The Providence Housing Authority is the largest affordable housing landlord in the State of Rhode Island. We own and manage a portfolio of 2,600 public housing units within Providence and administer another 2,700 rental assistance vouchers to tenants on the private market. In addition to property management, we manage our facilities in-house and provide critical resident services while coordinating with outside partners to insure those we serve maintain successful tenancy. This experience provides a unique perspective on the market and an expertise that we hope to share with landlord partners throughout the communities we serve.
Leasing to a PHA Participant
There are a lot of benefits to leasing to a PHA participant but we know that navigating the lingo and the process may seem daunting. We assure you, it sounds more complicated than it is! Click here to learn more about the different types of PHA voucher programs along with step-by-step details about the process of becoming a PHA landlord partner.
Landlord Incentives
The PHA is currently looking for landlord partners. Incentives to participate in the program by leasing to our voucher holders include:
- $500 BONUSES – thanks to grant funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, the PHA is able to offer special landlord incentives for a LIMITED time! Bonus funds will be awarded to landlords who…
- $500 if you lease to a new Mainstream or VASH Voucher holder.
- $500 for your first unit to sign a lease and contract with the PHA and one of our participants.
- $500 if your new unit is located in one of our Neighborhoods of Opportunity.
- Online landlord portal to manage payments, listings, communicate with the PHA, view documents, etc.
- Consistent monthly direct deposits of rental payments into your account.
- Training and how to’s offered regularly by our staff and partners who are experts in their respective fields.
For additional information on how to apply for our inventive programs, please call our Accessing HOME Coordinator, Caroline Holguin at 401-270-1457 or email her at CHolguin@ProvHousing.org.
List Your Unit
Looking for a new tenant? List for FREE with the PHA’s new portal. Create an account or log in today to begin!
Technical Assistance for Landlords
As part of on-going efforts to share knowledge from both our agency and other experts in the field, the PHA has organized a series of technical assistance programs and articles, available online. Offerings include.
-
Rent Relief RI
Do you have tenants – Section 8 or otherwise – who are having trouble paying their rent or owe back rent from the past year? Rhode Island Housing opened its federally funded Rent Relief RI program on March 31, 2021. The program provides rental and utility relief payments to help eligible renters maintain housing stability. The program is now accepting applications for rental and utility assistance. Renters can apply directly but there’s also an option for – you as a landlord – to register with the program.
-
Self-Help Evictions in RI
RI’s Attorney General’s guidance on self-help evictions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and eviction moratorium.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) implemented an Eviction Moratorium halting eviction proceedings of “covered persons for nonpayment” (effective through June 30, 2021).For more information on the moratorium, view the CDC’s Frequently Asked Question page. To qualify, a tenant provides the Declaration Form stating they meet the following criteria:
(1) The individual has used best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for
rent or housing;
(2) The individual either (i) expects to earn no more than $99,000 in annual income for
Calendar Year 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing a joint tax return), (ii) was not
required to report any income in 2019 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or (iii)
received an Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check) pursuant to Section 2201 of the
CARES Act;
(3) The individual is unable to pay the full rent or make a full housing payment due to
substantial loss of household income, loss of compensable hours of work or wages, a
lay-off, or extraordinary out-of-pocket medical expenses;
(4) The individual is using best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to
the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit, taking into account other
nondiscretionary expenses; and
(5) Eviction would likely render the individual homeless— or force the individual to move
into and live in close quarters in a new congregate or shared living setting—because the
individual has no other available housing options.
Online Webinars – FREE Live Sessions!
Stay tuned, as we are adding more topics in the Spring! Email Ainsley Cantoral at ACantoral@provhousing.org with any topic requests you may have!
For Owners/Agents that are looking to be successful Landlords. The PHA will cover the basics of working with the PHA’s Section 8 program including the rights, roles, and responsibilities of landlords, participants, and the PHA team. Geared towards all landlords, these sessions cover the basics your lease should include in order to successfully manage your property in general and your PHA/Landlord/Tenant relationship. Watch the Session on YouTube.
Attorney Michael D. Crane will cover basics of Rhode Island’s Landlord Tenant Laws and HUD regulations regarding reasonable accommodation requests. From meeting and vetting prospective tenants (“I have a service animal – his name is Murphy the Turkey. My turkey provides emotional support so you have to lease to me or you are discriminating against people with disabilities and turkeys!”) to adjusting your policies as they arise (“I have a medical marijuana license, so I can smoke in my unit now, right?”), this session will cover all the basics to help you follow the law. Watch the Session on YouTube.
This workshop will dispel some of the myths around Section 8, talk you through the program requirements, and how you can increase your pool of qualified applicants when you have a vacancy. Learn more about how to access guaranteed monthly payments with Section 8 and how you can become part of the solution to RI’s housing crisis. Watch the Session on YouTube.
Learn about how pass a Section 8 inspection every time! This session discusses common fail items and the basics of the minimum Housing Quality Standards (what Section 8 standards defer to – and which often align with Minimum Property Code Standards). We will also talk about unit repairs, preventative maintenance, and energy efficiencies as well as resources available to help you make updates for little to no cost out of pocket. Partner presenters include Childhood Lead Action Project, Providence Revolving Fund, and RISE Engineering. Watch the Session on YouTube.
Download Event Materials. Check back often, as offerings change and new resources are added frequently!
