Four Centre County organizations will receive a combined $395,000 in state funding to support affordable housing programs, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency announced last week.
The funds are among $64.8 million awarded to 322 housing and community development initiatives from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund for 2024.
“Investing in affordable housing is not just about building homes; it’s about building communities, strengthening economies and opening doors to opportunities for everyone,” state Rep. Paul Takac, D-College Township, said in a statement. “Young families, older adults and workers who are the backbone of our economy should not struggle to find a place they can afford and call home.”
Funds awarded in Centre County include the following.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County received two awards of $100,000 each for a total of $200,000. One will be used for a partnership with the Centre County Housing and Land Trust and XHAB 3D to build the first 3D printed home in Pennsylvania, according to the project description.
The other $100,000 will be used, in partnership with the Centre County Housing and Land Trust to purchase two lots for the construction of two new homes for homeowners earning between 40-80% area median income.
• State College Community Land Trust received $100,000 to construct two affordable one-bedroom units for income-qualified renters in a new two-story duplex on the same property as the Old Boalsburg Road Townhomes, which were renovated and reopened as affordable housing units in 2023. One unit will be fully accessible, and both units will be highly energy efficient. As with the adjacent townhomes, SCCLT will own the land, which will be held for affordable housing in perpetuity, and The Home Foundation (THF) will own and manage the two units. They will be rented to households under 60% median are income.
The project previously received a $418,000 grant from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
• The HOME Foundation was awarded $65,000 to continue its Housing Counseling and Financial Education services and expand them to serve a higher number of renters. The funding will allow THF to hire staff focused on the program and expand partnerships with other organizations that focus on low-income renters.
• Centre County Government will get $30,000 for the Housing Navigator Program administered by the Office of Adult Services. Funds will support continuing services including landlord education and outreach, tenant education and advocacy, support to county and provider caseworkers, housing search assistance and landlord/tenant mitigation services.
The PHARE program was established in 2010 and uses Marcellus Shale impact fee and realty transfer tax to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout Pennsylvania.
“A major advantage of the PHARE program is that the decisions on how the funding should be spent are driven locally,” PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann said in a news release. “Local municipalities determine how the funding can best preserve and expand the availability of affordable housing, and then they apply to PHARE to meet those needs. It’s a system that works.”
