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(Philadelphia – February 18, 2020)-Eighty (80) former Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) renters became homeowners in 2019, thanks to PHA’s Homeownership Opportunities Program. The total sales figure marks an all-time record for the agency and brings to 428 the total number of homes sold during the tenure of PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah.

“We have steadily increased the number of subsidized families who are ready to become homebuyers,” Jeremiah said. “There are plenty of affordable neighborhoods in Philadelphia, even in the wake of renewed investment in some parts of the city, and our residents are taking advantage of those opportunities aided by low interest rates.  These former PHA renters now have an asset that’s a centerpiece to building wealth. Congratulations to them for seizing the opportunity to find economic mobility and achieving the American dream!”

Of the 80 new homeowners, 35 were public housing residents while 45 were Housing Choice Voucher program participants.  These individuals and families have accomplished one of their major personal and self-sufficiency goals.  With financial literacy and homeownership trainings provided by PHA and its partners, these families have learned important skills that will not only be applied to their new financial journey, but also will be passed onto their own personal family members and friends.

“It’s a dream come true.  I always wanted a house.  I’ve been blessed,” said Michael Engro, 57, a quadriplegic who now lives in his own home one block from Juniata Park.  “It’s great for somebody that has a disability to own a home. That’s a great accomplishment,” he said. Engro believes that he’s blazing a path for other persons with disabilities.  According to Engro, it took him 14 months to find a home, but he had a patient Realtor and feels the home he has was well worth the wait.

Diane Henderson, 63, who retired after working as a security guard at the Municipal Services Building, never owned a home before.  Henderson said, she wanted to leave something for her children.  Henderson purchased a home in Northeast Philadelphia.  “I love the neighborhood.  It’s a big change from where I lived before. It’s a big change in atmosphere and the people,” she said.

Henderson, too, credits a patient Realtor for helping her find a home she could afford.

Every new homeowner went through PHA’s homeownership readiness process, where they saved $2,000 through new budgeting skills, and completed credit counseling to obtain at least a 620 middle credit score. They also received one-on-one housing counseling and a pre-approval letter from a lender or bank.  After completing the readiness process, the resident met with a PHA homeownership counselor to discuss their options with PHA.

Qualified residents also receive mortgage and down payment assistance through several programs: the Mobility Homeownership Program, First Front Door Grant, PhillySEEDS (PHA’s nonprofit affiliate), Philly First Home, and lenders/banks such as PNC and Santander Bank.

PHA’s Homeownership Opportunities Department is located in the Workforce Center at PHA’s Vaux Community Building (2300 W Master Street) in Sharswood. The department hosts quarterly workshops where hundreds of PHA residents attend, learn about the program and start the process for homeownership.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s mission is to open doors to affordable housing, economic opportunity and safe, sustainable communities to benefit Philadelphia residents with low incomes.

(Philadelphia, PA – January 15, 2020) -The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) and its private partner, the Jonathan Rose Companies, broke ground today for the Norris Apartments Phase V in the city’s North Central neighborhood.

Norris Phase V complements ongoing private housing and commercial development in the neighborhood. It consists of 133 newly constructed mixed-income rental units and one commercial space. It is the final phase of development that replaces the 147-unit low-rise development that dated back to late 1959 and early 1960 which had become obsolete. The $120 million development area is located at the intersection of North 10th and West Berks streets next to the Temple University SEPTA regional rail station.

The City of Philadelphia and PHA were awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant by HUD in June 2014 to revitalize the North Central neighborhood. A series of community meetings identified a number of resident priorities: more job training and opportunities; reduced crime and increased neighborhood safety; elimination of trash-strewn vacant land; and high-quality educational resources. The North Central Philadelphia transformation plan continues to address these concerns.

“This is a memorable, red-letter day in the redevelopment of the North Central neighborhood,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “When PHA first began the renewal of this community with the City, we promised to replace all existing rental units with residents having the right to return. Norris Phase V is the final piece of the pie in the replacement of the old rental units. We have kept our promise.”

To obtain the grant, the City worked with more than 40 partners, including the School District of Philadelphia, Temple University, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), the Philadelphia Police Department, local leaders and community stakeholders through the Office of Community Housing and Development to create the resident-driven North Central Philadelphia transformation plan.
“In 2013 the City accepted the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhoods Grant as part of a comprehensive revitalization strategy for North Central Philadelphia. These funds allowed us to directly address the neighborhood’s housing stock, access to employment, education, social service programs, and greatly impact Philadelphia’s overall economy,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Because of this grant, we have been able to leverage $125 million in additional funding to have a transformative effect on this community.”

(Philadelphia, PA – December 30, 2019) – As 2019 comes to a close, the staff and employees of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) can take pride in a year of tremendous achievements.

“The agency made substantial progress in real estate development, notably in fulfilling the latest phases of the Sharswood Transformation plan, in reconfiguring its scattered sites portfolio, and service to both young and old residents,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin Jeremiah. He also noted that PHA developments once again were honored by their peers.

PHA recently capped off 2019 with a grand opening for the first factory-built homes in Sharswood, the Blumberg 83 development, one week before Christmas. These beautiful, new sustainable, cost-efficient homes represent the ongoing progress in rebuilding a long neglected neighborhood in North Philadelphia. At the beginning of the year, the housing authority celebrated the completion of its new headquarters building, also in Sharswood, at 2013 Ridge Avenue in late January. This new edifice serves as an anchor along the Ridge Avenue commercial corridor and is a landmark and beacon in which residents can take pride.

Two months later, PHA celebrated the rehabilitation of Sharswood Tower, a senior residence, and the only high rise still standing from the former Blumberg development.  The tower is the tallest building around for one mile and has become a landmark for the area.

PHA successfully auctioned 144 long term vacant scattered site properties in June as it reconfigured and right-sized its scattered sites portfolio. The sales generated $8.4 million to be channeled toward building modern, new affordable housing while putting the vacant properties back on the tax rolls.

The housing authority made the decision in October to redevelop the West Park Apartments complex by selling part of the site while redeveloping the rest with modern, low-rise housing. PHA will rehabilitate one high-rise for seniors, similar to what was done in Sharswood. The plan is to reconnect the site to the rest of the neighborhood while maintaining affordable housing units in a community with a hot real estate market. The sale will also generate much needed revenue for redevelopment and avoid costly repairs that would take PHA years to complete, yet still not bring them up to modern standards.