2021

Vouchers would go to homeless and other vulnerable populations

(Philadelphia – May 18, 2021) – Homeless families and those at risk of becoming homeless in Philadelphia will soon have an opportunity for permanent homes, thanks to an infusion of 863 Emergency Housing Vouchers to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The vouchers, worth more than $10 million, come from the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill pass by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in March.

In addition to providing permanent homeless to individuals and families or those at risk of homelessness, the vouchers can be used for those fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.

“This funding will allow us to help so many more people in desperate situations,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “We are grateful to our elected officials in Washington for understanding the circumstances that confront our society and meeting this critical housing need. I would like to thank HUD’s Secretary Marcia Fudge for moving swiftly to make these essential vouchers available, and for making affordable housing a federal priority.”

The emergency vouchers work the same as regular Housing Choice Vouchers. A recipient rents a house or apartment from a private landlord and pays 30 percent of their household income toward the rent. The voucher pays the rest.

The emergency housing voucher waiting list is separate from PHA’s regular Housing Choice Voucher waiting list, where because of the tremendous demand, families must often wait years to climb to the top of the list. The emergency vouchers are intended for people with urgent needs, ranging from disabled citizens to veterans to those escaping dangerous situations. Ultimately, this his allocation of vouchers will help Philadelphians find and remain in housing, at a time when the VOVID-19 pandemic has highlighted serious disparities in low-income communities.

“Frankly, we can never have enough homes for all low-income households in Philadelphia, so not everyone who applies and qualifies will receive a voucher,” Jeremiah noted. “Applicants should also know that although this will be a separate waiting list, the process for applying can still be long and complicated.”

(Philadelphia, PA – April 29, 2021) – Fitch Ratings has upgraded the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s financial outlook from stable to positive. The positive outlook reflects strong funding trends including 2021 federal Capital Fund appropriations.

But the report also serves as a barometer of PHA’s overall financial standing.

The annual rating is based on capital fund program revenue bonds issued to PHA and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority in 2002 and 2003 for construction projects. The bonds are rated AA-.

The Fitch analysis notes that, “PHA management adheres to federal requirements and discloses capital plans to HUD in a timely manner.” In addition, PHA’s ongoing program to build new public housing and rehabilitate older properties has offset the loss of other properties demolished or taken out of service, leading Fitch to report “no material loss of housing units.”

“We are pleased with the confidence this rating and outlook demonstrate in our financial stewardship of the agency,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “We also are very encouraged by the proposals coming from the Biden administration to invest in infrastructure, including affordable housing expansion. We believe that, too, lends itself to PHA’s positive outlook.”

The Fitch report states that deep cuts to HUD programs were proposed by the previous administration but were not approved by Congress. The report says despite the new administration’s plans, “changes in grant formulas remain unseen.”

The bonds mature in December 2022, leading Fitch to conclude that even in the event of an unforeseen funding cut, PHA is in excellent financial condition to meet its remaining obligation.

“Timing, along with strong DSC (Debt Service Coverage) levels and PHA’s ability to withstand substantial erosion of future appropriation amounts while the bonds are outstanding insulate (the housing authority) from credit risks,” the report said.

Housing Authorities in a dozen communities will receive funding under Jobs Plus

(Philadelphia, PA – April 28, 2021) – The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has received $2,979,543 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help families increase their earned incomes and improve economic mobility.

Awarded through HUD’s Jobs Plus program, the grant supports work readiness and connects public housing residents with employment, education, and financial empowerment services — part of an evidence-based model proven to help public housing residents find and keep jobs.

The grant is part of HUD’s broader $28 million investment in 12 public housing agencies to support employment opportunities.

“Providing resources so that public housing residents can achieve economic and housing stability is an important part of HUD’s mission,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “HUD is committed to empowering and working with our local partners to help residents reach their goals and uplift their families.”

“Today’s rapidly changing economic landscape makes it essential for workers to be job-ready and have the in-demand skills employers seek,” said Kelvin A. Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA. “With this new grant, we can prepare residents for entry-level jobs in a number of priority sectors so they remain competitive, along with these vital industries.”

This latest phase of Sharswood Transformation Plan is in partnership with Hunt and Pennrose

(Philadelphia, PA – April 21, 2021) – The pandemic is not slowing down the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA) construction as the agency continues to transform the Sharswood community. PHA, along with partners Hunt Companies and Pennrose, LLC, broke ground today on 60 new affordable rental apartments and homes.

“Each new groundbreaking in Sharswood builds on the promise we made to this community in our meetings with residents five years ago,” said PHA President and CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “We are grateful to have committed partners like Hunt and ennrose on this and future phases of our transformation plan, helping to ensure that even as gentrification goes on all around us, we preserve and provide housing for low- and moderate-income families.”

The new construction signals the dramatic changes on the horizon for Philadelphia, Mayor Jim Kenney said.
“We have all endured difficult times over the past year, but through it all there has been one constant: PHA’s work to rebuild this once forgotten neighborhood has continued.

The city is poised to make a very big comeback, and developments like this one and others currently underway in Sharswood will be a big part of that bright future.”

(Philadelphia – April 15, 2021) —The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to purchase and install a security camera monitoring system at the Raymond Rosen Apartments.

The award is part of a broader $13.7 million award to public housing authorities throughout the country to make needed capital improvements that serve to enhance safety and security for residents.

“Keeping families who live in public housing safe in their homes is important to their health and everyday well-being,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These grants go a long way to ensure that public housing residents are protected and have peace of mind as they go about their lives.”

Kelvin Jeremiah, President and CEO of PHA, said the cameras are part of a new strategy that integrates trauma-informed interventions into public safety policies and practices.

PHA is developing a new Department of Public Safety, which will take a more proactive problem-solving approach in ensuring residents’ quality of life and safety.

As part of this mission, PHA is hiring a Community Engagement Manager and Community Engagement Associates (CEAs) who will be assigned to a number of PHA housing developments as part of a new pilot. CEAs will establish a rapport with residents that allows for an open dialogue on community issues and challenges. They will coordinate with PHA Police when enforcement action is required and review repeat calls for police service to identify underlying causes and situations.