About the PHA

Public Housing

Our 4,273 HUD-subsidized public housing rental units are well maintained and fully occupied (consistently over 99%), providing safe, affordable housing to about 10,000 low income residents. The PHA has received HUD's "High Performer" rating each year under the "Public Housing Management Assessment Program" (PHMAP) and the "Public Housing Assessment Program" (PHAS).

Section 8/Housing Choice Vouchers

The Agency administers about 5,243 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, most of them "tenant-based", which pay federal rent subsidies to private property owners who rent to eligible low-income households. The PHA regularly receives HUD's "High Performer" rating for its Section 8 Voucher program under the "Section 8 Management Assessment Program" (SEMAP).

Resident Services

The PHA coordinates a host of service programs for residents, including "welfare to work" programs, community policing, assisted living services for frail elderly and disabled residents, and others.

Modernization

The PHA promptly obligates and expends all of its funding under HUD's Capital Fund Program, now about $9 million annually. Following a five-year plan that is updated annually, the PHA uses Capital Funds to renovate family and hi-rise apartments, create new hi-rise community rooms and kitchens, and enlarge community centers on PHA family housing developments.

Excellent Property Management and Maintenance

The PHA follows strict but fair standards for screening new applicants and enforcing leases with residents. Residents are held accountable for the upkeep of their units; and vacant units are prepared to high standards for each new resident. All emergency work orders are performed within 24 hours, and routine work orders in less than three days on average. Graffiti is removed within 24 hours. All apartments are inspected at least twice annually, and all meet local codes and HUD's standards. Excellent property management and maintenance of PHA units help to maintain and improve the city's housing stock and promote neighborhood stability.

Location

Saint Paul, the capital of Minnesota, is a city of 287,151 residents. While a medium-sized city, it lies contiguous to Minneapolis, which has 382,452 residents. Together, Saint Paul and Minneapolis comprise the central cities of the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area, which has a total population of 2.968 million.