OPEN: Studio and 1-Bedroom is currently open and does not have a predetermined closing date.

Lorena Bentley

Analysis by Lorena Bentley

Last Updated: May, 14th 2024

Public Housing
Open
Date and Time
Online Application

This waiting list is for Public Housing rental housing assistance in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Lancaster City Housing Authority (LCHA) is accepting Public Housing waiting list applications for Studio and 1-Bedroom apartments from May 14, 2024 at 8:00 am, until 100 applications are received for each bedroom size.

Income limits can be found here.

This waiting list has the following preferences: 

  • Single applicants 62+ years of age or disabled for the 0-bedroom (efficiency/studio).
  • Head of Household and co-head of household/spouse is 62+ years or disabled for the 1-bedroom.

100 selected applicants will be placed on the 0-Bedroom waiting list by date and time the application is received, by order of preferences.

100 selected applicants will be placed on the 1-Bedroom waiting list by date and time the application is received, by order of preferences.

To apply while the waitlist is open, complete the online application.

For more information, visit the LCHA website.

Sources: This information was verified by the LCHA public notice on May 6, 2024.

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Studio and 1-Bedroom Public Housing Application Methods

The application may be completed online at https://www.pha-web.com/portals/onlineApplication/1728.

Studio and 1-Bedroom Public Housing Applicant Preferences

Studio and 1-Bedroom has preferences for: Preferences Unconfirmed. Preferences are not required but Public Housing applicants that meet these criteria will be moved up the waiting list.

Lancaster City Housing Authority

Studio and 1-Bedroom Public Housing Waiting List is managed by Lancaster City Housing Authority.

Lancaster City Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 1,569 low- and moderate-income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher and public housing programs.

This housing agency serves Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

What should I do after applying to the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

After applying, it's a good practice to keep a record of any application that you submit. This will help you keep track of your application, and is especially useful if you apply to multiple waiting lists. You can do this easily with a document on your computer or mobile device, and also with a notebook or piece of paper.

Make sure to write down your application or confirmation number with the application details. This number will be important to reference in the future. Once you have this information written, keep it stored in a place that's easy to access when you need it.

With this information safely stored, all you have left to do is wait to find out if you've been selected for the waiting list.

When will I know if I've been selected for the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

Depending on the area, it may take weeks or even months to know if you've been selected for the waiting list. Your wait for an announcement is usually the longest in areas with large populations and a high demand for housing assistance.

Check if the public notice states when the housing authority plans to announce the results, or how long it may take to review applications. Contact the housing authority if this information isn't available.

How do I know if I've been added to the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

Once all applications are reviewed, the housing authority will either contact everyone who has been placed on the waiting list, or message everyone who applied to check their results.

The housing authority will use the contact information you give in the application to reach you (usually by mail, email, or phone). For this reason, it is very important to put valid contact information on your application. Make sure you keep your contact information up to date, and that you respond quickly if any further action is required.

If you don't get contacted by the housing authority, it might mean that you were not chosen for the waiting list. Sometimes, housing authorities do not contact applicants who were not placed on the waiting list. Check with the housing authority for confirmation.

How can I check my status on the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

To check your status on the waiting list, you usually have to log into an online portal, call a phone number, or visit the office. Each housing authority has different ways for you to check your status.

Some housing authorities will give your spot on the waiting list, but others might only confirm that you're still on the waiting list. Make sure that you have your application or confirmation number with you when checking your status.

How long will it take to get to the top of the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

The wait to reach the top of this waiting list will be different for everyone.

It has not been confirmed if this waiting list has preferences. If there is at least one preference, those who qualify will have a shorter wait than those who don't. But if there are no preferences, applicants are placed on the waiting list by date and time the application was received by the housing authority. So, applying soon after the waiting list opens will give you a shorter wait than those who wait to apply after you.

If you are closer to the top of the waiting list, your wait may be just weeks or months long. But if you're closer to the end of the waiting list, it could take years to reach the top.

How do I update my application for the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list?

To update your waiting list application, you usually have to log into an online portal, call a phone number, or submit a form to the office. Each housing authority has different ways for you to update your application.

Make sure that you have your application or confirmation number with you when updating your application.

When can I apply for a Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list that is open until further notice?

You can apply for a waiting list that is open until further notice while it stays open for an unknown period of time. Usually, the housing authority is accepting applications until the waiting list closes, but some of these waiting lists never close.

For the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list, how do I apply online?

To apply online, an electronic form must be submitted to the housing authority on the internet. Many online applications require an account to be created to log in, and also a valid email address.

How is a Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing waiting list sorted by date and time?

A waiting list sorted by date and time orders applicants who are selected for the waiting list by the date and time the housing authority receives the application. Those who apply earlier will generally be placed higher on the waiting list.

Who lives in Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing units?

If you are considering applying to live in a Public Housing unit, you may be interested to know who already lives in these units, and what the households tend to look like. Fortunately, we can provide some helpful statistics using HUD's 2023 Picture of Subsidized Households. The following data describes the economic and demographic characteristics of renters who live in Public Housing units provided by Lancaster City Housing Authority.

How many renters live in Public Housing units provided by Lancaster City Housing Authority?

At the start of 2024, Lancaster City Housing Authority was managing 469 Public Housing units. Of the total number of units managed, there were 455 units occupied. This represents 97% of the total number of Public Housing units managed by Lancaster City Housing Authority.

According to HUD, there is a total of 935 people living in Public Housing units managed by Lancaster City Housing Authority, with the average number of people per household being 2.

How long did current Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing tenants spend on a waiting list before occupying a Public Housing unit?

The 455 households living in Public Housing units at the start of 2024 waited on average 24 months before being able to move in. Of those households, 36 occupied their unit in the last year. This represents 8 percent of Public Housing tenants in units managed by Lancaster City Housing Authority.

Are there any Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing units not occupied?

The Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing program that this waiting list covers had 97% of its units occupied by households with 3% unoccupied at the start of 2024.

How many Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing households have children?

Of the 455 Public Housing households in units managed by Lancaster City Housing Authority, 127 have at least one child. There are 28 two-parent households in the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing units, and 98 single-parent households. There were 117 households with children with a female head of household.

How much do Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing households earn?

The average annual household income for Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing tenant households is $21,081 The average annual income per person is $10,281 The average Public Housing household annual income is 27% of the local Area Median Income.

Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing household annual income
Annual Income Range ($) Number of Households % of Vouchers
Less than $5,000 9 2%
$5,000 - $9,999 18 4%
$10,000 - $14,999 218 48%
$15,000 - $19,999 59 13%
$20,000+ 150 33%

What is the source of income for Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing households?

Of all Public Housing households, 127 (27%) receive the majority of their income from wages and/or business. 5 (1%) households receive the majority of their income from welfare programs like TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance. 328 (70%) households derive the majority of their income from some other source (other than wage or welfare).

How much does a Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing unit cost?

For the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing program, the federal government covers the cost of, on average, $439 per month for each household, which equates to annual cost of $5,268.

How much does the average Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing tenant pay per month in rent?

HUD refers to the portion of rent paid by the tenant as the Total Tenant Payment, or Family Expenditure.

For the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing program, the average family expenditure is $452 per month or $5,424 per year. The combined payment from all tenants in the program is $205,660 per month, which is $2,467,920 per year.

What is the average utility cost paid by Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing renters?

The average cost of utilities for renters in this program is $133 per month. It is important to note this is not the actual cost renters will pay for utilities, but an estimate based on the energy cost estimates of the program.

What size are most Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing units?

Of the 469 households living in Public Housing units, 287 (63%) live in a studio or one-bedroom unit, 59 (13%) rent a 2-bedroom rental home and 109 (24%) have a 3-bedroom or larger rental. 3% of Public Housing households are overhoused with more bedrooms than people in the household.

What is the race and ethnicity of Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing households?

87% of Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing program households have a minority head of household who is Black, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander; or of Hispanic ethnicity.

Racial/ethnic makeup of Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing tenants
Race Number of Households % of Households
Asian/Pacific Islander 5 1%
Black Non-Hispanic 77 17%
Native American/Alaskan 0 0%
White Non-Hispanic 59 13%
Black Hispanic 5 1%
White Hispanic 309 68%
Other Hispanic 0 0%

What are the ages of tenant heads of households in the Lancaster City Housing Authority Public Housing program?

Age Range of Head of Household Number of Households % of Households
Under 24 5 1%
25-50/td> 168 37%
51-61 105 23%
62-84 168 37%
85 or Older 9 2%