Programs
Housing Choice Voucher Program
PHA Rental Assistance Program
PHA provides rental assistance to low-income families in the private rental market through the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program, formerly known as Section 8, was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
The program is designed to achieve the following goals:
- Provide improved living conditions for low-income families while maintaining rent payments at an affordable level
- Promote freedom of housing choice for lower-income families.
- Provide an incentive to private owners to rent to lower-income families by offering timely assistance payments, a pool of families to select from, and regular inspections to ensure Housing Quality Standards (HQS).
The HCV waitlist is currently closed. The public will be notified through TV, radio, print advertising, and on this website when the HCV waitlist will be reopened.
If you are a Landlord interested in renting to a voucher holder, please list your housing unit on www.pahousingsearch.com.
When AHA opens the waitlist for new applications, all applications are required to be submitted through the Online Resident Portal.
When your application comes to the top of the waitlist, you will receive communication from AHA with further instructions. Please make sure that your contact information is up-to-date on the Online Resident Portal in order to ensure that any communication from AHA is received in an accurate and timely manner.
All HCV applicants will be required to attend a debriefing meeting before voucher issuance.
To ensure that your rents commensurate with your ability to pay, residents are required to supply information requested by AHA for use in an interim recertification of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements. All residents must notify AHA when:
- A family member moves out of the unit or new family members move in to the unit, and/or
- An adult member of the family has income changes that are expected to last longer than 30 days.
Residents are also required to supply information requested by AHA for use in an interim recertification due to any changes occurring since the last recertification that may affect the TTP or tenant rent. Changes a resident must report include the following:
- Decreases in income including, but not limited to, loss of employment, reduction in number of hours worked by an employed family member, and loss or reduction of welfare income; and
- Increases in allowances including, but not limited to, increased medical expenses, and higher child care costs, etc.
Recertification is required annually. Residents will receive email notification of their annual recertification requirements at least 120 days prior to the anniversary of their move-in date.
All required forms, documents, and signatures must be submitted via the Online Resident Portal.
Residents who have questions about the Online Resident Portal can call 610-439-8678 ext. 2079 for assistance. For in-person help with completing or uploading documents, please contact your Property Manager to schedule an appointment.
To ensure that your rents commensurate with their ability to pay, HUD requires the following:
- AHA must conduct a recertification of family income and composition annually to determine continued eligibility.
- Residents must supply information requested by AHA for use in a regularly scheduled recertification of family income and composition in accordance with HUD requirements.
- Residents must sign all required documents, and AHA must obtain third-party verification of the following items:
- Reported family annual income;
- The value of family assets;
- Expenses related to deductions from annual income; and
- Other factors that affect the determination of adjusted income.
- AHA requires a criminal background check on current residents at recertification. If the criminal background check indicates that the resident is in violation of the provisions of the lease, AHA may terminate the assistance in accordance with the family obligation. AHA will do the following:
- Notify the household of the proposed action based on the information, and
- Provide the resident with a copy of the information and an opportunity to dispute the accuracy and relevance of the information obtained.
We are accepting portability packets. We are currently BILLING. Be sure to have your home housing authority send the following documents to [email protected]:
- HUD Form 52665
- Copy of Voucher
- Most recent 50058
- EIV income report
- Income Documentation
- Social Security Card(s)
- Birth Certificate(s)
- Photo ID(s)
- HUD Form 9886
For any other portability questions, please call 610-439-8678 or email at [email protected].
Steps To Become an Approved Landlord
The Allentown Housing Authority regularly accepts new applications from property owners who are willing to serve as landlords. There are several steps that must be followed to ensure that both landlord and tenant are protected in the contracted relationship, and AHA representatives are available to help guide potential landlords through the process.
AHA requires landlords to list available apartments with PA Housing Search, an online resource created by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. This resource allows landlords to maintain an accurate listing of available apartments without contacting the AHA directly.
AHA conducts a Taxpayer Identification Number matching on all new landlords.
Once a prospective tenant contacts you, review the Voucher (sample HUD 52646) to see if:
- The voucher is still valid. Vouchers expire 60 days after they are issued.
- Ensure number of bedrooms stated on the voucher match the number of unit bedrooms.
Screen the tenant as you would any other renter without rental assistance. Please note: The AHA does not screen families or individuals for their suitability as tenants. This is the responsibility of the landlord. When you have decided on a family for the apartment, please submit the Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) form to the designated AHA representative. Provide proof that you are a registered landlord with the City of Allentown. The AHA will verify with the City of Allentown the registration of every rental apartment. Please note that you will be contacted for an inspection of the apartment.
The apartment must be unoccupied unless the family is already residing there. The AHA will not provide funding until the unit has passed the final inspection and all documents are signed by the family and the landlord and returned to the AHA, including an executed lease. The initial term of the lease must be for at least one year.
The family/tenant is responsible to pay the security deposit. If the family moves in prior to the inspection, the family is responsible for the full amount of the monthly rent.
Apartment Inspections
Please pre-inspect your apartment carefully before the scheduled date for the Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection. For more on the HQS inspections, visit HUD's website to review the HUD standards. AHA will not enter into a Housing Assistance Program contract or renew the contract unless the apartment passes the HQS inspection.
All apartments MUST pass the City of Allentown Rental Unit Licensing Program inspection before they can be considered for the housing choice voucher program.
Housing Choice Voucher Program Landlord Information
The rent must be approved with HUD Fair Market Rates and must pass the rent reasonable test.
The lease may be renewed after one year or the tenant may vacate with a 60-day notice before the term of the lease expires. If the tenant intends to remain in the unit and is recertified for eligibility, the unit receives an annual inspection. The landlord may request a rent increase, agreeable by the tenant and approved by AHA.
AHA will terminate housing assistance to the tenant and the contract with a full 30-day notice to the landlord if the tenant:
- Committed a violent crime
- Committed drug-related criminal acts
- Committed fraud
General Information
If you are a current HCV Owner, you can access all of your documents by going to: https://myportal.allentownhousing.org/
The portal can also be used for the following:
- On-time rental payments
- Online account management
- View inspection appointments and photos
- Track RFTAs through Lease Up
- View HAP statements and change direct deposit info
- Manage all ownership groups and units with one account
- Submit rent increase requests
