New affordable apartments in Philadelphia

How people apply for affordable apartments in Philadelphia

1. 1There is no citywide lottery or portal. The City says "There is no single location to search and apply for affordable homes for rent", so you apply to each building's owner or manager.
2. 2Order counts. For apartments with housing authority assistance attached, PHA says owners select "according to date and time of application". A building can still hold its own lottery when it first opens.
3. 3Philadelphia law caps a background or credit check fee at its actual cost or $50, whichever is less.

Sources: City of Philadelphia, Find affordable rental housing, checked October 5, 2026; Philadelphia Housing Authority, Unit Based Program overview, checked October 6, 2026; Philadelphia Bill No. 250045 (Phila. Code 9-813), checked October 5, 2026.

Vouchers and new affordable buildings in Philadelphia

Many new buildings here have Philadelphia Housing Authority rent assistance attached to the apartments themselves, so rent is based on income and no voucher is needed. PHA says that assistance "is attached to the unit" and that tenants pay 26% to 30% of adjusted income. Where an apartment has a fixed rent, federal tax-credit law bars the owner from refusing a voucher holder "because of the status of the prospective tenant as such a holder", and Philadelphia's Fair Practices Ordinance lists the Housing Choice Voucher program as a protected source of income. Each guide compares the rent with PHA's payment standard for the ZIP code.

Sources: Philadelphia Housing Authority, Unit Based Program overview, checked October 6, 2026; 26 U.S.C. 42(h)(6)(B)(iv), checked October 6, 2026; Philadelphia Bill No. 240060, Fair Practices Ordinance amendment, checked October 5, 2026.

Other apartment searches in Philadelphia

Use these local searches alongside the building guides. Confirm availability, rent and voucher requirements with each property contact.

More housing help in Philadelphia

• Apartments that accept Section 8 in Philadelphiaby neighborhood, ZIP code and bedroom size
• Section 8 in Philadelphia: waiting lists, rent limits and how to apply
• 126 income-based apartment properties in Philadelphiayou apply to the building and need no voucher
• Housing authorities in Pennsylvaniaphone numbers, addresses and programs
• Open Section 8 waiting lists nationwide

Vouchers and income-based housing in Philadelphia

• How much Section 8 pays in PhiladelphiaPHA's five ZIP code groups and the payment standard for each apartment size.
• Section 8 in PhiladelphiaWaiting lists, rent limits and how to apply.
• Philadelphia Housing AuthorityPhone, address and programs.
• How the Section 8 utility allowance worksHow the utilities you pay change what a voucher covers.
• Low-income senior apartmentsIncome-based buildings for older renters, by city.

Questions about new affordable housing in Philadelphia

Is there a housing lottery in Philadelphia?

There is no citywide lottery. The City says there is no single place to search and apply, so each building takes its own applications. A building can run its own lottery when it first opens, as Ruth Street Civic House did for applications received by December 31, 2025.

How do I apply for affordable housing in Philadelphia?

Apply to the owner or manager of each building, by its own form, by mail or by phone. For apartments with housing authority assistance attached, PHA says owners select by date and time of application, so apply early and keep proof of the date.

Do I need a Section 8 voucher to rent in these buildings?

Often not. Many new Philadelphia buildings have PHA rent assistance attached to the apartment, and PHA says tenants there pay 26% to 30% of adjusted income. Each guide says which apartments work that way and which have a fixed rent.

Is the Philadelphia Section 8 waiting list open?

At the October 6, 2026 source check, the list was closed. PHA last took applications for its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list from January 23 to February 5, 2023, and its plan for the year ending March 31, 2027 does not schedule a reopening.

What income qualifies for affordable housing in Philadelphia in 2026?

It depends on the apartment's income level. Under the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's 2026 table, one person can earn up to $42,950 at the 50% level and $51,540 at the 60% level; two people, $49,100 and $58,920.

New affordable buildings elsewhere

• All of Pennsylvania
• Every state and city

About these Philadelphia building guides

Each guide here covers one new building with income-restricted apartments in Philadelphia. It gives the rent or how rent is set, the income limits, who to call, and how the rent compares with the Philadelphia Housing Authority's payment standard for the ZIP code. Philadelphia has no central lottery, so the facts come from each owner's own pages, City permit records and the housing authority's plan.