Chester County Praised by HUD for Increase in Steady Housing Choices • Chester County, PA

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) lately lauded Chester County’s House America efforts to rehouse people experiencing homelessness by offering steady housing choices, and for growing the county’s reasonably priced residence choices. Since changing into a House America associate in June 2022, Chester County has rehoused 149 homeless households and added 111 reasonably priced housing items, with extra housing initiatives set for 2023 and past.

Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Marian Moskowitz mentioned, “We are committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to live in this county has affordable housing options available to them. As a House America partner we are effectively using federal funds, including American Rescue Plan Act funds, plus state and local resources, to expand the number of homes that are available to all. Housing insecurity affects too many in our community, and HUD’s House America initiative is helping us address this problem.”

“Think about this. On any given night, approximately 400 people are experiencing homelessness here in Chester County, and beyond that, many others are struggling to afford rent, let alone buy a place to live,” mentioned Commissioner Josh Maxwell. “This explains the importance of our commitment to the House America initiative and our focus on finding ways to provide homes for everyone.”

 Affordable housing choices that opened in 2022 in Chester County embrace 111 new items in West Chester and Kennett Square.  The Willows at Valley Run in Caln Township will see 120 new reasonably priced rental items, funded partly by $1.9 million from the County. Also in Caln Township, Habitat for Humanity is buying land to construct 25 to 30 reasonably priced single-family properties for first-time homebuyers, made potential by means of a $640,000 County grant.  Habitat for Humanity has additionally obtained $500,000 in ARPA funds from Chester County to finish 100 housing rehabilitation initiatives throughout the City of Coatesville over the following three years.

In November of final yr, floor was damaged on Phoenixville Commons, a senior housing improvement of 51 items positioned within the middle of Phoenixville.  The Villas of West Whiteland – 35 reasonably priced items – has been awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits and County HUD funding.  

Commissioner Michelle Kichline mentioned, “We pledge to continue planning and partnering with our municipalities, developers, and our state and federal governments to help those who want to live in Chester County. Making housing that is safe and affordable for more people isn’t just the smart thing to do – it is the right thing to do.”

“Chester County is proud to have joined the House America initiative, and as noted, we pledge to respond with urgency to homelessness and housing insecurities in our community by setting and achieving ambitious re-housing and housing creation goals,” mentioned Dolores Colligan, Director of the Chester County Department of Community Development.  “Our commitment remains strong with an additional 206 approved affordable units in active development, and 105 pending units in the pipeline for Chester County.”

House America – a nationwide partnership with HUD, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), states, counties, and native leaders – was created in September 2021 to reply to the pressing homelessness disaster. The program is run domestically by the Chester County Department of Community Development.