For Applicants

 Applying for Public Housing:

• Where to get an application
  • Pick up: Application Office located at 2101 North Front Street, Building #3, Suite 101, Harrisburg PA 17011.
  • Call:Leasing and Occupancy Office at: (717) 257-5420
  • Website: Print an application from the "Application For Public Housing" subpage in this section.

• What needs to be filled out:

  • All persons or families wishing to lease public housing units from the Harrisburg Housing Authority must complete an Application for Admission and submit it along with the following information/documents:
  • All household members must submit the following information with the completed Application for Admission:
    •   birth certificates
    •   social security cards
    •   verification of household income
    •   the most current bank statement, and
    •   proof of eligible immigration status.
  • All adult household members must submit the following information, in addition to the above listed items, with the completed Application for Admission:
    • at least three (3) past and present landlord:
      •  names,
      • addresses
      • and telephone numbers from their most current residences;
    • a photo identification is required for all adult household members.
• Where to send your Application:
  • Application Office located at 2101 North Front Street, Building #3, Suite 101, Harrisburg PA 17011.
• How Will I know if I am selected:
  • Applicants are selected for admission to Public housing on the basis of:
    •  income eligibility,
    •  Local Preferences, and
    • suitability
  •  All applicants are screened for:
    •  drug-related criminal activity,
    •  rental history,
    • housekeeping habits, and
    • credit worthiness
      •  Extenuating circumstances will be considered.?
  •  Applicants are assigned based on:
    •  the date and time of their application and
    •  their rank as established by Local preferences.

  • The Harrisburg Housing Authority makes one (1) offer of assignment to a public housing unit. If the applicant rejects the offer, their name is removed from the waiting list and they are unable to reapply for housing assistance at HHA again for six (6) months. A second unit will only be offered if there is “good cause” for the applicant to reject the first offer.

  •  The wait list will be purged, at least, every 12 months to remove the names of applicants who are no longer interested, who no longer qualify, or who cannot be located.

  • Checking Your Application Status:
    • Please call the Leasing and Occupancy Office at: (717) 257-5420.
      • NOTE: We are only able to tell you whether or not your application is active, NOT what position you hold on the wait list.

General Eligability Requirments:

• In order to qualify for participation in the public housing program, an applicant family must:
  •    Meet the definition of a family
    • Family- may be a single person or a group of persons. Discrimination on the basis of familial status is prohibited and a group of persons may not be denied solely on the basis that they are no related by blood, marriage or operation of law 
    • For further definitions of qualified families refer to the ACOP
  •   Is income eligible
  •   Has disclosed and verified social security numbers for all household members
  •   Is a US citizen, national, or meets eligible non-citizen immigrant status; and
  •   Has no history of drug/alcohol abuse and/or record of any violent crime(s)
  •   Passes the credit screening

Background Factors That Limit Admission:

• The following background factors will limit admission of families who have as a household member any of the following:

• Drugs/Alcohol Use etc.
  •  Person(s) convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamines on the premises of any assisted housing is permanently denied admission to public housing. HHA will not waive this criterion;
  •  Any person determined to be using an illegal substance will be denied admission;
  •  Persons believed to be abusing alcohol in a way that will interfere with the safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents will be denied admission;
• Criminal Background
  •  Any household with a family member subject to a lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration act will be denied admission. HHA will not waive this criterion;
  •  Any person determined to be fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody or confinement after conviction, for a crime, or attempt to commit a crime, that is a felony under the laws of the place from which the individual flees, or that, in the case of the State of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor. HHA will not waive this criterion;
  •  Any person violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under Federal or State Law. HHA will not waive this criterion;
  •  Any person currently adequately housed in an HHA-owned dwelling will be denied admission.
    •  HHA may waive the denial of admission for a violator that can demonstrate successful completion of a rehabilitation program acceptable to HHA. However, no exception will be made for persons convicted of methamphetamine production or manufacture; those subject to the sex offender registration requirements, those fleeing to avoid prosecution or in violation of parole or probation conditions.

Income Eligibility Requirments:

These requirements are based upon the family member size and total household income

No family other than a low-income family as defined in regulations is eligible for admission to Low-Rent Public Housing units. An exception to this regulation may be made by PHAs with 250 or fewer units if they have no eligible applicants and advertising does not result in additional eligible applicants.

 At least 40% of new admissions annually must be extremely low-income families (families whose incomes fall at or below 30% of the local area median income). This includes families who, at the time of application and/or admission, have no countable income. See the policies applicable to applicants reporting “zero” income.

You may contact the Leasing and Occupancy Office at: (717) 257-5420