HARRISBURG – Community organizations and projects in counties throughout the 33rd District are receiving $1.33 million via the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, according to PA Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33).
The funding was approved as part of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement programs.
Projects include rental housing, upgrades to an historic country store, and residential units for domestic violence victims.
“The funds are going to positively impact thousands of residents in the 33rd District,” said Mastriano. “Without the PA Housing Finance Agency, many of these worthwhile projects wouldn’t be possible.”
Organizations that received the funding were selected in a competitive process.
The PA Housing Finance Agency awards its funding through three sources: Marcellus Shale Impact Fees, Realty Transfer Taxes and the National Housing Trust Fund.
Local projects receiving funds include:
- $50,000 to the Thomas Harbaugh Foundation, for rehabilitation to the historic Biglerville Country Store. Renovations will allow the store to continue its legacy of community engagement by providing affordable housing units and important community space. Renovations to the Country Store property will create nine apartments for residents age 55 and older. Five of the units will be designated for households at or below 50 percent of the area’s median income, and six will feature accessibility amenities;
- $50,000 to the PathStone Corporation for its Home First 19 Program. The program will provide down payment and closing cost assistance, combined with an affordable mortgage loan for 10 first-time lenders mortgage insurance homebuyers in Adams County;
- $150,000 to Tharp Community Development LLC, for the Franklin County Housing Initiative. The project aims to increase safe and affordable rental housing for vulnerable populations, as well as provide supportive and rental assistance services. Funding will be used toward the purchase of a building already functioning as housing for low income households, who were formerly homeless;
- $450,000 to Conifer Realty, for the Molly Pitcher Landing project. Conifer Realty is partnering with Women in Need to develop a unique community known as Molly Pitcher Landing, a high-quality new construction development in the Borough of Chambersburg. The 48-unit general occupancy development will include at least a dozen units set aside for victims of domestic violence;
- $400,000 to the Redevelopment Authority of Cumberland County, for blight remediation. The Development Authority is capitalizing a revolving loan fund to be used to acquire and rehabilitate – or demolish – vacant, blighted properties for the purpose of creating new affordable units;
- $100,000 to Bell Socialization Services for its York County Homeless Rental Assistance & Homeless Prevention program;
- $26,000 to Foreclosure Intervention for Seniors, a program by Community Progress Council in York County. Funding will be used to assist up to 10 households with delinquent taxes, contingent upon the receipt of housing counseling services to create a sustainable and long-term budget;
- $12,600 to Community Progress Council, for Renter Readiness – Educational Workshops. The new programming will better prepare first-time renters and returning renters who have faced barriers from credit, housing and criminal histories;
- $15,500 to Community Progress Council for One-on-One Counseling via Video Conferencing and Skype. The on-site educational programs will focus on renter education, financial literacy and pre-purchasing in remote areas of York County; and
- $75,000 to YWCA York Transitional Housing Enhancement program. The organization is the county’s only provider of free comprehensive services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
CONTACT: Scot Pitzer (717) 787-4651, spitzer@pasen.gov