What is the PHA Plan?

Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are required to submit PHA Plans, in accordance to CFR 24 Part 903 (PHA Plans & Fair Housing Requirements). A PHA Plan is a comprehensive guide to public housing agency (PHA) policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals. The purpose of the plan is to centralize key information for public housing residents, voucher participants and/or members of the public to easily access PHA policies and procedures regarding the administration of affordable housing programs, funded by HUD.

The PHA Plan has two components referred to as the 5-Year Plan and the Annual Plan.   Both plans are important elements in PHAs strategic planning process, as listed below: 

1. 5-Year Plan - outlines PHAs’ local coordination to further support their mission, goals and objectives for serving low-income families, in their jurisdiction for the next 5 years. The plan is submitted to HUD once every 5th PHA fiscal year.

   Note: The Five-Year Plan is a different document than the Five-Year Action Plan required by the Capital Fund Program.

    

2. Annual Plan – provides PHAs’ specific policies, programs and operations impacting the delivery of affordable housing programs, for the upcoming fiscal year. The Annual Plan is submitted to HUD every year.

Background

The PHA Plan process was established by section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. which was amended by Section 511 of the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-276 creating the requirement for submission of a 5-Year Plan and Annual Plan by all PHAs administering Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs. In 2000 (65 FR 49484), HUD simplified the PHA Plan submission for High Performing Small, and HCV-Only PHAs permitting them to submit a streamlined plan. The 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA), Sections 2701 and 2702 (Small Public Housing Authorities Paperwork Reduction Act) further relieved burdens on small PHAs by exempting Qualified PHAs from submitting an Annual Plan (template). Finally,PIH notice 2025-18 issued on June 3, 2025, provides guidance on the automation and revision of the Public Housing Agency Plan (Five-Year & Annual Plan) templates and associated attachments (certifications). The Public Housing Portal modernizes the submission of the PHA Plan, required certifications, and associated documents (e.g., RAB and public comments), while facilitating easier collaboration between PHAs and HUD.

Qualified PHAs

Title VII, Small Public Housing Authorities Paperwork Reduction Act exempted qualified PHAs from the requirement to submit an Annual PHA Plan.

A qualified PHA is a PHA that:

1. has a combined unit total of 550 or less public housing units and section 8 vouchers; and
2. is not designated troubled under section 6(j)(2) of the 1937 Act, the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), as troubled during the prior 12 months; and
3. does not have a failing score under the Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) during the prior 12 months.

Qualified PHAs must still comply with the annual requirements described under Requirements.

Non-Qualified PHAs

PHAs that do not meet the definition of a qualified PHA are required to fully comply with all provisions of the PHA Plan including the submission a 5-Year Plan and Annual Plan.

PHA Plan Submission

As of April 2024, PHAs can submit their 5-Year Plan, Annual PHA Plans, and annual certifications in the Public Housing Portal (accessible via HUD Secure Systems. The Public Housing Portal provides PHAs streamlined submission for their PHA Plan, required certifications and associated documents (i.e. RAB and public comments). The Public Housing Portal facilitates simplified review and collaboration with HUD to make corrections to the PHA Plan. HUD will review the plans according to the statutory review requirements. For questions on obtaining access to the Public Housing Portal please refer to the Public Housing Agency User Guide to Assigning WASS Roles for the Public Housing Portal or contact your local Field Office.

Currently, only PHAs with fiscal years beginning 10/1 and 1/1 may submit their Plans in the Public Housing Portal. HUD will announce when automated Plan submissions will be available to PHAs with 4/1 and 7/1 fiscal year begin dates. PHAs may make other arrangements to submit their PHA Plan to HUD. Please contact your local Field Office for further instructions.

NOTE: Initial Moving to Work (MTW) Agencies (joined the program before 2016) should contact their HUD MTW coordinator for instructions to submit the MTW Annual Plan.

Templates

Select your template from the following files.

• 5-Year Plan Templates (HUD-50075-5Y)(MS-Word)
  The 5-Year Plan Template should be submitted by all PHAs (Standard, Troubled, Small, High Performing, Section 8-only, and qualified) once every 5 fiscal years. Refer to the instructions to complete the form.

Annual Plan Templates
(HUD-50075-ST, HUD-50075-HP, HUD-50075-SM, HUD-50075-HCV) (MS-Word)

• The Annual Plan Template should be submitted by Standard, Troubled, Small, High Performing, and Section 8-only PHAs each year. Refer to the instructions to complete the form.

Certifications

• PHA Certifications of Compliance with PHA Plans and Related Regulations (HUD-50077-CRT-SM, HUD-50077-ST-HCV-HP) (MS Word). These certifications are the standard certification PHAs submit indicating their compliance with PHA Plan, Civil Rights Certification, and related regulations.
• Civil Rights Certifications (HUD-50077-CR) (MS Word)
  Annually, qualified PHAs are required to make a civil rights certification of the public housing program in accordance with 5A of the Act, as amended by HERA.
• Certification by State or Local Office of PHA Consistency with the Consolidated Plan (HUD-50077-SL) (MS Word) The appropriate state or local officials must certify that the PHA Plan is consistent with its Consolidate Plan(s). If the PHA is located in more than one jurisdiction, it must include a certification from each appropriate official.