The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE), which is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA), provides critical dollars to create, expand, and support local housing initiatives, including affordable housing. PHARE is funded through a 1% Realty Transfer Tax, which has allowed the program to grow. However, the cap for this funding is currently set at $40 million, which does not meet the immense need for housing in Pennsylvania.
HDC is currently working in partnership with the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania on the Raise the PHARE Funding Cap campaign, which aims to double the amount of funding from $40 million to $80 million. Alongside many of our NeighborWorks peers and local partners including Tenfold, the Spanish American Civic Association, and the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority, we are actively meeting with some of the most influential elected officials in our footprint to advocate for this necessary increase in funding.
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
Allentown, PA
Fredericksburg, PA
Lancaster, PA
Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
