November 2023 | Message from Our Executive Director
| Housing Alliance is Supporting Implementation of the Whole Home Repair Program through Virtual Peer Exchange and Policy Advocacy Pennsylvania finally has a statewide program and funding intended to focus on an age-old problem – old housing stock that requires repair to help homeowners and renters remain in their homes. This is especially important as Pennsylvania’s population continues to age. We owe thanks to the many legislators that supported this program because they understand the benefits of home repair for families to remain in their homes and the need to repair homes to prevent blight. More than a quarter of homes in Pennsylvania were built before 1939, and almost half were built before 1959. This makes almost half of our housing stock over 60 years old and a quarter of it over 80 years old. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016-2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B25034) -Home repair programs improve our individual safety and health. -If homes are abandoned, they may add to blight in the community, causing cascading impacts on community safety and health, property values, and municipal services. The Housing Alliance is hosting a Peer Exchange for those delivering the program at the local level. We are hosting a Peer Exchange for those delivering the program at the local level. The purpose of the Peer Exchange is to provide a more informal (virtual) setting for those delivering the program at the local level to connect to your peers to share accomplishments and challenges. We are also soliciting and sharing information and suggestions for any improvements needed to the program to ensure the smoothest implementation possible. Only open to those with an official role in the program, email Jeannine Days at jeannine@housingalliancepa.org if you are not already participating and want to be included. Again please note that this forum is ONLY open to those that are the official grantees or are sub-grantees to keep the forum manageable in number and focused on technical aspects of program delivery. The Housing Alliance is making Policy Recommendations. Everyone is excited about the potential of this program and these suggested tweaks and improvements in the form of policy recommendations will simply help those delivering the program at the county level to get funds out the door as quickly and efficiently as possible. We seek additional funding to continue the program; this program was funded with an initial and one-time $125 million from federal discretionary American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Oh and… Have you seen our resources about eviction prevention? More and stronger methods of negotiating between tenant and landlord instead of eviction can benefit both. No really, it can. Check out the many resources we have created in our Eviction Prevention Resource Library where you will also find our newest report showing the rise in eviction filings across the state. Oh and… Hope to see you at the Homes Within Conference in Hershey. We have more people registered than ever! Also please come up to me and introduce yourself. Love seeing all my old friends and colleagues and making new friends! In partnership,  Phyllis Chamberlain Executive Director |