Low income housing in Philadelphia: every program, waitlist, and next step

Last updated 2026-07-09

What low-income housing programs exist in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia has more affordable housing than most renters realize. The catch is that different agencies run it, each with its own waitlist and its own income cutoffs. Figure out which program fits you before you apply. That decision saves months.

The big four:

1. Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), run by the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). You pay roughly 30% of your adjusted income toward rent. PHA pays the rest directly to your landlord, up to the program's payment standard ^[1].

2. PHA public housing, meaning buildings and homes PHA owns and manages across the city. Rent is income-based, usually 30% of income. PHA manages about 14,000 subsidized units and vouchers combined ^[2].

3. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) apartments, built by private developers who took federal tax credits in exchange for keeping rents down. Income limits typically run 30% to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). Each building keeps its own waitlist, fully separate from PHA ^[3].

4. Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) programs, which cover home repair grants, homeownership help, and some rental subsidies for city residents ^[4].

Smaller programs exist too. The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program, emergency assistance through Project HOME and other nonprofits, and HUD-subsidized Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) buildings scattered across the city. PBRA works differently from a voucher because the subsidy sticks to the apartment, not to you. Move out and the subsidy stays behind.

Want the plain-English version of what Section 8 even is? Our section 8 meaning article covers it.

What are the income limits for low-income housing in Philadelphia?

HUD sets the limits every year off Philadelphia's Area Median Income. For fiscal year 2024, HUD pegged the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro AMI at $107,700 for a family of four ^[5]. Everything else scales from that number.

Here is how the main tiers land in real dollars:

Household size	30% AMI (Extremely Low)	50% AMI (Very Low)	80% AMI (Low)
1 person	$22,750	$37,900	$60,600
2 people	$26,000	$43,300	$69,250
3 people	$29,250	$48,750	$77,900
4 people	$32,450	$54,150	$86,500
5 people	$35,050	$58,500	$93,400

Source: HUD FY2024 Income Limits, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington HMA ^[5]

Housing Choice Vouchers aim at households at or below 50% AMI, the "very low income" tier. By law, 75% of new vouchers each year have to go to households at or below 30% AMI ^[1]. Public housing eligibility reaches 80% AMI in most cases, but PHA usually favors applicants under 50%.

LIHTC apartments set their own limits, building by building. One unit might cap at 30% AMI, the unit down the hall at 60% or 80%. Ask the specific building's management for its current numbers before you fill out anything.

Counted income includes wages, self-employment net income, Social Security, pensions, child support, and alimony. Deductions cut what gets counted: $480 per dependent, $400 for elderly or disabled families, plus some medical and childcare costs ^[1].

Is the PHA Section 8 waitlist open right now, and how do I get on it?

Everyone asks this. Here is the honest answer: PHA's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist is closed more often than open. PHA last opened it in 2023 for a short lottery window and took in more than 40,000 applications within days ^[2]. It tends to reopen every few years, when funding lets PHA work through the backlog.

The public housing waitlist runs on its own schedule and may open at different times depending on the property type (family, senior, accessible units). Check pha.phila.gov for the current status ^[2].

When a window does open, the application process in Philadelphia goes like this:

1. Watch pha.phila.gov and sign up for email alerts. PHA also announces openings through local media and community groups. 2. Submit the online application the moment the window opens. It can close in 24 to 72 hours. 3. You get a lottery number. PHA runs a random lottery among everyone who applies in the window, so applying at minute one does not beat applying at hour ten. 4. Then you wait. Voucher waits in Philadelphia have historically run 5 to 10 years, and that swings with funding. 5. When your number comes up, PHA contacts you to verify eligibility, income, and family composition.

One thing kills more waitlist spots than anything else: a stale address. PHA mails its notices. If you move and a letter comes back undeliverable, you can lose your place. Update your contact info every time it changes.

For how a Section 8 waitlist works nationally, our section 8 housing list guide covers the mechanics. And if you truly cannot wait years, see what low income housing with no waiting list looks like.

Can I apply for low-income housing in Philadelphia online?

Yes. When PHA opens a waitlist, the online application at pha.phila.gov is the main way in. The portal takes electronic applications during open enrollment. Paper applications generally are not offered, and that is on purpose: online filing cuts processing errors and lets PHA run the lottery cleaner.

LIHTC and privately managed buildings each run their own waitlists. Many use portals from companies like RentCafe or Yardi. The smart move is to start at PHDC's affordable housing site (phdc.phila.gov), which lists deed-restricted rentals across the city ^[4], then click through to each building's own application.

The city's Office of Homeless Services runs a separate Coordinated Entry system through the 211 hotline and its partner agencies. That path is for people who are homeless or about to be. Calling 211 gets you an assessment that can route you toward shelter, rapid rehousing, or permanent supportive housing.

A few things trip people up online. Browser problems (use Chrome or Firefox), upload size limits on documents, and session timeouts. Have your paperwork ready before you start: Social Security numbers for everyone in the household, birth certificates, proof of income for the past 12 months, and your current landlord's contact info.

How does PHA calculate rent for public housing and vouchers?

The math differs between public housing and the voucher program, even though both come from PHA.

In public housing, your monthly rent is the highest of three figures: 30% of adjusted monthly income, 10% of gross monthly income, or the welfare rent where it applies. The minimum rent is $50 a month ^[1].

With a Housing Choice Voucher, PHA sets a payment standard for each unit size and neighborhood. Since 2024 PHA uses Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs), so the payment standard shifts zip code by zip code instead of one flat number citywide. This matters. A two-bedroom payment standard in 19103 (Center City) runs well above the same standard in 19120 (Olney), because it tracks local rents ^[6].

Your share is generally 30% of adjusted monthly income. But pick a unit that rents above the payment standard and you pay the whole gap out of pocket on top of your 30%. That gap can quietly make an apartment unaffordable even with a voucher in hand. HUD caps your initial rent burden at 40% of adjusted income when you first lease up ^[1].

Run the numbers. Say your adjusted monthly income is $1,200 and the two-bedroom payment standard in your zip code is $1,400. Your share is 30% of $1,200, or $360, and PHA pays up to $1,040. If the unit rents for $1,500, you pay $360 plus the $100 overage, so $460. If it rents for $1,600, you pay $360 plus $200, so $560. That is 46.7% of income, and PHA rejects it at initial lease-up.

PHA publishes payment standards each year on HUD's SAFMR schedule. Find them at huduser.gov ^[6].

What is the PHA public housing waitlist and how is it different from Section 8?

Public housing and Section 8 vouchers are both PHA programs, and they work nothing alike.

Public housing means you live in a building PHA owns. PHA is your landlord. Rent is income-based. You have less room to move: you can transfer between PHA properties but you cannot take the subsidy to a private landlord. The portfolio runs from family developments to senior communities to scattered-site homes across the city ^[2].

Vouchers are portable. You find a private landlord who accepts the voucher, the unit passes HUD's Housing Quality Standards inspection, and PHA pays that landlord directly. After a year you can port the voucher to another city or state, which is a real advantage ^[1].

The public housing waitlist is managed apart from the voucher list. One can be open while the other is shut. PHA also splits the public housing list by type: family housing, senior housing, and accessible housing for people with disabilities each have their own line. When you apply, you pick the developments or types you want.

Preferences move you up. PHA gives them to current Philadelphia residents, veterans, people who are homeless and referred through Coordinated Entry, and people displaced by government action. Documenting your preference correctly at application time is worth the extra hour.

What LIHTC and other affordable apartments are available in Philadelphia without going through PHA?

Tax-credit housing might be the most overlooked path in the city. Philadelphia has hundreds of LIHTC-financed communities where you apply straight to the property, skip PHA entirely, and sometimes wait months instead of years.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) finances most of these developments statewide. PHFA's site at phfa.org lists projects it has funded, though there is no single application portal ^[7]. Practical method: search the PHDC affordable rental database at phdc.phila.gov ^[4], call properties directly, ask if the waitlist is open, and apply that day if it is.

Project-Based Section 8 (formally Project-Based Rental Assistance, PBRA) is another bucket. HUD contracts directly with private owners to hold rents below market. Philadelphia has dozens of these buildings, including properties run by groups like Resources for Human Development and Inglis. The National Housing Preservation Database (preservationdatabase.org) maps them, though its data lags 6 to 18 months behind.

Supportive housing is a third track. The city holds a large stock of permanent supportive housing for people with disabilities, people who are homeless, and veterans. Project HOME, SELF Inc., and Bethesda Project manage a lot of these units. Referrals usually run through Coordinated Entry (call 211) rather than a self-application.

One more to know: Philadelphia's Mixed Income Housing program puts deed-restricted affordable units inside otherwise market-rate buildings, aimed at households earning 50% to 100% AMI. They are rare but they surface. Watch the PHDC site for listings.

What are the requirements to qualify for low-income housing in Philadelphia?

Requirements differ by program, but three things run through all federally assisted housing: your income has to sit inside HUD's limits, at least one household member has to be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, and you have to pass a criminal background screen ^[1].

For PHA specifically:

Income: At or below 50% AMI for vouchers, with 75% of new admissions drawn from the 30% AMI and below group. Up to 80% AMI for public housing, though PHA leans toward lower-income applicants.

Citizenship and immigration status: At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or hold eligible immigration status (lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, and so on). Mixed-status families still qualify. Only the eligible members draw assistance, and the subsidy is prorated to match ^[1].

Criminal background: PHA screens for criminal history like most housing authorities. A conviction for making methamphetamine on federal housing premises is a permanent bar by statute, as is lifetime sex offender registration ^[1]. Other convictions get reviewed case by case. Philadelphia's fair chance commitments limit how far back PHA looks for most offenses, but serious violent felonies can still mean denial.

Debt to a housing authority: Owe money to PHA, or got evicted from federally assisted housing for drug-related activity, and you will usually be denied until you repay the debt or finish a rehabilitation program.

Social Security numbers: Every family member has to provide an SSN or certify they do not have one.

LIHTC buildings follow similar rules but not identical ones. They have to obey fair housing law, but they can set minimum income requirements (often 2.5 times monthly rent) and may screen credit harder than public housing does.

How do landlords in Philadelphia rent to Section 8 voucher holders?

Philadelphia protects source of income. Since 2017, the city's Fair Practices Ordinance has barred landlords from refusing to rent to someone just because they hold a housing voucher ^[8]. That does not force a landlord to take every applicant, but it does stop them from screening someone out for having a voucher at all. Break the rule and you can face a complaint at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

For a landlord who wants to rent to a voucher holder, the sequence goes: the tenant hands over the voucher and Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packet, the landlord agrees to the tenancy, PHA schedules a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection, the unit passes, PHA approves the rent as reasonable, and PHA starts paying the landlord directly.

PHA pays by direct deposit on the first of the month. As long as the tenant follows program rules, that payment is dependable. PHA can claw back overpayments when a tenant lied about income, but a landlord who followed the lease is generally protected.

Landlords keep the unit at HQS standards for the whole tenancy, more than at move-in. Annual inspections are required. Failed items can trigger abatement, meaning PHA stops paying, if they are not fixed fast.

If you own rental property here and are weighing whether to take vouchers, VoucherReady's landlord kit walks through the RFTA paperwork, the inspection prep checklist, and rent reasonableness documentation in one place.

To see how other big-city authorities run their landlord programs, our section 8 chicago and section 8 nyc guides cover those markets.

What tenant rights do Section 8 renters have in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia renters, voucher or not, hold some of the stronger local protections in Pennsylvania. The state itself tilts landlord-friendly, but the city's ordinances push back.

The protections that matter most for low-income residents:

Eviction diversion: Philadelphia's Eviction Diversion Program makes landlords seek mediation before filing in court over nonpayment. That gives tenants a real shot at clearing arrears before a judgment lands. Since the program launched in 2021, it has resolved a large share of cases before they reach court ^[9].

Fair Practices Ordinance: Bans discrimination based on source of income (a voucher), race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, and other protected classes. Complaints go to the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations ^[8].

Lead paint disclosure: Philadelphia's lead rules are strict. Under the city's Lead Paint Disclosure and Certification Law, landlords must get lead inspections and certifications for pre-1978 units rented to children under 6. This overlaps with Section 8, because HQS inspections also check for lead hazards ^[10].

Right to counsel: Since 2019, low-income Philadelphia tenants facing eviction have had a right to free legal representation through the Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) and other groups under the city's Eviction Prevention Project.

Repair enforcement: Pennsylvania has no statutory repair-and-deduct law, but Philadelphia courts recognize habitability standards, and HQS gives voucher holders an extra lever. If a landlord refuses required repairs, you report it to PHA, which can abate payments and force the fix.

For broader tenant help, Philadelphia Legal Assistance (philalegal.org) and Community Legal Services (clsphila.org) both represent income-eligible renters for free.

Can I move my Philadelphia voucher to another city or state?

Yes, and a lot of voucher holders never use it. Portability is one of the program's best features. Under 24 CFR Part 982 Subpart H, a voucher holder in good standing for at least 12 months from initial lease-up can port to any jurisdiction in the country that has a public housing authority ^[1].

How it works: you tell PHA you want to move out of the jurisdiction, PHA issues a portability packet, you contact the receiving PHA in your destination city, and that PHA either bills Philadelphia PHA or absorbs the voucher into its own program. An absorbed voucher can be simpler for you, but the receiving PHA's payment standards and rules then apply.

Haven't hit 12 months yet? You can still port if you are moving for a job, to escape domestic violence, or to reunite with family in certain documented cases.

Porting out of Philadelphia can pay off if you are chasing a lower-cost market where the payment standard covers more of the rent. It runs the other way too. If you hold a voucher from another PHA and want to move here, you can port in. Just know that Philadelphia rents are high enough that many out-of-city vouchers carry payment standards that do not cover local market rents, which makes finding a unit hard.

Our section 8 miami and rental assistance nj guides show what receiving authorities look like in those markets.

What emergency housing help is available in Philadelphia right now?

Emergency help sits outside the PHA waitlist entirely. Facing eviction, a shutoff, or homelessness? These are your fastest options.

Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project: Pairs legal representation, financial mediation, and rental assistance for tenants already in eviction court. Reach it through Community Legal Services or Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Philadelphia Emergency Housing Assistance: Run through the Office of Homeless Services. Call 215-232-1984 or 211. It provides emergency money for rent arrears to income-eligible Philadelphians.

Rapid Rehousing: Short-term rental subsidies, usually 3 to 12 months, paired with case management. You reach it through Coordinated Entry at 211. Project HOME, SELF Inc., and Bethesda Project run these.

State and local rental funds: Pennsylvania has no state RAFT program like Massachusetts, but PHFA and local Community Action Agencies sometimes hold limited rental assistance money. In Philadelphia, the Department of Human Services coordinates some of these funds.

Utility assistance: LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) covers utility costs and frees up money for rent. Apply through Pennsylvania's COMPASS system at compass.state.pa.us.

None of these puts you on the Section 8 waitlist or promises long-term housing. They buy time and steady your situation while you chase something permanent. That line matters, because people assume emergency rental help leads to a voucher. It does not, unless Coordinated Entry refers you into a permanent supportive housing slot.

How does Philadelphia's affordable housing situation compare to other major cities?

Philadelphia beats the biggest metros on some measures and lags badly on others.

The good news. Rents here, though climbing, sit below New York, Boston, and San Francisco. The source-of-income law gives voucher holders real legal footing when a landlord tries to turn them away. And the city has an active nonprofit housing sector.

The hard news. PHA has run underfunded against the scale of need for years, and its waitlist has stayed closed for long stretches. Roughly 18% of Philadelphia households live below the federal poverty line, among the highest rates of any large U.S. city ^[11]. The gap between need and supply is wide: HUD's 2023 Worst Case Housing Needs report found that in Pennsylvania, "for every 100 extremely low-income renter households, only 49 affordable and available units existed" ^[12].

Size tells part of the story. New York City's public housing authority manages about 177,000 units against PHA's roughly 14,000. Philadelphia is far smaller in raw numbers. But the cost base is lower too, so a dollar of assistance stretches further here than in Manhattan. Our section 8 nyc article shows how different that system is.

If you are in a nearby market, the chester county housing authority waitlist covers the suburban authority just outside the city, and section 8 application nj covers New Jersey across the river. Applying in an adjacent jurisdiction and porting in is sometimes faster than waiting for PHA Philadelphia.

What documents do I need to apply for low-income housing in Philadelphia?

Pull your documents together before a waitlist opens. This is not busywork. PHA's voucher window can close inside 48 hours, and if you are hunting for a birth certificate mid-window, you miss it or file something incomplete.

For the initial application, PHA usually asks for:

• Full legal names and dates of birth for everyone in the household
• Social Security numbers for all members (or a signed declaration for anyone without one)
• Current mailing address and phone number
• Email address for electronic notices

At eligibility verification, which comes later when your number is called, you will need:

• Photo ID for all adults (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
• Birth certificates for all household members
• Social Security cards for all household members
• Proof of income for the past 12 months: pay stubs, employer letters, Social Security award letters, benefit statements, tax returns
• Bank statements for the past 3 to 6 months on all accounts
• Documentation of any assets (vehicles, savings, real property)
• Proof of current address (utility bill, lease, or mail with your name and address)
• For preference claims: a veteran's DD-214, homelessness documentation from a shelter or provider, or proof of government-caused displacement

LIHTC apartments ask for similar paperwork, handled by the private property. They may also pull a credit report. You cannot be screened out for your income source under fair housing law, but credit history and prior evictions are fair game.

VoucherReady's tenant tools include a document checklist you can print or save to your phone, so nothing slips when a window opens.

For how the process runs elsewhere, the housing authority of the city of los angeles guide gives a comparison point.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the wait for Section 8 in Philadelphia?

Historically the voucher wait through PHA has run 5 to 10 years, depending on funding and where your lottery number lands. PHA does not publish a live estimate. Preference categories (veterans, homeless individuals referred through Coordinated Entry, current Philly residents) can shorten it meaningfully. Public housing waitlists for specific developments sometimes move faster than the voucher list.

Is Philadelphia's Section 8 waitlist open in 2025?

As of mid-2025, check pha.phila.gov directly for the current status. PHA's voucher waitlist is closed more often than open, and the last major opening was in 2023. PHA announces openings through its website, email list, and local media. Sign up for PHA email alerts so you hear the moment a window opens. Only PHA's official site is authoritative; skip third-party sites for this.

Can I apply for low income housing in Philadelphia online?

Yes. When PHA opens its waitlist, applications go in online at pha.phila.gov. Paper applications generally are not offered. LIHTC and privately managed buildings mostly run their own online portals. The PHDC affordable housing database at phdc.phila.gov lists deed-restricted rentals across the city with links to each building's application.

What counts as income for Philadelphia housing assistance applications?

PHA counts wages, self-employment net income, Social Security including SSI, pensions, child support, alimony, and most regular cash payments. It does not count the earned income tax credit, one-time insurance settlements, or sporadic gifts. Deductions cut counted income: $480 per dependent, $400 for elderly or disabled families, plus allowable medical and childcare costs. The resulting adjusted annual income sets your rent share.

Does Philadelphia have source of income protection for voucher holders?

Yes. Philadelphia's Fair Practices Ordinance bars landlords from refusing to rent based on source of income, which includes housing vouchers. It has been in effect since 2017. Landlords who violate it can face complaints at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. The law does not force a landlord to accept a specific unit's rent level or to skip normal tenant screening unrelated to the voucher.

Can I use a Philadelphia Housing Authority voucher to rent anywhere in the city?

You can rent any unit in Philadelphia where the landlord agrees, the unit passes HQS inspection, and the rent fits the payment standard for that zip code (or close enough that your share stays under 40% of income at initial lease-up). PHA uses Small Area Fair Market Rents, so payment standards vary by zip code. High-rent neighborhoods carry higher standards, though those can still lag actual market rents in the hottest areas.

What is the difference between public housing and a housing voucher in Philadelphia?

Public housing means PHA is your landlord in a building PHA owns. Rent is income-based and the subsidy cannot leave. A voucher is portable: you find a private landlord, PHA pays them for you, and after 12 months you can move the voucher to another city. Vouchers give more flexibility. Public housing can be faster to reach, since some developments have shorter waitlists than the voucher program.

Are there income limits for seniors applying for affordable housing in Philadelphia?

Yes. PHA senior housing is income-restricted under HUD rules: generally 80% AMI or below for public housing, 50% AMI or below for vouchers. Some LIHTC senior buildings cap certain units as low as 30% AMI. Seniors also get a $400 elderly family deduction from counted income, which lowers rent burden. The senior housing waitlist is separate from general family housing and sometimes moves on a different timeline.

What happens if I get evicted while on the PHA waitlist?

An eviction does not automatically drop you from the PHA waitlist, but the reason matters. If it involved drug-related activity at a federally assisted property, it can make you ineligible. Other evictions show up in tenant screening and may affect eligibility when your number is called. Keep your address current with PHA, since notices come by mail and a returned letter can cost you your spot regardless of the eviction.

Can undocumented immigrants apply for Section 8 or public housing in Philadelphia?

No. Federal law bars undocumented immigrants from federal housing assistance. At least one household member must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. Mixed-status families, where some members qualify and others do not, can receive prorated assistance based on the eligible members' share. Ineligible members are left out of the subsidy calculation, but the eligible members can still apply and draw partial assistance.

How do I report a landlord who refuses my housing voucher in Philadelphia?

File a complaint with the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (phila.gov). You have 300 days from the discriminatory act to file. The Commission investigates, can order conciliation, and can penalize landlords who violated the Fair Practices Ordinance. You can also file a fair housing complaint with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at hud.gov within one year of the incident.

Is there affordable housing in Philadelphia for people with disabilities?

Yes, through several channels. PHA keeps accessible units on a separate waitlist. HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities funds units across the city. LIHTC buildings with accessible design sit throughout Philadelphia. The Inglis organization specifically serves adults with physical disabilities and runs housing programs. Referrals for people with serious mental illness usually come through the city's Coordinated Entry system at 211.

What other nearby cities or counties have housing assistance if Philadelphia's waitlist is closed?

Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, and Bucks counties all run their own housing authorities with separate waitlists. Suburban authorities sometimes carry shorter waits, and if you land a voucher there, you can port it into Philadelphia after 12 months of compliant tenancy. New Jersey authorities across the Delaware are another option. See our chester county housing authority waitlist guide and section 8 application nj article for those programs.

Sources

1. HUD, Code of Federal Regulations 24 CFR Part 982 (Housing Choice Voucher Program): Voucher income targeting (75% at or below 30% AMI), tenant rent share (30% of adjusted income), portability rules, and citizenship/criminal background requirements
2. Philadelphia Housing Authority, Official Website: PHA manages approximately 14,000 subsidized housing units and vouchers; waitlist history and application process
3. HUD, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program: LIHTC apartments are built by private developers using federal tax credits with income limits typically 30% to 80% of AMI and their own building-level waitlists
4. HUD, FY2024 Income Limits Documentation System, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington HMA: FY2024 AMI for Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro is $107,700 for a family of four; 30%, 50%, and 80% AMI thresholds by household size
5. HUD, Small Area Fair Market Rents: Philadelphia uses Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs), meaning payment standards vary by zip code
6. Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Official Website: PHFA finances LIHTC developments statewide; lists funded projects though does not maintain a centralized application portal
7. City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations: Philadelphia's Fair Practices Ordinance prohibits landlord refusal to rent based on source of income (including housing vouchers) since 2017
8. City of Philadelphia, Eviction Diversion Program: Philadelphia's Eviction Diversion Program requires landlord-tenant mediation before filing nonpayment cases in court; launched 2021
9. City of Philadelphia, Lead Paint Disclosure and Certification Law: Landlords must obtain lead inspections and certifications for pre-1978 units rented to children under 6
10. U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Philadelphia city Pennsylvania: Approximately 18% of Philadelphia residents live below the federal poverty line, among the highest rates of major U.S. cities
11. HUD, Worst Case Housing Needs 2023 Report to Congress: For every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Pennsylvania, there were only 49 affordable and available units as of 2023