by pcacadmin | Jan 29, 2019 | Accessible Housing, Affordable Housing, Displacement, Election, Gentrificaton, Philadelphia
My name is Emma; I was born here in Philadelphia and grew up mostly in the Wynnefield section of the city. I grew up on a block where everyone knew everyone. It was a working class neighborhood and the American dream was alive and well. I now live in South Philly and I work in North Philly at the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps low income families with heating expenses and makes referrals to the city for individuals who need basic system repair assistance. I spend a lot of my free time wandering all over the city, this city that holds some of my dearest memories, the city that I love. The city has changed over the years, sometimes for the better and sometimes not so much. There are new houses coming up in old neighborhoods that changes how much it costs to live there. As a renter, I can tell you that it is almost impossible to find decent affordable housing. I have dealt with landlords who weren’t legal, who would not keep up repairs on the property, but whose prices were reasonable. Then when I would find a decent property, the rent would be almost double in price. There shouldn’t be such a disparity in pricing for decent housing in this city. Decent, affordable housing needs to be treated as a right and not a privilege. Working at LIHEAP I hear stories everyday about the hardships people are having with housing. Recently, I spoke to a client that is 97 years young who worked hard all of her life. She married, raised 3 children...
by pcacadmin | Jun 9, 2015 | Affordable Housing, Displacement, Gentrificaton, Uncategorized
Recently released data from national housing experts paints a troubling picture of housing affordability in Philadelphia. Our report Development without Displacement contains substantial evidence of the real impact a rapidly rising cost of living has exacted on long-term low-income families and individuals, forcing too many to leave and putting countless others at-risk of being driven out. The findings from one of these experts reinforces our report, but another study sheds new light on another at risk population, which is often credited with helping the city rebound after decades of declining population numbers: millennials and recent college grads. The first data set comes from the annual Out of Reach report, produced by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in partnership with the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. It shows that in order to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate in the Philadelphia metro area, a worker needs to earn $22.23/hour. Put another way, that means an individual would need to hold 3.1 full-time jobs at the current $7.25/hour minimum wage just to afford a place to live. Even recent proposals to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour would be insufficient! (The full version of that report can be found here) Trulia also released an analysis of affordability for recent college grads in large metro areas. It says that the income they need to afford median rent in Philadelphia rings in at $56,870. What makes that so troubling is that median income for new grads here is only $27,840 – less than half of what they are said to need. (The full version of that report can be found...
by pcacadmin | Mar 10, 2015 | Displacement, Gentrificaton, News, Philadelphia
With words like “glam,” building “pedigree,” “hot” neighborhoods, and “luxification,” Philadelphia Magazine’s Philadelphia’s New Boom article clearly highlights who is going to benefit from our city’s revitalization- the wealthy. The investments are a sign that our city is on the upswing, but with (multi-) million dollar homes being built it is clear that, in some neighborhoods, Philadelphia is facing growing inequality. Philadelphia has tackled a declining population for decades and our recent resurgence has meant significant changes in our housing market. As a city we are in serious need of a boost to our tax base and this new development can help bring that. But even as housing costs skyrocket, income levels for most Philadelphians are shrinking. Philadelphia remains one of the poorest major cities in the nation and this housing boom does nothing to address the needs of seniors, disabled citizens, and working families- many of whom struggle to stay in the communities they call home. If our city lets development proceed unchecked, we could soon be facing the same housing crises that plague San Francisco and Boston, where even firefighters and teachers cannot afford to live in the city where they work. We need to make sure that we are preserving affordability in rapidly changing neighborhoods so that those who are committed to and invested in our communities can afford to stay. We want to see Philadelphia revitalized in a way that does not displace the people who have lived through this city’s disinvestment. We want to be a city where every neighborhood has: • Economic and racial diversity, • Affordable, accessible housing options, • Local businesses...
