Public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to high rise apartments for elderly families. There are approximately 1.2 million households living in public housing units, managed by some 3,300 Housing Authorities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) governs and administers federal funds to local housing authorities to manage housing.
PRHA has two family developments, Pecan Acres Estates and Pin Oaks Estates. The bedroom range is from 1-bedroom to 6-bedrooms.
Who Is Elgible?
Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. PRHA determines eligibility based on: 1) annual gross income; 2) whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and 3) U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status. If you are eligible, the PRHA will check your references to make sure you and your family will be good tenants. PRHA will deny admission to any applicant whose habits and practices may be expected to have a detrimental effect on other tenants or on the community’s environment.
The authority uses income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Virginia HUD office). HUD sets the lower-income limit at 80% and very-low-income-limit at 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which you choose to live. Income limits vary from area to area so you may be eligible at one housing authority but no another. The authority can provide you with the income levels for the city of Petersburg and family size.
2019 Income Limits
