Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh Criminal Background Policy: Section 8 & Public Housing

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Eviction from federally assisted housing in the last 3 years for drug-related criminal activity, unless HACP verifies that the household member completed a supervised drug rehabilitation program approved by HACP or no longer lives in the household.

  Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 69 (p. 49))

• Current illegal drug use (defined by HACP HCV policy as any use of illegal drugs during the previous 6 months), or reasonable cause to believe current illegal drug use or alcohol abuse threatens residents' health, safety, or peaceful enjoyment.

  Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 69 (p. 49))

• Ever convicted of drug-related criminal activity for the production or manufacture of methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing.

  Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 69 (p. 49))

• Any household member subject to current registration requirements under any state sex offender registration program (broader than the federal lifetime-only floor).

  Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.E, PDF p. 74 (p. 54))

• Denial for life for applicants or household members convicted of Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, or Arson.

  Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.E (Denial for Life), PDF p. 75 (p. 55))

Arrests

HACP uses the preponderance of the evidence standard. When there is a record of arrest, HACP may obtain the police report and consider witness/applicant statements, whether charges were filed, and whether charges were abandoned, dismissed, not prosecuted, or resulted in acquittal. If a household member is currently charged with a listed offense, HACP may deny admission while the charges are pending. Placement in Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program is explicitly not considered a conviction.

Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.E, PDF p. 74 (p. 54); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.F, PDF p. 77 (p. 57))

Sealed, expunged and juvenile records

Pennsylvania's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) diversion placement is explicitly excluded from being treated as a conviction under HACP's screening policy.

Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.E, PDF p. 74 (p. 54))

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Before denying for discretionary grounds, HACP considers the seriousness of the case, the effect of denial on uninvolved family members, the length of time since the violation and age at the time of conduct, whether the conduct indicates a demonstrable risk to safety/property, and evidence of current participation in or completion of a supervised drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. A family may also agree to remove the culpable household member from the application if the head of household certifies that the person will not visit, stay as a guest, or reside in the assisted unit.

Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.F, PDF p. 77 (p. 57); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.F, PDF p. 78 (p. 58))

If HACP plans to deny you because of a record

Before issuing a formal denial based on a criminal record or sex offender registry check, HACP sends a written notice of proposed denial with a copy of the record and gives the family 10 business days to dispute its accuracy and relevance. Even if the family does not dispute within those 10 business days, they may still request an informal review in writing within 15 business days from the date of the formal denial notice. HACP schedules the review within 15 business days of the request and mails the written decision within 15 business days after the review.

Deadline to ask for a review: 10 business days to dispute the criminal record after proposed denial notice; then 15 business days from the formal denial notice to request an informal review in writing

Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.G, PDF p. 79 (p. 59); Ch. 16, Sec. 16-III.B, PDF p. 476 (p. 456); Ch. 16, Sec. 16-III.B, PDF p. 478 (p. 458))

Also in the plan

Under the judicial precedent in Wheat v. HACP, HACP cannot deny applicants for debts incurred more than 4 years before the application date unless a lawsuit resulting in final judgment was initiated within 4 years and an active writ of execution or judgment lien remains valid. Also, HACP does not share applicants' criminal or tenancy history with prospective Section 8 landlords.

Source: HACP HCV Administrative Plan (Effective May 1, 2026) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D (Past Due Debt — Wheat v. HACP Precedent), PDF p. 72 (p. 52); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.E, PDF p. 76 (p. 56))

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Eviction from federally assisted housing in the last 3 years for drug-related criminal activity, unless the household member completed an HACP-approved supervised drug rehabilitation program or no longer lives in the household.

  Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 61 (p. 3-17))

• Current illegal drug use (defined in the Public Housing ACOP as any use of illegal drugs during the previous 3 months, vs. 6 months in the HCV Plan), or reasonable cause to believe drug use or alcohol abuse threatens residents.

  Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 61 (p. 3-17))

• Ever convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing, or subject to a lifetime state sex offender registration requirement.

  Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B, PDF p. 61 (p. 3-17))

• Lifetime denial for convictions of Murder, Rape (excluding statutory rape/statutory sexual assault), Kidnapping, Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, or Arson. Notably, the ACOP states that rehabilitation and mitigating factors may be considered when the conviction is for murder, while for lifetime sex offenders, rape, kidnapping, IDSI, or arson, an informal review may only dispute whether the applicant is in fact the person convicted.

  Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.B (Lifetime Denial for Specific Crimes), PDF p. 62 (p. 3-18))

Arrests

Arrest records alone will not be used as the sole basis for denial or proof of disqualifying conduct, though an arrest may trigger an investigation using police reports, witness statements, and case dispositions. Pending charges for listed offenses may result in denial while charges are pending. Placement in ARD or cases closed as Probation Without Verdict are not considered convictions.

Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 66 (p. 3-22); Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 64 (p. 3-20))

Sealed, expunged and juvenile records

Both Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) placements and cases closed as Probation Without Verdict under Pennsylvania law are explicitly excluded from being treated as convictions.

Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.D, PDF p. 64 (p. 3-20))

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

HACP considers the seriousness of the case, impact on uninvolved family members, age at the time of conduct and time elapsed, whether the conduct indicates a demonstrable risk to safety/property, willingness to participate in social services or counseling, and completion of or participation in supervised drug/alcohol rehabilitation. Families may also remove the culpable member from the application if the head of household certifies they will not visit or stay as a guest.

Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.F, PDF p. 71 (p. 3-27))

If HACP plans to deny you because of a record

Note two different deadlines in the ACOP: Chapter 3 (Sec. 3-III.H) says the notice of denial based on a criminal record includes an informal hearing request form allowing 15 calendar days to dispute the information, whereas Chapter 14 (Sec. 14-I.B) says a written request for an informal hearing must be delivered to HACP no later than 10 business days from the date of the denial notice. Applicants should submit within the earlier deadline. HACP schedules the hearing within 20 calendar days of the request and mails the written decision by return-receipt mail within 10 business days of the hearing.

Deadline to ask for a review: 10 business days from the date of the denial notice per Ch. 14 (Ch. 3 states 15 calendar days for criminal-record disputes; use the earlier deadline)

Source: HACP Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (Effective August 1, 2024) (Ch. 3, Sec. 3-III.H, PDF p. 73 (p. 3-29); Ch. 14, Sec. 14-I.B, PDF p. 350 (p. 14-2); Ch. 14, Sec. 14-I.B, PDF p. 351 (p. 14-3); Ch. 14, Sec. 14-I.B, PDF p. 354 (p. 14-6))