Name:
Berks Alliance Community Forum: Berks County Whole Home Repair Program
Date:
September 25, 2023
Time:
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Event Description:
Berks County Whole Home Repair Program
In 2020, the Berks Alliance hosted a Community Forum in which the Federal Reserve Bank presented its research about access to home improvement loans of $15,000 or less within the Philadelphia District. Berks County had the highest loan denial rate in the district. Over 60% of all requests were denied. The denial rate was even higher for women, minority and lower income households. Most of the other regions in Pennsylvania had a denial rate under 50%.
And a recent study by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that lower income households are much more likely to reside in homes with physical deficiencies.
Last year, the Pennsylvania legislature helped address this challenge by enacting groundbreaking legislation to create program to help homeowners make essential improvements to their properties. Statewide $120 million was made available to help homeowners make essential improvements to their homes. Berks County was allocated over $3.6 million.
On July 7th, the Berks County Redevelopment Authority opened the application period for the Whole Home Repairs program. And on July 11th, they closed the application period due to “an overwhelming number of applications.”
The funding can be used to cover fundamental repairs, replacement of a major system within the residence and weatherization of homes and rental units, and to help address issues housing insecurity. These repairs and improvements can include improving the habitability or safety of a home, improving energy efficiency, addressing water supply issues, major appliances and improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Homeowners whose household income is less than 80% of the county median income are eligible for forgivable loans. Small landlords, those with fewer than five properties and a total of fifteen affordable housing units, and they rent those units to households below 60% of the county median household income, are also eligible for funding. If the homeowner continues to occupy the property for ten years they are able to have the loan forgiven.
Some counties have included financial literacy education as a component of their Whole Home Repair Program. And some have included support for workforce development programs designed to train targeted workers essential home improvement skills.
The overwhelming demand for these funds is an indication of some of the housing challenges in Berks County. Join us to learn more about who and what this program has supported. And whether it can and should be continued.
The Berks County program is managed by the Berks County Redevelopment Authority in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
In 2020, the Berks Alliance hosted a Community Forum in which the Federal Reserve Bank presented its research about access to home improvement loans of $15,000 or less within the Philadelphia District. Berks County had the highest loan denial rate in the district. Over 60% of all requests were denied. The denial rate was even higher for women, minority and lower income households. Most of the other regions in Pennsylvania had a denial rate under 50%.
And a recent study by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that lower income households are much more likely to reside in homes with physical deficiencies.
Last year, the Pennsylvania legislature helped address this challenge by enacting groundbreaking legislation to create program to help homeowners make essential improvements to their properties. Statewide $120 million was made available to help homeowners make essential improvements to their homes. Berks County was allocated over $3.6 million.
On July 7th, the Berks County Redevelopment Authority opened the application period for the Whole Home Repairs program. And on July 11th, they closed the application period due to “an overwhelming number of applications.”
The funding can be used to cover fundamental repairs, replacement of a major system within the residence and weatherization of homes and rental units, and to help address issues housing insecurity. These repairs and improvements can include improving the habitability or safety of a home, improving energy efficiency, addressing water supply issues, major appliances and improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Homeowners whose household income is less than 80% of the county median income are eligible for forgivable loans. Small landlords, those with fewer than five properties and a total of fifteen affordable housing units, and they rent those units to households below 60% of the county median household income, are also eligible for funding. If the homeowner continues to occupy the property for ten years they are able to have the loan forgiven.
Some counties have included financial literacy education as a component of their Whole Home Repair Program. And some have included support for workforce development programs designed to train targeted workers essential home improvement skills.
The overwhelming demand for these funds is an indication of some of the housing challenges in Berks County. Join us to learn more about who and what this program has supported. And whether it can and should be continued.
The Berks County program is managed by the Berks County Redevelopment Authority in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
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