Portsmouth Housing Authority
Portsmouth Housing Authority is a housing authority that participates in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), and Public Housing programs. As of March 6th, 2021, Portsmouth Housing Authority has 2 waiting lists that are open now or opening soon.
Portsmouth Housing Authority serves Portsmouth.
Open Portsmouth Housing Authority Waiting Lists
Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, some waiting list openings may be postponed until further notice. Visit the housing authority's website for the latest on its current operations, if one is available. If there is no information online, contact the housing authority directly. Due to a high volume of calls and modified office hours in most areas, it may take days or weeks to get a response.
Portsmouth Housing Authority Website: http://www.porthousing.org/en/.
Portsmouth Housing Authority Phone: (603) 436-4310.
Open Until Further Notice:
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
How To Apply to the Housing Choice Voucher Waiting List
The Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open. Pre-applications are being accepted since at lease August 12, 2019, until further notice.
There are two ways to apply during the opening period:
- Open and print the pre-application online here. Select the orange "APPLY NOW (Download Application)" button.
- Pick up a pre-application from the PHA office, located at 245 Middle Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801.
- Call 603-436-4310 or TDD 1-800-545-1833, ext. 825 to request an application by mail.
Once the pre-application has been completed, it must be either:
- Dropped off in person to the PHA office, address mentioned above.
- Mailed to the PHA office, address mentioned above.
- Faxed to (603) 436-4937.
- Emailed to applications@nh-pha.com.
This waiting list has the following preferences:
- Currently live in the City of Portsmouth or work over 20 hours/week in the City of Portsmouth.
- Veteran as verified by the Department of Veteran Affairs or spouse is a veteran as verified by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Working head of household, or working spouse or person 62 or older, or a person who is unable to work because of their disability.
- Homeless.
It is not known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.
For more information, visit the PHA Housing Choice Voucher Information page, or the PHA website.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (603) 436-4310 .
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 08/21/2019.
Open Until Further Notice:
Public Housing Waiting List
Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.
How To Apply to the Public Housing Waiting List
The Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA) Public Housing waiting list is currently open. Applications are being accepted since at least August 1, 2019 until further notice.
There are two ways to apply during the opening period:
- Open and print the application online here. Select the orange "APPLY NOW (Download Application)" button.
- Pick up an application from the PHA office, located at 245 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH 03801, during normal office hours.
Once the application has been completed, it can be mailed or hand delivered to the address listed above.
This waiting list has the following preferences: living and/or working in Portsmouth, elderly, disabled, employed, or a veteran.
It is not known how applicants will be placed on the waiting list.
For more information, visit the PHA website.
Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (603) 436-4310.
Next Steps
Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.
Last Updated on 08/21/2019.
About Portsmouth Housing Authority
More information about Portsmouth Housing Authority can be found on its website at http://www.porthousing.org/en/.
Representatives of Portsmouth Housing Authority may be available by phone at (603) 436-4310. Unless otherwise noted above, applications will not be provided or accepted by phone.
About the Portsmouth Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Portsmouth Housing Authority manages 379 active Housing Choice Vouchers.
The following is a summary of the types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2019:
|
Standard | Tenant Protection | Ported Out |
| Vouchers |
363 | 8 | 8 |
| Monthly Cost Per Voucher |
$717 | $812 | $1,067 |
| Monthly Cost |
$260,099 | $6,494 | $8,533 |
Household Characteristics of Voucher Holders for Portsmouth Housing Authority
Waiting List and Tenancy
According to the 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households database, the housing authority's voucher program has an annual turnover of 16% having issued approximately 24 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 8 years and 4 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 17 months on the waiting list1.
Income Characteristics
According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.8 persons and has a household income of $17,460 per year. 94% of households were very low income (VLI) and 68% were extremely low income (ELI). 27% of households had wages as a major source of income, 1% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 72% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.
Heads of Household Characteristics
2% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 37% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 27% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 34% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 3% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.
28% of households included children, 3% of which had two adults in the household. 25% of households with children have a female head of household. 78% of all households were headed by a female.
13% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 8% of all heads of households being Black and 1% being Hispanic.
Of all households participating in the Portsmouth Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 33% include at least one person with a disability. 53% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 47% of households headed by someone 62 or older were headed by a person with a disability.
Bedroom Size and Overhousing
42% of voucher holders reside in a home with zero or 1 bedroom, 37% with 2 bedrooms and 21% with 3 or more bedrooms. 25% of voucher recipients are considered overhoused, meaning they occupy a rental unit larger than their family size requires.
Rent, Assistance, and Utility Allowances
The average monthly tenant contribution to rent by Portsmouth Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $438 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $791. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $130.
1. This Picture of Subsidized Households data field is the average wait time of those who received a voucher in the preceding 12 months. Due to special voucher programs like VASH, recent waiting list purges, or waiting list preferences the average wait time can vary significantly from one year to the next and it is entirely possible many current applicants on the waiting list have been waiting for assistance for far longer.
Public Housing Apartments Operated by Portsmouth Housing Authority
245 Middle St
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
10 Manor Dr
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
