Franklin County Housing Authority

Waiting Lists

Learn more about Franklin County Housing Authority.

Open: Franklin County, Pennsylvania Section 8 HCV

The Franklin County Housing Authority (FCHA) is accepting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program waiting list applications from June 1, 2023 at 9:00 am ET, until 250 applications have been received.

There are four ways to apply during the opening period:

  1. Complete the online application.
  2. Print the paper application.
  3. Pick up an application from one of the FCHA offices, located at 436 West Washington Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201 and 202 Elder Avenue, Waynesboro, PA 17268, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Monday to Friday.
  4. Complete the application in person at either one of the FCHA office's, addresses mentioned above.

Once the paper application has been completed, it must be either:

  1. Dropped off at any of the FCHA office's Section 8 Application drop boxes, addresses mentioned above.
  2. Faxed to (717) 263-1329.

The maximum income limits for each household size are as follows:

  • 1 Person $26,050 | 5 Persons $40,200
  • 2 Persons $29,800 | 6 Persons $43,200
  • 3 Persons $33,500 | 7 Person $46,150
  • 4 Persons $37,200 | 8 Persons $49,150

This waiting list has the following preferences: 

  • Families who are victim of domestic violence.
  • Homeless
  • Working preferences (includes elderly families or families whose head or spouse is receiving income based on their inability to work.)

It is not yet known how selected applicants will be placed on the waiting list.

For more information, visit the FCHA website.

Sources: This information was verified by the FCHA notice on May 22, 2023.

Service Area

This waiting list is for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (717) 263-4200.

Next Steps

Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.

Last Updated on 06/01/2023.

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Open: Franklin County Housing Authority Public Housing

Please Note: Due to the decentralized nature of affordable housing information, the information about this waiting list may be out of date.

The Franklin County Housing Authority (FCHA) Public Housing waiting list is currently open, since at least January 7, 2019, until further notice. Waiting lists for a specific community or bedroom size may be closed.

To apply, complete the online application here.

This waiting list has the following preferences: Live or work in Franklin County; Working at least 30 hours a week over 12 months; Elderly; Disabled; Victim of domestic violence; Federally declared disaster zone. More information about the preferences can be found here.

For more information, visit the FCHA Information on Admissions Process page, or the FCHA website.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants who need help completing the application due to disability can make a reasonable accommodation request to the housing authority via (717) 263-4200.

Next Steps

Learn more about what happens after the application is submitted.

Last Updated on 04/15/2019.

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Closed: Franklin County, Pennsylvania Mainstream Voucher

The Franklin County Housing Authority (FCHA) Mainstream Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently closed. It was last open from January until April, 2019. There is no notice of when this waiting list will reopen.

Please note: According to the FCHA, "Only families who are under the age of 62, disabled, and meet one of the following categories are eligible to apply: homeless, near homeless, institutionalized or near institutionalization."

There were three ways to apply during the opening period:

  1. Complete the online application. The application was available in English and Spanish.
  2. Complete the application at one of two Franklin County offices.
  3. Pick up an application at one of two Franklin County offices.

Once the paper application was completed, it must have been dropped off at one of the two Franklin County offices.

Preferences have not yet been confirmed.

Selected applicants were placed on the waiting list by date and time the application was received.

For more information, visit the FCHA website here.

Last Updated on 04/15/2019.

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About Franklin County Housing Authority

436 West Washington Street, Chambersburg, PA | Visit Website | (717) 263-4200

Franklin County Housing Authority provides affordable housing for up to 699 low and moderate income households through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Public Housing programs..

In addition, Franklin County Housing Authority offers other programs for eligible households, including:

  • Homeownership Voucher
  • Family Self-Sufficiency
  • Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
  • Section 8 Project-Based Voucher (PBV)

Housing Authority Jurisdiction

Low-income housing managed by Franklin County Housing Authority is located in Franklin County, PA.

Households with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher managed by this housing authority must rent within its jurisdiction.

About the Franklin County Housing Authority Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

As of the HUDs most recent Voucher Management System report, Franklin County Housing Authority manages 315 active Housing Choice Vouchers.

The following table summarizes types of vouchers managed and the monthly costs of each as of December 31st, 2021:

Standard VASH
Vouchers 310 5
Monthly Cost Per Voucher $394 $499
Monthly Cost $122,060 $2,495
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 6% having issued approximately 49 vouchers in the past year. The average voucher holder has received housing benefits for 7 years and 3 months. According to the 2016 PSH database, persons who were issued a voucher in the preceding 12 months waited an average of 27 months on the waiting list1.

Income Characteristics

According to 2016 Q4 Picture of Subsidized Households data, the average voucher household contains 1.9 persons and has a household income of $13,541 per year. 99% of households were very low income (VLI) and 70% were extremely low income (ELI). 15% of households had wages as a major source of income, 0% of households had welfare (TANF, General Assistance or Public Assistance) as their primary source of income, and 83% of households had other income (Social Security, Disability or Pension) as their major source of income.

Heads of Household Characteristics

1% of households were headed by a person 24 years old or less, 38% were headed by a person 25 to 49 years old, 26% were headed by a person 51 to 60 years old, and 35% were headed by a person 62 years old or older. In addition, 5% of households were headed by a person 85 years old or older.

32% of households included children, 3% of which had two adults in the household. 29% of households with children have a female head of household. 78% of all households were headed by a female.

35% of all voucher households were headed by minorities with 22% of all heads of households being Black and 1% being Hispanic.

Of all households participating in the Franklin County Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher program, 40% include at least one person with a disability. 65% of households with a head of household 61 years or less were headed by a person with a disability. 78% 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, 32% with 2 bedrooms and 26% with 3 or more bedrooms. 22% 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 Franklin County Housing Authority voucher holders in 2016 was $333 and the average monthly HUD expenditure per voucher holder was $451. The average utility allowance across all voucher recipients is $109.

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.