Each Portsmouth Housing property and program has different eligibility and priority guidelines. This is why we encourage everyone to apply so our staff can help determine which properties or programs you are eligible for. For Portsmouth Housing to make this determination, you must first complete our full Preliminary Application and supply documents that our staff may require.
Portsmouth Housing provides housing and housing subsidies in two ways.
PHA Owned & Managed Properties
First, we own and manage over 650 rental apartments located in 12 different sites throughout the City of Portsmouth. Housing Applicants can apply for this rental housing in one or all of these properties, although it should be noted that certain eligibility criteria such as age, income, and others does vary for each development.
When these rental apartments become available, qualified households are selected from a Waitlist, asked to update their file to ensure eligibility, and then schedule a time with one of our Property Managers when you can view and accept the apartment.
Our Preliminary Application covers all but 1 property, which has its own separate application:
Portable Housing Choice Vouchers
Secondly, our Housing Voucher Program is a rental subsidy program that gives subsidies directly to owners of over 400 quality rental apartments throughout the region. The cash subsidies provided to these rental property owners allows them to rent the apartment to low-income tenants at monthly rental rates far below market rents. In this way, people with low income with a Housing Choice Voucher have a monthly housing expense that is no more than 30% of their gross income.
There are also HCV programs at Housing Authorities throughout New Hampshire including the statewide New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. The HCV program is reserved for the lowest income households in our community. When vouchers are available, qualified households are selected from a Wait List, certified, briefed on the requirements of the program, and are then permitted to locate their own housing. The maximum rent payment standards are determined by the US Department of Housing and Development (HUD) and are revised annually.
NOTICE REGARDING PHA WAITLISTS
Notice Dated 8/15/2024
Dear Community Members,
Due to the high demand and limited availability of affordable housing units, we are closing the following waiting lists effective 9/15/2024:
This means that we will not accept any new applications for these housing programs and/or properties until further notice. If you have already submitted an application for these programs prior to the effective date, you will remain on the waiting list, and we will contact you when a unit or voucher becomes available that matches your preferences and eligibility, in accordance with our tenant selection plans. However, we cannot guarantee when this will happen, as the waiting time may vary depending on unit turnover rates and availability of vouchers.
We understand that this decision may cause hardship and frustration for those who are in need of safe and affordable housing. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to manage our current resources and serve our existing clients and applicants as best as we can.
Our remaining housing waitlists will remain the same as of the date of this notice. If you have any questions or concerns about your application status or the waiting list closure, please contact us at 603-436-4310 or email us at applications@nh-pha.com. You can also visit our website at www.porthousing.org for more information.
We thank you for your understanding and support.
Cathy Gallagher
HCV/PH Program Manager
