The rent assistance belongs to the apartment, so you apply to the property itself and you do not need a voucher.

Recorded assisted apartments
54
of 55 in HUD’s record
Who it serves
Seniors
Historical tenant payment
$422/mo
Historical rent + utilities average
Recorded HUD inspection
90 / 100
August 2024

How to apply to Ralston Mercy-Douglass House

  1. Call the property office at (215) 382-5110 and ask whether the waiting list is open.
  2. Ask for an application. The property keeps its own waiting list; the housing authority's voucher list is a different line.
  3. Have ID, Social Security numbers and proof of income ready for everyone in the household. The office verifies income before it offers an apartment.

VoucherMatch does not take applications for this property and cannot tell you whether an apartment is open today. The office can.

About Ralston Mercy-Douglass House

Address
3817 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Program
Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly
Who can live here
For Section 202 capital-advance housing, at least one household member must be 62 or older at initial occupancy (24 CFR 891.205). Ask the office for its household and admission requirements.
Rent
Residents pay about 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and HUD pays the rest to the property. HUD's resident data records an average payment of $422 a month toward rent and utilities. This historical average is not a current asking rent or a quote for your household.
Subsidized apartments by size
54 1-bedroom
Other apartments
One of the 55 apartments is not covered by the HUD contract. Ask the office whether they are rental units, what rent applies and whether a Housing Choice Voucher can be used.
Historical move-ins
About 4% of households had moved in within the past year in the resident data held by HUD. This does not predict openings, waiting time or the current status of the waiting list.
Managed by
MERCY-DOUGLASS HUMAN SERVICES AFFILIATE, (215) 386-1808
HUD inspection
Scored 90 out of 100 in the HUD inspection record (August 2024). This is a dated inspection result, not a statement about the condition of an apartment today.
HUD contract
HUD's record lists a contract end of July 2028. This field alone does not confirm current coverage or a renewal; ask the office.
First occupied
2001

Income limits in Philadelphia County (FY2026)

Household income has to be at or below the very low income limit, which is 50% of the area median for your household size.

Household sizeExtremely 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

Source: HUD FY2026 income limits. Income is gross annual income for the whole household; the property verifies it when your name comes up on the waiting list.

Voucher-friendly listings in Philadelphia

19 listings

View all 19 listings →

If you already have a housing voucher

A Housing Choice Voucher pays part of the rent in a privately owned apartment you find yourself. It cannot be used in an apartment that is already subsidized, so the 54 income-based apartments here are not an option for it. Browse landlords in Philadelphia who accept vouchers or see Section 8 rent limits and housing authorities in Philadelphia County.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply to Ralston Mercy-Douglass House?
Apply to the property, not to the housing authority. Call the office at (215) 382-5110 and ask whether the waiting list is open and how to get an application. Ralston Mercy-Douglass House keeps its own waiting list, separate from the Section 8 voucher list. Expect to show ID, Social Security numbers and proof of income for everyone in the household.
What is the income limit for Ralston Mercy-Douglass House?
Household income has to be at or below the very low income limit, which is 50% of the area median for your household size. In Philadelphia County the FY2026 very low income limit is $42,950 a year for one person and $61,350 for a household of four.
How much is rent at Ralston Mercy-Douglass House?
Residents pay about 30% of their adjusted income toward rent and HUD pays the rest to the property. HUD's resident data records an average payment of $422 a month toward rent and utilities. This historical average is not a current rent quote. Your own share is calculated from your household's income when you move in and again each year.
Do I need a Section 8 voucher to live at Ralston Mercy-Douglass House?
No. This is Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly: the assistance is attached to the apartment, not to the tenant, so it is there when you move in and stays behind when you move out. One apartment is not subsidized; ask the office whether a Housing Choice Voucher can be used there.
Is Ralston Mercy-Douglass House only for seniors?
HUD lists it as housing for the elderly. For Section 202 capital-advance housing, at least one household member must be 62 or older at initial occupancy (24 CFR 891.205). Ask the office for its household and admission requirements.

Other housing options in Philadelphia

Properties with the same recorded audience and rent type appear first, then distance. Check each property's requirements and current intake.

Browse the low income housing directory for Philadelphia, PA → · Low income senior apartments in Philadelphia →

Property details from HUD’s Multifamily Assistance and Section 8 Contracts data and Picture of Subsidized Households, HUD property 800058925. Dataset retrieved October 2026; individual records may describe earlier periods.