On June 3rd, 2016, Beth McConnell of PACDC provided testimony to the Finance Committee in support of Bill No. 160471 which would increase the Realty Transfer Tax to support home repair programs for low-income homeowners. The legislation will increase the City’s Realty Transfer Tax by 0.1% for 20 years to support the Basic System Repair […]

On the morning of November 29th, 2016, Garrett O’Dwyer of PACDC provided testimony to the Committee on Property and Public Works regarding Bill No. 160867 affecting the Vacant Property Review Committee (VPRC). The legislation requires that “irrevocable power of attorney” clauses be included in the deeds of all properties that are disposed through the VPRC […]

On the afternoon of November 29th, 2016, Beth McConnell of PACDC provided testimony to the Committee on Finance in support of Bill No. 161014 which would authorize the City to issue a bond to fund $60 million worth of repairs for low-income homeowners. The legislation will allow the City to begin to clear the multi-year […]

The Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations is alarmed by the remarks of Senator Pat Toomey on the U.S. Senate floor yesterday threatening Philadelphia’s $39 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation and the allocations to other jurisdictions across the country. CDBG represents a critical annual investment the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development […]

On the afternoon of Thursday, January 5th Beth McConnell of PACDC provided testimony to the Land Bank Board of Directors on the Land Bank Strategic Plan and Acquisition & Disposition Policies. These policies will affect the Land Bank’s approach to fulfilling its mission as well as the manner in which it transfers property and uses […]

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. – Mission Statement of the Department of Housing and Urban Development   Get on Twitter with PACDC tomorrow at 10 AM EST as we live-tweet the Senate confirmation hearing for Dr. Ben Carson to become the 17th Secretary of the Department of Housing […]

We have sent our letter inviting Dr. Ben Carson to visit Philadelphia to the offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in anticipation of his confirmation as Secretary. Thank you to the 76 organizations and 283 individuals who signed onto our letter. Dear Dr. Carson, Congratulations on being nominated to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of […]

PACDC, Community Legal Services and the Public Interest Law Center sent a joint letter to the Kenney Administration and City Council opposing tax lien securitization that could harm low income homeowners and hamper the Land Bank’s work to get vacant properties back into use. You can read the letter here

PACDC’s Rick Sauer testifies on Philadelphia’s Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH).  The AFH is a new plan required by HUD under the Obama Administration to use a data-driven approach to address patterns of integration and segregation; racially or ethnically concentrated areas of poverty; disparities in access to opportunity; and disproportionate housing needs.  Read the full testimony here. […]