Keeping Families in Their Homes
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia Expands Home Repair Program with State Housing Grant
PHILADELPHIA (July 6, 2023) — Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia recently received a grant for $315,780 in a new round of funding made available through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund. The award allows Habitat Philly to keep thirty additional families in their homes through its Home Repair Program, addressing critical exterior issues such as new roofing and interior repairs that support homeowners’ health and safety.
“Our Home Repair Program continues to grow to meet the needs of Philadelphia families,” says Corinne O’Connell, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “We work alongside homeowners to keep them in their communities, age gracefully in place, and create generational wealth.”
“We are grateful for the large coalition of legislators at the state and local level that have advocated for increased investments in affordable housing through programs like PHARE,” O’Connell continued.
The PHARE funds will lend further momentum to an already robust increase planned for Habitat Philly’s repair program. After completing more than 100 home repairs in 2022-23, Habitat Philly will double the number of homes repaired to 200 per year by 2026, thanks to a $4.1 million grant from William Penn Foundation.
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia build team member, Shamir Morgan, gives a thumbs-up to the 100th home repair completed in fiscal year 2023. The organization is poised to double that annual number over the next three years thanks to investments from private foundations and government grants.
PHARE was established in 2010 to provide a way to allocate state or federal funds, as well as funds from other outside sources, to assist with the creation, rehabilitation, and support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth. The program receives funding from portions of Pennsylvania’s Realty Transfer Tax and Marcellus Shale Impact Fees.
In total, $61.5 million was awarded to 309 housing initiatives in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), which manages the PHARE Fund. It is estimated that at least 66% of the $61.5 million allocated through the PHARE program will be used to fund housing projects benefiting households with incomes below 50% of the area median income.
For more information and a complete listing of the proposals receiving PHARE funding, see “PHFA announces PHARE funding for affordable housing across Pennsylvania.”
About Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia
Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia transforms lives and our city by building and repairing quality homes in partnership with families in need and by uniting all Philadelphians around the cause of affordable housing. Since 1985, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia has built and sold 250 energy-efficient homes to first-time homeowners, and strategically partnered with more than 750 homeowners and their families to provide critical home repairs. For more information, visit www.habitatphiladelphia.org.