Sen. Frank Farry (R-6th dist.), chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, announced that Bucks County will benefit from a series of grants to support affordable housing projects throughout the county.
“As chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, I am pleased to help secure these funds to assist with the high demand of housing concerns throughout Bucks County,” Farry said. “This week, the committee also advanced legislation to provide additional funding to PHARE, enabling more individuals to receive the much-needed assistance.”
Grants totaling nearly $1.4 million were announced by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, including:
$400,000 for the YWCA Bucks County to address the complex needs of human trafficking victims by strengthening connections to housing and victim-centered services, educating and strengthening the community, and reducing barriers that prevent victims from being housed
$375,000 for the Bucks County Housing Services Department’s projects focusing on reshaping and enhancing the housing link, and adapting to a post-pandemic economy
$300,000 for housing opportunities for the reentry population through the Housing Rehabilitation Program
$150,000 for Habitat for Humanity Bucks County Inc.’s Home Repair Program to help homeowners maintain homes and prevent the value of the home declining with repairs
$60,000 for Credit Counseling Center’s mortgage foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation program
$40,000 for two positions at the Bucks County Housing Group Inc. to keep up with the increased demand of rental, credit, first-time home buyer and foreclosure counseling
$65,843 for hiring a full-time SOAR case manager at the Bucks County Housing Group Inc.
The grants were awarded through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund, which was created in 2010 to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout Pennsylvania. Funding for the grants is provided by the impact fee charged on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region and the state’s existing Realty Transfer Tax.
