Frequently Asked Questions

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What Programs and Services do you offer?

The Housing Association’s Community Alerting Service reports weekly on Philadelphia City Council, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Redevelopment Authority, the PA Liquor Control Board and their decisions affecting housing and community development. For a CAS subscription or to request other information, click here or please call Rhea Crawford at 215/545-6010.

Research and Watchdogging are vital elements in HADV's policy related activities. Our research activities are designed to uncover and interpret factual information regarding the housing crisis. These efforts support the Association's advocacy, public education, and technical assistance functions and enable the Association to develop innovative solutions to housing problems. Our research helps community groups and individuals to better understand housing issues and to address their particular needs.

Infill

HADV also publishes Infill Magazine, our quarterly housing journal.  For Infill advertising rates or subscriptions, please click here: Advertising.

For 90 years, HADV has been a leading Housing Advocate by pressing for the adoption of policies and programs to increase the quantity and quality of affordable housing. Throughout its history, HADV has advocated for decent housing for all people, especially the poor, disabled, and elderly. We uncover and analyze data related to the regional housing crisis and monitor federal, state and local government actions affecting housing and neighborhoods. The Housing Association also produces the Fair Housing Alerting Bulletin and the Public Housing Alerting Bulletin which are timely updates summarizing current legislation and calls-to-action in these respective areas of housing.

 

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Where can I find an apartment or home for rent?

Disclaimer:  The Housing Association does not endorse any home or apartment search service.  If you chose to use any of the following services or companies, you do so at your own risk, and should not hold us liable if you are unhappy with the services they provide. 

 

We do not maintain a list of homes and apartments that are available for rent, but you can find homes and apartments by calling Apartment Solutions at 888 994 RENT or Apartment Source at 888 645-5100.  You can search for an apartment on line at the following links:

Relocation Central
100 Top Apartment Sites 
Personal Touch Relocation Service
ReLoUSA.net
The Ingerman Group

HighriseLiving.com  

Guide to Philadelphia Region Apartments and Townhomes, Rental  
Philadelphia Apartment Locator - 
Springstreet.com
www.Realtor.com

 

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How can I get Section 8 or PHA housing?

In order to obtain subsidized housing, you must contact:

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA)

2012 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA  19103      

(215) 684-4000

 

The PHA Admissions Office is located at    801 Arch St. 5th floor 

And their telephone numbers are (215) 684-4458 and (215) 684-4422

 

The Section 8 Office is (215) 684-4328    or   (215) 448-3000

 

The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Web Page is located at:

http://www.pha.phila.gov/

 

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What housing is available for Senior Citizens?

The Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging can help you find Senior Housing.  Their telephone number is (215) 765 9040.  Their website is located at http://www.pcaphl.org/

 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a Department of Aging, located in Harrisburg. (717) 783-1549 and (717) 783-1550   

 

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) may be able to assist you in finding housing for Seniors.  Their telephone number is (717) 238-2277.

 

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency  (HFA) maintains a list of apartments that are accessible for the disabled and for seniors.  Call 1 800 822-1174

 

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What housing is available for people with disabilities?

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency  (HFA) maintains a list of apartments that are accessible for the disabled and for seniors.  Call 1 800 822-1174

 

The Housing Consortium for Disabled Individuals (HCDI) assists people with disabilities with their housing issues.  Their general number is (215) 895-5694.  For questions about housing for the disabled, call (215) 895-5609 or 5638.  For questions about adaptive modifications call (215) 895 5692

 

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) maintains a list of apartments that are accessible for the disabled.  That phone number is 1800 822-1174.  There is no fee for this service.  The website for accessible housing is http://www.phfa.org/apts/index.htm

 

PHFA also has a program to help disabled first-time homebuyers make modifications to kitchens, baths, grab-bars, ramps or widening of doors, sidewalks and halls, with loans of from $1,000 to $10,000 for modifications.  This is called the Access Home Program.  No interest is charged on the loan, and no repayment is required until the mortgage is paid off or the house is sold or refinanced.

 

The Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) has built accessible houses in Philadelphia.  Their number is 215 235 6070

 

For more assistance, you can call the Mayor’s Commission on People with Disabilities at 215 686 2798.

 

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How can I get help with a mortgage foreclosure?

The Housing Association of Delaware Valley’s housing counseling office can help you avoid foreclosure if you are in default on your mortgage.  We offer comprehensive counseling, including credit counseling and assistance with Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) applications.  For more information on  these services, click here:  Housing Counseling.

 

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What services are available for the homeless?

Disclaimer:    The Housing Association does not endorse any homeless shelter or service provider.  If you chose to use any of the following services or agencies, you do so at your own risk, and should not hold us liable if you are unhappy with the services they provide. 

 

Shelter for homeless people is provided through the City’s

Office of Emergency Shelter and Services (OESS)

1315 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 

(215) 686-7150     

The telephone number to inquire about transitional housing is (215) 686-6759

 

Bethesda Project

Ministry to the Homeless

Shelter, food, emergency help,

change of clothes.

1630 South Street

Philadelphia, PA  19102

(215) 985-1600

Calcutta House:  Ministers to homeless people with AIDS

1601 West Girard Avenue

(215) 684-0480

12 individual bedrooms w/ private baths, common sitting dining and living rooms plus four one bedroom apartments adjoining the facilities.

 

Dignity Housing

Provides homeless assistance

7208 Germantown Avenue

(215) 242 3140

Peoples Emergency Center (PEC) homeless shelter

3902 Spring Garden Street

Philadelphia PA 19104

(215) 382 7523

Project H.O.M.E.

Housing, Opportunity, Medical care & Education

They provide shelter to the homeless and transitional housing

1515 Fairmount Avenue

Philadelphia PA  19130

(215) 235 7134

Salvation Army

Provides homeless shelter & assistance to people in an emergency

715 N. Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA  19123

(215) 787-2887

Women Against Abuse

Helps women and their families who are homelessness due to domestic abuse

(215) 386-1280

(215) 386-7777 hotline number

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Who can help me if there are code violations at my apartment?

If you are a tenant and you are having a difficult time getting the property owner to make repairs, you can contact the City’s Departments of Licenses and Inspections.  If they find violations of the housing code, they will issue a notice of violation, requiring the property owner to make the necessary repairs.

 

Licenses and Inspections  Info. & Complaints:  (215) 686-2463

Edward J. McLaughlin, Commissioner  (215) 686-2400

1401 JFK Blvd. MSB 11th Floor

Philadelphia, PA  19102

 

The City’s Fair Housing Ordinance prohibits eviction or rent increases while a property has code violations.  The law also protects you from being evicted for reporting code violations.  If you feel that you are not being treated fairly by the property owner, you can call the City’s Fair Housing Commission.

 

The Fair Housing Commission is located at 34 South 11th Street, 6th Floor, Philadelphia PA  19107.  Their telephone number is (215) 686-4670

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Who can help me with housing discrimination?

The City’s Fair Practices Ordinance protects you against housing discrimination on the basis of your race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, physical disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, presence of children, and source of income.  To file a complaint, contact:

Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
34 South 11th Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Main Switchboard: (215) 686-4670
Central Intake Unit: (215) 686-4692
6th & Lehigh Field Office: (215) 685-9763
Fax: (215) 686-4684

Web page http://www.phila.gov/summary/humanrelations/index.html

 

In addition, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a Human Relations Law that also prohibits discrimination in housing.  The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission office for Philadelphia is located at:

711 State Office Building, 1400 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Voice: (215) 560-2496 / Text Telephone: (215) 560-3599

Web page:  http://www.phrc.state.pa.us/

 

The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development will also help you file a complaint if you feel that you have been discriminated against in housing on the basis of your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability.  You can contact the local HUD office of fair housing by calling: 

215 656-0647  or call the HUD housing discrimination hotline: 

1800-669-9777.

 

You can even file a housing discrimination complaint on line.  All you need to do is follow the link http://www5.hud.gov:1025/netdynamics/ndNSAPI.nd/HUD903/pagHUDPrivacy and click on the HUD 903.1 form box.  Fill out the form and click the “submit” button.  Someone from HUD will get in touch with you soon.

 

If you have any questions about your fair housing rights, or need more information about deadlines and filling out the forms, call the Housing Association of Delaware Valley and we’ll help you through the process.

 

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Last revised: October 17, 2002