A new wave of state grants will benefit Beaver County organizations that help with housing opportunities and resources for homeowners.
The funds are provided by the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Agency as part of their Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) application process. The grants were funded by Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes, intending to help communities across the state find permanent housing or support homeowners with resources to stay in their homes.
“Safe, reliable housing isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity and a critical connection to job opportunities, a stable family environment, and access to the network of support that goes with being part of a community,” said state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Harmony Township. “Securing this funding will help more people break free of the chronic risk of homelessness, help new prospective homeowners become more financially savvy and allow homeowners to make needed modifications and repairs to stay safe at home.”
“The PHARE Fund is a vital funding source that helps our organizations and local government entities improve our local infrastructure; offer informational and educational opportunities related to housing; and better assist vulnerable communities,” said state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47, New Sewickley Township. “As someone who has fought hard to enhance this fund, I am pleased to see so many community projects benefit from it.”
Projects and services receiving PHARE funding in Beaver County include:
$200,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County to rehabilitate one duplex and one single-family home in Aliquippa, creating four affordable housing units and training underserved young adults in construction.
$200,000 to Harbor Point Housing Inc. for part two of the Sheridan Rehabilitation Project, which would rehab the six remaining apartments in the Beaver Falls apartment building; rehab the common areas; install a new HVAC system and the outside walkway; and re-point and repaint the east side of the building.
$100,000 to The Cornerstone of Beaver County for operations at their Men’s Shelter.
$100,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County for emergency repair grants and low-interest loans to help residents of Beaver and Lawrence counties address health and safety hazards.
$75,000 to Housing Opportunities of Beaver County to expand its housing counseling regionally.
$150,000 to The Salvation Army for its Beaver County Housing Homelessness Assistance Program, specifically to assist Beaver County households in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing, including those currently involved in ESG, RRH, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs.
$100,000 to Beaver County for its Home Modification Program, which will help provide home modifications for households with mobility and/or safety challenges; and $100,000 to go toward its Rental/Utility Assistance program.
$100,000 to Beaver County to enable the county to continue its homeless prevention efforts, including assistance for first-month’s rent, security deposits, rent arrearages and utility payments.
$100,000 to the Women’s Center of Beaver County to provide intensive case management and support for people and families who are living in shelters and at risk of becoming chronically homeless.
$100,000 to Catapult Greater Pittsburgh to provide low- and moderate-income new homebuyers and existing low-income homeowners with comprehensive trauma-informed financial education.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: $1.2M in housing grants coming to Beaver County