Public Housing Agencies and Operating Subsidies (PHAs)

Definition

A public housing agency (PHA) is a state, county, municipality or other governmental entity or public body authorized to develop or administer low-rent public housing.^[1] HUD pays PHAs operating subsidies from the Operating Fund, set up by the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 to help pay for operating and managing public housing.^[2]

Federal law

1. United States Housing Act of 1937, Act of Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, 50 Stat. 888. United States Housing Act of 1937; created federal assistance for low-rent public housing and defined "public housing agency" (§ 2(11)). Official text: govinfo.gov, U.S. Government Publishing Office.
2. Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, title V), Pub. L. 105-276, title V, § 519, 112 Stat. 2461, 2551. Rewrote § 9 of the 1937 Act (42 U.S.C. § 1437g) to create the public housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund. Official text: govinfo.gov, U.S. Government Publishing Office.