From staff reports
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing $12,081,840 in funding to the state to acquire, develop, create and protect affordable housing units, according to a joint news release from U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman.
The funds are to ensure low-income households and families, including those experiencing homelessness, have access to safe, clean and suitable housing, the release said. The funding, provided by HUD’s Housing Trust Fund, will also assist families with relocation.
“Housing is not merely a roof over your head. It’s a vital piece of the foundation that builds strong families and thriving communities,” Casey said. “There are too many in Pennsylvania and across our nation who have been priced out of their homes and their neighborhoods.
“With this funding, Pennsylvania will be able to preserve and increase the number of affordable housing units, uplift families, spur economic development, and ensure that the most vulnerable among us have fair access to safe and suitable homes.”
The Housing Trust Fund provides grants to states to produce and preserve affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, the release said. States and state-designated entities are eligible grantees for HTF funds, which may be used for the production or preservation of affordable housing through the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of non-luxury housing with suitable amenities, the release said.
All HTF-assisted units will be required to have a minimum affordability period of 30 years, according to the release.
