Complete Guide to Section 8 & Public Housing in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 85 housing authorities managing a combined 356 waiting lists across Section 8 (HCV), Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher programs. Currently, 163 of those lists are accepting applications — an open rate of approximately 46%. This data was last verified on Jun 1, 2026.
Pennsylvania offers a range of affordable housing assistance programs across its 85 housing authorities, which collectively manage 311 waiting lists. Currently, 144 of these lists are open, representing a 46% open rate, while 137 lists are closed to new applicants. Available programs include the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, with 85 lists (23 open), Public Housing (85 lists, 54 open), and Project-Based Vouchers (PBV), which has 30 lists (16 open). Other significant programs are Mainstream (20 lists, 5 open), RAD (12 lists, 1 open), and a variety of "Other" programs (9 lists, 4 open, and 6 lists, 4 open). Specialized options like FUP (3 lists, 2 open) and various Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) initiatives, including two lists with one open each, are also present.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) serves as the state housing agency. While major cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh operate large, independent Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), applicants may find shorter wait times in suburban counties. For instance, Beaver County has 1 HA with 6 open lists, Bethlehem has 1 HA with 1 open list, and Mansfield has 2 HAs with 4 open lists. Reading, with 2 HAs, currently has 1 open list, and Lancaster, also with 2 HAs, has varying availability.
Beyond these broader programs, Pennsylvania features a multitude of property-specific and specialized housing options. Examples include Heritage Square and Springfield Apartments, each with 1 open list, and various senior housing options like One West Penn Senior Housing (1 list, 1 open). Waitlist statuses can change; for example, Wayne County Housing Authority in Waymart recently changed its Public Housing list from closed to open. In contrast, Fayette County Housing Authority in Uniontown changed an "Other" list from open to closed, and Easton Housing Authority in Easton changed its Public Housing list from unknown to closed.
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The affordable housing programs tracked in Pennsylvania include Public Housing (54 open), Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) (22 open), Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) (19 open), Mainstream (6 open), RAD (1 open). Each program has its own eligibility criteria, application process, and wait times. In most cases, applicants can apply to multiple program types at the same housing authority, and there is no limit to the number of housing authorities you can apply to statewide.
The cities with the most open waitlists in Pennsylvania right now are Sharon (13), York (12), Carlisle (8), Bellefonte (6), and Altoona (6) . Applicants who are flexible about location will generally receive assistance sooner than those who apply to a single waitlist in a high-demand area.
Latest opening: Housing Authority of the County of Jefferson — Public Housing (closes Jul 14, 2025)
Eligibility Requirements for Pennsylvania
To qualify for assistance in Pennsylvania, applicants must meet specific income and household criteria set by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
- Income: Below HUD local limits
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or eligible legal status
- Background: Criminal background check required
- Residency: Preferences often given to locals
Real-Time Data Verification
Section 8 Waitlist aggregates data from official Pennsylvania legal notices, government press releases, and PHA portal updates. Every listing is cross-referenced with Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) to ensure that families receive accurate information for low-income programs.