This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Public Housing and Subsidized Housing issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
How to Represent Yourself at the Magisterial District Justice Hearing
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Associationon representing yourself at a Magisterial District Justice hearing.
LIHTC Tenant Guide
This is a comprehensive tenants’ guide to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rentals from Regional Housing Legal Services, explaining the ins and outs of this important but not well-understood program. The guide is written for tenants who are searching for an affordable place to live as well as for residents of LIHTC properties. It helps applicants and current tenants understand special rules, like how rent is calculated, chiefly that it is not based on the tenant’s income, as well as what “good cause” eviction means.
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government whose mission is to increase citizen access to benefit information, while reducing the expense and difficulty of interacting with the government. It is a free, online confidential tool that helps you find government benefits you may be eligible to receive.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
Forms - Pennsylvania Courts
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: (ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)
PAHousingSearch.com
This is a free resource from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other Commonwealth partners to help you find a home that fits your needs and budget. Property providers can list available apartments or homes at any time, which means the listings are current. The web site lets you define what you want in your next living space, and then it does all the research – presenting you with the relevant housing vacancies that best fit your parameters in the community where you want to live.
Public and Subsidized Rental Housing
Informational Brochure explaining public and subsidized housing in central Pennsylvania. (June 2010)
Public Housing Authority Appeal Procedures
Information on how appeals are handled by a Public Housing Authority in cases involving issues related to a house or apartment owned by the Public Housing Authority; involving a Housing Choice Voucher where you receive a rent subsidy that is administered by the PHA; or if you have applied to a PHA for admission into public or subsidized housing. [PDF] (June 2011)
Public Housing: Rent You Can Afford
Informational brochure which provides an overview of how rent is calculated for a public housing program.
Subsidized Housing
Information for tenants on the rules and regulations in subsidized and public housing to avoid eviction or loss of the subsidy from the Landlord-Tenant Handbook.
Housing Rights of Domestic Violence Survivors (Video)
This video from Neighborhood Legal Services Association discusses the federal housing rights of victims of domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). August 2, 2011.
How to Represent Yourself at the Magisterial District Justice Hearing
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Associationon representing yourself at a Magisterial District Justice hearing.
Applying for Public and Subsidized Housing
Information on public and subsidized housing in Northwestern Pennsylvania.
Hoarding: Know Your Rights
This handbook provides information for people who struggle with hoarding, clutter, and home maintenance problems. The handbook is available in English and Spanish, and in English for the visually impaired. (November 2014)
LIHTC Tenant Guide
This is a comprehensive tenants’ guide to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) rentals from Regional Housing Legal Services, explaining the ins and outs of this important but not well-understood program. The guide is written for tenants who are searching for an affordable place to live as well as for residents of LIHTC properties. It helps applicants and current tenants understand special rules, like how rent is calculated, chiefly that it is not based on the tenant’s income, as well as what “good cause” eviction means.
PhillyTenant.Org
PhillyTenant.Org is your resource for tenant rights in Philadelphia. PhillyTenant.org is the product of a collaboration of legal services and advocacy organizations in Philadelphia including: AIDS Law Project; Community Legal Services; Dechert LLP; HELP: MLP; Landlord/Tenant Legal Help Center @ Municipal Court; Legal Clinic for the Disabled; Legal Help Center; Philadelphia Legal Assistance; Philly VIP; Regional Housing Legal Services; SeniorLAW Center; and Tenant Union Representative Network. The information provided on PhillyTenant.org is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice or representation, tenants should seek legal help.
VAWA Home: Rights for Survivors in LIHTC
Informational website from Regional Housing Legal Services and the National Alliance for Safe Housing (NASH) on housing protections offered under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking who are residing in, or seeking, housing in units financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
Section 8 Housing
Information on the Section 8 federal rent subsidy program from the Erie County Bar Association. (January 2023)
Help for Domestic Violence Victims Living in Federally Subsidized or Public Housing (Video)
Watch this video from Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut and CTLawHelp.org to learn your rights under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) if you live in federally subsidized housing or have a Section 8 voucher. This video covers federal laws, so the information is true no matter what state you live in.
PhillyTenant.Org
PhillyTenant.Org is your resource for tenant rights in Philadelphia. PhillyTenant.org is the product of a collaboration of legal services and advocacy organizations in Philadelphia including: AIDS Law Project; Community Legal Services; Dechert LLP; HELP: MLP; Landlord/Tenant Legal Help Center @ Municipal Court; Legal Clinic for the Disabled; Legal Help Center; Philadelphia Legal Assistance; Philly VIP; Regional Housing Legal Services; SeniorLAW Center; and Tenant Union Representative Network. The information provided on PhillyTenant.org is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice or representation, tenants should seek legal help.
HUD's Public Housing Program
Information about HUD's Public Housing Program, including how to apply and your rights as a tenant, from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Public Housing Authorities in Pennsylvania
List of Public Housing Agency websites in Pennsylvania.
A Good Place to Live!
Information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Housing Quality Standards in the Section 8 program. [PDF]
Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet
Information from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Public Housing - HUD
General information about public housing from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Relocation Assistance to Tenants Displaced From Their Homes
This booklet describes the relocation payments and other relocation assistance available to tenants displaced from their homes as a direct result of rehabilitation, demolition or acquisition for a project in which Federal funds are used. [PDF]
Resident Rights and Responsibilities
A brochure for tenants living in federal housing from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This brochure does not apply to the Public Housing Program, the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (except for multifamily housing projects that are insured by HUD), and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (except when a voucher is used in a multifamily housing project with a HUD-insured mortgage). (PDF)
Forms - Pennsylvania Courts
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides forms for citizens, the judiciary and law enforcement. These bilingual forms are now offered in 13 languages. BILINGUAL FORMS / FORMULARIOS BILINGÜES: (ARABIC) العربية; 中文 (CHINESE-SIMPLIFIED); FRANÇAIS (FRENCH); KREYÒL AYISYEN (HAITIAN CREOLE); ITALIANO (ITALIAN); ខ្មែរ (KHMER); 한국어 (KOREAN); नेपाली (NEPALI); POLSKI (POLISH); PORTUGUÊS (PORTUGUESE); РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN); ESPAÑOL (SPANISH); TIẾNG VIỆT (VIETNAMESE)
Housing Discrimination - Filing A Complaint
Information for those renting or home buyer a home who believe their rights have been violated. Details on fair housing complaints
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released this series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts.
PAHousingSearch.com
This is a free resource from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and other Commonwealth partners to help you find a home that fits your needs and budget. Property providers can list available apartments or homes at any time, which means the listings are current. The web site lets you define what you want in your next living space, and then it does all the research – presenting you with the relevant housing vacancies that best fit your parameters in the community where you want to live.
Report Bad Landlord in Federal Housing
Information on how to report bad landlords with federal housing. This enables residents of HUD-insured and -assisted properties and other community members to report complaints with a property's management concerning matters such as poor maintenance, dangers to health and safety, mismanagement, and fraud.
STAY CONNECTED with the Lifeline Telephone and Broadband Assistance Program
The Lifeline Program is a federal government benefit that provides eligible low-income consumers a monthly discount on their phone or internet bill. The benefit can be used for voice (telephone), Broadband internet Access Service (or BIAS, usually called internet service), or a combined telephone/internet service product from a landline or wireless provider.
The Fair Housing Act
Information on housing discrimination and the Fair Housing Act from the U.S. Department of Justice.
PhillyTenant.Org
PhillyTenant.Org is your resource for tenant rights in Philadelphia. PhillyTenant.org is the product of a collaboration of legal services and advocacy organizations in Philadelphia including: AIDS Law Project; Community Legal Services; Dechert LLP; HELP: MLP; Landlord/Tenant Legal Help Center @ Municipal Court; Legal Clinic for the Disabled; Legal Help Center; Philadelphia Legal Assistance; Philly VIP; Regional Housing Legal Services; SeniorLAW Center; and Tenant Union Representative Network. The information provided on PhillyTenant.org is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice or representation, tenants should seek legal help.
PhillyTenant.Org
PhillyTenant.Org is your resource for tenant rights in Philadelphia. PhillyTenant.org is the product of a collaboration of legal services and advocacy organizations in Philadelphia including: AIDS Law Project; Community Legal Services; Dechert LLP; HELP: MLP; Landlord/Tenant Legal Help Center @ Municipal Court; Legal Clinic for the Disabled; Legal Help Center; Philadelphia Legal Assistance; Philly VIP; Regional Housing Legal Services; SeniorLAW Center; and Tenant Union Representative Network. The information provided on PhillyTenant.org is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For legal advice or representation, tenants should seek legal help.