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Philadelphia Housing Authority
Official application routes, service-area details, contact information, and HUD-reported program data for this Philadelphia housing agency.
Independent directory: CalculateBenefits is not PHA or HUD. Recorded source-check date for the agency-specific details below: 2026-11-02.
Is the Philadelphia Section 8 waiting list open?
As of Nov. 2, 2026, PHA's website said the list was closed.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Closed
What the agency's site said on Nov. 2, 2026. See the notice →
Public housing
Open — limited Waitlist is currently closed. However, senior-designated housing developments and special programs remain open.
What the agency's site said on Nov. 2, 2026. See the notice →
Waiting lists open and close without much notice. Applying is free; only PHA can take an application or tell you your place on a list.
Start with the official agency
Visit the official PHA website →
Housing applications and waiting-list registration are free. A third party cannot guarantee approval or move you ahead on a waiting list.
What this agency serves
PHA develops, leases and runs affordable housing for Philadelphia residents with limited incomes. It is the largest landlord in Pennsylvania.
- Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
- Public housing (PHA-owned and PAPMC/tax credit sites)
- Emergency Housing Vouchers (referral only)
- Accessible housing
Housing Choice Voucher application
PHA last took voucher applications in January 2023 through a lottery. It now invites people from that 2023 list as vouchers free up. PHA says it will announce on TV, radio, in print, and on its website when people can apply again. People on the 2023 list can check status online or at 215-684-4300 with their six-digit client ID.
What PHA said when we checked on . Waiting lists open and close; check PHA's official site or call for the current status.
Public housing application
PHA's online application asks you to pick up to 5 PHA-owned sites, or take the first unit that fits. You can also pick PAPMC sites that match your income and household size. First-time users register for a PIN. Some privately managed public housing sites keep their own lists, so contact them directly.
What PHA said when we checked on . Waiting lists open and close; check PHA's official site or call for the current status.
Income limits for Philadelphia County
HUD fiscal year 2026 limits (pulled July 27, 2026) for Philadelphia County, where PHA's main office is.
| Household | 30% (extremely low) | 50% (very low) | 80% (low) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Section 8 vouchers generally use the 50% limit, and agencies must give most new vouchers to families at or below 30%; families up to 50% can still qualify. The 80% limit applies to public housing.
Source: HUD income limits. Check 5 to 8 people or another county →
Other help in Philadelphia
Heat and utility bills
Pennsylvania LIHEAP (apply through COMPASS or the Philadelphia County Assistance Office) · 1-866-857-7095
A heating grant paid to your utility or fuel company, plus crisis grants. Apply online through COMPASS or return a paper form to your county assistance office.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
Food
The food bank for the Philadelphia region. Use its site to find free food resources close to you.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
Facing eviction
Philadelphia Legal Assistance · (215) 981-3800
Free civil legal help for low-income Philadelphia residents, including help keeping your home. Contact its intake lines or apply online; it no longer takes walk-ins.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
Everything else
Dial 211 to talk with a resource specialist who can connect you to local help.
Checked Nov. 2, 2026.
These are separate organizations, not PHA and not CalculateBenefits.
Contact PHA before you visit
General inquiries: (215) 684-4000
Central office: 2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Housing Choice Voucher line: (215) 684-4300
Published hours: Mon-Sun 9:00AM-5:00PM
Call PHA's general line at (215) 684-4000 if you are not sure which office you need. For waitlist questions, call PHA Admissions at (215) 684-4454. If you have a disability, call 215-684-4453 to ask for help at an Admissions interview, or send the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
PHA has a Limited-English Proficient Coordinator you can reach at 215-684-5767. Hearing impaired callers can use 711 or TTY 800-654-5984.
From CalculateBenefits, not PHA
Waiting-list news by email
Get our free emails. If this agency's main Section 8 waiting list opens and we see it, we email the people who signed up here. Some lists close before we can send. To sign up, you take our free benefits check. You give your name and email and answer a few questions. A phone step is optional. Then you see offers from partners. Your information may be shared with or sold to marketing partners. They may also contact you (how we use it). Signing up does not apply for housing or put you on any waiting list.
Because you've turned on a privacy opt-out, we don't offer this sign-up here. Check the agency's own site for openings.
Before and after you apply
- For each person in your home, have their Social Security number, date of birth and gross monthly income ready.
- When your name reaches the top of the list, PHA screens you. Then you wait in a ready pool for a unit in your bedroom size.
- PHA does not give out your number on the list. You can check your application online or call (215) 684-4000.
- To update your contact information on a voucher application, go online or call (215) 684-4300.
- If you need a disability accommodation, fill out PHA's Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
Documents PHA asks applicants to have ready
- Social Security number for each household member
- Date of birth for each household member
- Gross monthly income for each household member
From PHA's published guidance. Ask the agency if you are missing something; do not wait to call.
HUD-reported assistance
These figures are HUD reporting-data snapshots, not a count of openings. Equal inventory and occupied counts do not prove that no future opening is possible. Waiting-list status comes from PHA, not this dataset.
HUD public housing designation: Advisory. Advisory means HUD issued the score for informational purposes rather than as a binding final performance designation, such as during a transition or waiver period. Treat it as historical context and confirm the agency's current status.
HUD directory dataset retrieved 2026-07-20; record last updated 2026-04-07. Read the data methods and limitations.
Agency and data sources
Related: All Pennsylvania housing agencies · Pennsylvania income limits and Fair Market Rents · How Housing Choice Vouchers work · Section 8 waiting lists at large agencies.