Guiding Our Commitment to Housing
Explore LCHA’s policies and strategic plans that ensure transparency, fairness, and quality housing for our community.
LCHA Policies & Strategic Plans
Agenda-Wide Policies & General Documents
The Lancaster City Housing Authority (LCHA) is committed to transparency, compliance, and operational excellence. Our agenda-wide policies and general documents serve as the foundation for how we conduct business, ensuring fairness, accountability, and alignment with federal, state, and local regulations. These documents outline governance practices, procedural guidelines, and strategic initiatives that guide our mission to provide safe, affordable housing for the community.
In this section, you will find policies that apply broadly across all LCHA programs, including administrative plans, financial reports, and regulatory compliance documents. These resources provide insight into our organizational structure, decision-making processes, and ongoing efforts to improve housing opportunities in Lancaster. Whether you are a resident, stakeholder, or partner agency, these documents offer transparency into the policies that shape LCHA’s programs and services.
Public Housing Policies & Procedures
LCHA’s Public Housing program provides safe, well-maintained, and affordable housing options for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. To ensure consistent and equitable management of these properties, our public housing policies and procedures outline tenant rights and responsibilities, lease agreements, maintenance standards, and eligibility criteria. These guidelines help foster a positive living environment while maintaining compliance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations.
This section includes important documents related to rent calculations, inspections, grievance procedures, and tenant obligations. Residents can reference these policies for information on their rights, available services, and program expectations. By adhering to these procedures, LCHA ensures that public housing communities remain safe, welcoming, and well-managed for all who call them home.
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Policies & Procedures
The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, formerly known as Section 8, helps eligible families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities secure affordable housing in the private market. This program operates under specific policies and procedures to ensure fair access, compliance, and efficiency in the allocation of rental assistance. LCHA follows federal guidelines to determine eligibility, calculate rental subsidies, and oversee landlord participation.
In this section, you will find key documents outlining program rules, tenant and landlord responsibilities, and the process for securing a voucher. Resources include guidance on income qualifications, family share of rent, housing inspections, and recertification requirements. These policies ensure that both tenants and landlords understand their roles, fostering a successful partnership that expands housing opportunities for those in need.
LCHA's Right-To-Know Policy and Procedure
This policy establishes the Lancaster City Housing Authority’s (LCHA) procedures for meeting its obligations under the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law (RTK Law). LCHA recognizes the value of making information available to the public, and is committed to continually improving public access to public information and fostering public participation in the decision-making process.
“The Mission of the Office of Open Records is to enforce the state’s Right-to-Know law and to serve as a resource for citizens, public officials and members of the media in obtaining public records of their government.”
A citizen’s right-to-know, sometimes known as freedom of information, fosters accountability, prevents abuses of power and promotes trust in government. Pennsylvania has codified this important right to access government records in Act 3 of 2008, called the Right-to-Know law.
Persons with Disabilities/Section 504 Policy
Section 504 is not the only law that prohibits disability discrimination in programs receiving HUD funds or financial assistance. Other Federal laws that provide nondiscrimination on the basis of disability include the Fair Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Architectural Barriers Act. We encourage persons with disabilities and recipients of HUD assistance to review all these laws by returning to HUD’s “People with Disabilities” Web site.
Section 3 Program
The Section 3 program requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.If you live in government-assisted housing or if your household income falls below HUD’s income limits, you may qualify as a Section 3 resident or Section 3 business concern.
SEMAP: Section 8 Management Assessment Program
Lancaster City Housing Authority’s Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) score for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024.
LCHA’s performance rating is High with a SEMAP score of 93%.
SEMAP enables HUD to better manage the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program by identifying the Housing Authority’s capabilities and deficiencies related to the administration of the Section 8 program. The grade for each indicator is included in the SEMAP assessment and is listed below. SEMAP remotely measures the Housing Authority’s performance and administration of this program in key indicators, based upon the Housing Authority’s electronic certification, as evaluated against HUD data systems, especially MTCS.
