The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) spread holiday cheer by teaming up with Santa for Day and the Philadelphia 76ers for the annual “Holiday Hoopla” event, providing gifts to 150 children at affordable housing developments throughout the city.

Each of these children received three gifts after writing a letter to Santa.  Throughout the week, PHA property managers simultaneously distributed toys to other children so they might have reason to celebrate as well.

For 15 youth from Bartram Village apartments, Dec. 22, 2020 was a day to remember. Each of them had been selected in advance to sign a one-day contract with the 76ers. They received, along with music and the signing hoopla, a personalized 76ers jersey, draft-day signing hat, and age-appropriate holiday toys.

As each signee entered the balloon-filled room at Bartram Village Community Center, Franklin, the 76ers mascot, greeted each individually amid the cheers of a handful of socially distanced Sixer and PHA staff. Hoopla abided by CDC guidelines, including those related to mask-wearing and social distancing.  The 76ers and The GIANT Company hosted the event.

(Philadelphia – Dec. 2, 2020) – Two of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) communities for older adults – Nellie Reynolds Garden and Gladys B. Jacobs Manor – have captured coveted  Best of Apartment Living Awards from the Pennsylvania Apartment Association (PAA).

“We greatly appreciate it when our colleagues in the leased housing industry recognize the work that PHA is doing to create quality, affordable housing throughout Philadelphia,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “PHA holds its property management team to a high standard. We want our developments to improve the communities where they are located.  I want to thank the residents and the PHA employees working together to ensure these developments are able to achieve excellence.”

Nellie Gardens and Gladys B. Jacobs won gold awards for overall community excellence; Sharswood Tower and Plymouth Hall received platinum awards for overall excellence while Sharswood took home a gold award for maintenance care as well. In the award for overall excellence, communities are judged based upon the community’s overall appearance and amenities.  In the maintenance category, the community’s overall level of care is evaluated during a scheduled tour of common areas and a vacant-ready apartment.

Residents of Nellie Reynolds Gardens live in a state-of-the-art development that is PHA’s first totally “green building.” Located at 25th & Glenwood in North Philadelphia, the site has a 20,000 square foot “green roof” that retains heat in the winter and has a cooling effect in the summer. Apartment dwellers can enjoy the sun-drenched 3,000 square-foot community room that features an indoor garden and charming glass atrium.

The Gladys B. Jacobs Manor, at 1100 Fairmount Avenue, is an older adult mid-rise with 80 units that provides a community setting and offers community care for older adults just outside of Center City. Plymouth Hall, a 55-unit development at 2207 Venango Street, is a newly renovated, energy efficient building with a green roof to help reduce energy costs and a picturesque roof deck.

The already award-winning Sharswood Tower, a 13-story, newly renovated high-rise, has a new community room, offices, elevators, kitchens, bathrooms, mechanical systems, heating, hot water, central air conditioning, entrance and lobby, parking lot and driveway. It is the only building left standing after the demolition of the rest of the Blumberg Apartments and serves as the anchor in the latest stage of the Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan for the Sharswood/Blumberg community.

Any apartment owner member of PAA, including those catering to senior living, student housing, low-income, and conventional apartment communities, can enter.  The competition, which attracted had more than 800 participants this year, acknowledges excellence within the multifamily industry.  Silver, Gold and Platinum awards are given to the top three apartment communities within the category, by the number of apartments and year the property was built.

The agency provides “grab and go” meals and turkeys

(Philadelphia – Nov. 20, 2020) – Due to the alarming surge in COVID-19 cases, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is changing its annual Thanksgiving celebrations to keep residents close to home.

Instead of its annual Thanksgiving gathering for seniors, PHA provided “grab and go” meals to 18 senior housing sites. The meals will includes: turkey and gravy, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, cranberry sauce, rolls and even sweet potato pies. Seniors will be able to pick up a meal, and then return to their apartment. Free masks and information on how to be safe during the holidays will also be distributed. They also will receive gift bags provided by InnovAge and fruit and veggie bags from Aetna.

“The Thanksgiving gathering for seniors is one of my favorite events,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Authority. “This year we all need to stay home and be safe for the holidays. It is imperative we celebrate differently this year, so we can all come together next year!”

In addition, PHA will also giveaway 1,600 turkeys.  The head of households were entered into a raffle; the winners will pick up a turkey at their manager’s office. Daily Dove Care, a home healthcare agency with Unity in the Community, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of others in the South Philadelphia area, donated  thanksgiving boxes with turkeys along with the fixings to 300 families at Bartram Village. Philly Flavors FM Radio Station will distribute 50 turkeys to families at Richard Allen Homes. “I want to thank all these organizations for giving back to the city’s most vulnerable during these challenging times,” said Jeremiah.