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State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, recently commended the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's board of directors for approving the release of $2.56 million in Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement funding that will be distributed across Lycoming, Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties.
According to a news release, STEP Inc. will receive $450,000 -- $200,000 each for its Homes-in-Need program and Supportive Housing Program and $50,000 for its Urgent Need Program -- while Transitional Living Centers will receive $200,000 and the American Rescue Workers, Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity and YWCA of Northcentral PA will each receive $100,000. Community Options Inc. will get $80,000, the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board will get $52,000 and the Asbury Foundation's Albright LIFE Lycoming Rental Assistance Program will get $48,000.
In Tioga County, United Christian Ministries will get $234,800 while the Tioga County Homeless Initiative will get $200,000. The Sullivan County Rental Assistance Program will get $80,000.
"PHARE is a crucial part of our overall effort to improve our economy and provide affordable housing to our region's residents," Yaw said, according to the news release. "This funding is a substantial investment across the 23rd Senate District and will certainly provide help to those who need it most. It is important to acknowledge these dollars are made available, in large part, due to our natural gas industry."
The approved projects will remediate and construct housing and address housing needs for seniors, low- to moderate-income individuals and individuals who are intellectually disabled or those with mental health issues, the news release said. The projects will also provide rental assistance and offer homeownership options.
The state Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families and people with special housing needs. Agency programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users -- not by public tax dollars.