No. Although we often partner with the City on affordable housing developments and the Mayor of Tacoma appoints our Board of Commissioners, THA is an independent public agency, not a city department.
THA was founded in accordance with the state’s Housing Authorities Law, which called for housing authorities that operate independently from local governments. We were established by a resolution of the Tacoma City Council, but we are governed by a board of five volunteer commissioners. Our commissioners are appointed by the mayor, but they do not work for the city, and state law bars any commissioner from being a city officer or employee.
Likewise, while our programs receive some support from the City of Tacoma, most of our funding does not come from the city or local taxes. Our single largest source of funds is the U.S. federal government, which supports our rental assistance vouchers and other housing programs. We also receive funding from grants and rental income, and our budget is set by THA’s staff and commissioners to advance our mission of providing high quality, stable and sustainable housing and supportive services to people in need.
About Tacoma Housing Authority
Established in 1940, Tacoma Housing Authority provides high-quality, stable, and sustainable housing and supportive services to people in need, in ways that help our clients prosper and help our communities develop equitably. THA develops and manages real estate, provides rental housing, and partners with thousands of private landlords to help families pay the rent in the private rental market. In addition, THA delivers supportive services to help families succeed as tenants, parents, students, wage earners, and builders of assets who can live without assistance. THA seeks to do its work in ways that help our community be an “attractive place to live, work, attend school, shop and play,” and that help Tacoma be “safe, vibrant, prosperous, attractive and just.”