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PHADA Membership: Maximizing Your Return on Investment

We work for you! PHADA membership represents one of the most valuable investments your housing authority can make, delivering on exceptional returns through:

  • Direct Financial Value: Advocacy with tangible benefits to your budget.
  • Powerful Representation: Amplifying your voice in Washington.
  • Professional Development: Resources and training to help strengthen your agency’s operations.
  • Nationwide Network: Access to a strong network of industry leaders dedicated to addressing challenges and sharing best practices.

Representing Your Voice in Washington

PHADA supports practical and flexible solutions to critical issues facing the low-income housing industry.

In-person advocacy with Congressional offices and HUD staff regularly and often to share the Association’s stance on key topics, including:

  • PHADA’s Local Flexibility Option to provide meaningful deregulation and latitude for HAs, which is essential in the present budgetary and political environment.
  • Swift mobilization to respond to the draconian federal funding freeze, most of which has since been reversed.
  • Coordinating with national organizations as a core partner to address the negative impact of excessive HUD staffing cuts.

Expert analysis and dissemination through detailed comment letters on important issues. In the past year, PHADA submitted over a dozen comment letters to Congress and HUD with impactful, well-reasoned arguments on key topics such as:

  • Tenant Account Receivables (TARs),
  • Build America, Buy America (BABA),
  • The 30-day notice requirement,
  • Fair housing and criminal records rules, and
  • Improvements to RAD.

View all of PHADA’s comments here.

Delivering significant policy wins by playing a pivotal role in advocating for successful legislative changes to provide crucial funding and support for our members, including:

  • Successfully advocated for delaying the HOTMA compliance date, providing HAs with greater flexibility in enforcing HOTMA asset limits.
  • Led efforts to extend the waiver on the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) scoring metric for TARs so that HAs aren’t unfairly penalized for situations beyond their control.
  • Played a key role in persuading HUD to defer NSPIRE-V until October 2025. PHADA continues to advocate for a delay in the compliance mandate so HAs can better prepare and guard against the loss of more landlords in an already turbulent HCV environment.
  • Successfully advocated for pushing the RAD sunset date extension to 2029.
  • Prevented HUD from basing Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) funding on flawed performance metrics.
  • Raised many concerns with HUD about the previous Administration’s unworkable fair housing and tenant screening rules (although PHADA and its members strongly support the goals of fair housing). Both regulations have been withdrawn.

Providing Direct Financial Benefits

Every dollar matters, which is why PHADA has:

  • Fought for and realized targeted gains in FY 24 funding for the operating and capital funds, HCV renewals and administrative fees, and PBRA.

  • Led advocacy efforts with HUD and Congress on issues that threaten HA solvency, including Tenant Accounts Receivable (TARs), the 30-day notice to evict requirement, and rising insurance costs.

  • Organized and led two successful lawsuits on behalf of nearly 900 HAs for HUD’s illegal recapture of operating reserves, returning $270 million in damages.

 

Education and Professional Development

Membership includes access to essential learning resources:

  • Biweekly Advocate newsletter, provided both electronically and in print, with in-depth analysis of key industry issues. 

  • Timely updates through Breaking News, social media, and eBlasts that keep members informed.

  • Free webinars on critical industry topics, including skills and practices for effective Congressional advocacy.

  • Discounted pricing for all staff and commissioners to attend PHADA’s three annual conferences that include professional development opportunities during conference sessions.

  • Effective professional development through the PHADA-Rutgers University Executive Director Education Program (EDEP), designed for current or aspiring executive directors.

 

Advocacy and Networking Opportunities

PHADA helps you build key relationships with elected officials, colleagues, and provides valuable resources:

  • Committee participation to influence national policies that impact local programs.

  • Insightful publications including PHADA’s Fact Sheets, Issue Briefs, and Position Papers on appropriations and legislative priorities to inform members with their own advocacy.

  • Access to subject matter experts and peer connections through the PHADA network to share policies, advice, and best practices that address local challenges across the nation.

  • Complimentary online jobs and RFP postings on PHADA’s website for both employers and job seekers.

 

Together, Our Voices are Stronger

If your agency is not a member of PHADA join today and experience how advocacy, resources and professional development opportunities prepare you and your housing authority for the future.