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About Us

We aim to assist low to moderate income families with safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities as they strive to achieve self-sufficiency and improve the quality of their lives.

Our Mission

The mission of the Portsmouth Metropolitan Housing Authority is to assist low-income families with safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities as they strive to achieve self-sufficiency and improve the quality of their lives. The housing authority is committed to expanding access to all services and to the continuous improvement of all operational levels so as to provide our residents, both present and future, with superior services.

We shall make every effort to create and maintain solid partnerships with residents and appropriate community agencies, groups and individuals with one thought in mind: improvement of housing conditions and opportunities for customers.

Our Story

In 1938 a group of concerned citizens faced the problems of the recent destruction of housing by the 1937 flood, the large number of substandard rental housing units in our area and the employment of idle building trade artisans. A recently passed bill by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 seemed to address these community problems.

Also, the Ohio State Legislature recently amended the state housing laws to bring them in line with the newly enacted federal statutes. This gave broader power to local housing authorities and enabled them to avail themselves to federal funds.

These concerned citizens set to work to form a local housing authority. After many meetings and discussions, the governing body was appointed according to state statute. These persons were to be residents of the area of operation. The Mayor of the largest city (Portsmouth) appointed two members; the County Commissioners one member; the Common Pleas Court one member; and the Juvenille Court one member.