Harrisburg – June 28, 2019 – State Sen. Art Haywood (D- Montgomery/ Philadelphia) released the following statement regarding the $15 million increase to the states’ PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) plan, passed by the state Senate and House:

“Additional money for affordable housing is desperately needed, and I am pleased my bipartisan legislation with Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) was included in this year’s budget,” said Senator Haywood. “During the 4-stop Poverty Listening Tour, a man from Lock Haven described living in his car with his siblings before he could afford a bad apartment in the city. This affordable housing plan will provide more housing units for residents in Lock Haven and across the Commonwealth.”

Housing advocates the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency were supportive and instrumental in getting this legislation passed.

“Everyday organizations at the local level are making it possible for more of Pennsylvania’s families to access a home of their own through rental housing and homeowner opportunities and for local leaders to demolish and rehabilitate blighted properties. This will be possible because of the General Assembly’s action to increase funding for the state housing trust fund,” said Phyllis Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. “We applaud the leadership of the General Assembly, especially Senators Art Haywood and Elder Vogel.”

“We appreciate the legislature making this additional funding available for creating and retaining affordable housing across Pennsylvania,” said Brian A. Hudson Sr., PHFA Executive Director and CEO. “Through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, we’ve been able to help municipalities statewide save affordable housing that might otherwise have been lost. This additional funding will help PHARE do even more.”

Affordable housing legislation approved by the PA Senate and House will allow for more home repairs for retirees, create more housing units for those in need, and rehabilitate homes for low- or moderate-income families.

###