Nine programs that address housing needs in Berks County have received a total $2.1 million in grant funding through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund.
The mission of the fund is to expand access to affordable housing throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, the office that oversees the fund, identified 387 housing and community development initiatives that will share a portion of the $73 million in total funding this year.
“Local communities know what they need, and PHARE gives them the resources to meet those needs, tackle the housing crisis and help more Pennsylvanians stay in their homes,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a release. “My budget proposal this year builds on that success by raising the PHARE cap to $110 million by 2028 — so we can build more homes, repair more aging properties and deliver real results for the people of Pennsylvania.”
PHFA awarded grants to the following local organizations:
• Opportunity House will receive $500,000 to acquire and transform the Eckert House in Reading into 15 units for homeless individuals with disabilities and families where at least one member has a disability.
• The Berks Coalition to End Homelessness will receive $350,000 to fund its Berks Housing Stability Initiative. The program aims to stabilize housing for vulnerable county residents by providing landlord incentives and offering utility assistance to prevent eviction and homelessness.
• The Berks Community Action Program will receive $300,000 to operate its Families and Individuals Rise initiative. FAIR provides rental assistance, utility assistance, mortgage assistance and financial empowerment classes to families and individuals.
• The Salvation Army of Reading will receive $250,000 to fund its homelessness prevention housing programs, which deliver permanent supportive housing for up to 32 households and temporary housing for up to 10 households to chronically homeless and disabled individuals and families.
• The Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation will receive $200,000 to ensure housing stability and prevent eviction by offering access to funding, financial budgeting, job skill training and short-term case management services.
• The Reading Redevelopment Authority will receive $200,000 to acquire three properties on the certified blight list in the South of Penn neighborhood and rehabilitate them to create new affordable homeownership opportunities.
• Reading will receive $150,000 for its human relations commission to expand fair housing outreach, education and enforcement by hiring a bilingual outreach coordinator, implementing a public transit advertising campaign, and educating residents and property owners about fair housing laws.
• The Berks County Nonprofit Development Corporation will receive $100,000 for its South Sixth Street project, which will include the acquisition and rehabilitation of a four-unit property to be rented to primarily homeless households.
• The Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks will receive $90,000 to support low-income home buyers.
Funding for these awards comes from two main sources: the impact fees collected from natural gas companies operating in the state and a portion of the realty transfer tax.
State Rep. Jamie Barton, a Republican who represents Berks and Schuylkill counties, commended the local organizations whose proposals were chosen for funding. He said housing availability and affordability continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the entire country.
“This funding will not solve the housing crisis, but it can go a long way toward helping those in need find some level of housing stability,” he said.