Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
County gets funds to address homelessness
Chester County was awarded $766,000 in sate funding to help those in need with housing solutions.
COATESVILLE » State Rep. Harry Lewis Jr., R-74, announced the awarding of $766,000 to Chester County, which was made available through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Program (PHARE) to help those in need with housing solutions.
“As homelessness, sadly, continues to be an issue that people in our communities and all across the Commonwealth face, I am proud to announce that such a significant sum of money will be used to help people in our area,” Lewis said. “It will help to give families and children the safety and stability that we all deserve.”
The state funding was awarded in three grants – the first to Home of the Sparrow, which will use a $190,000 grant to provide sustainable housing solutions and homelessness prevention resources, supported by comprehensive trauma-informed case management. Programming will include services to justice-involved women re-entering society and their children, as well as women age 55 and older.
Another grant, in the amount of $500,000, will benefit the Chester County Department of Community Development. The money will fund additional case workers to provide financial assistance and supportive services as individuals transition from the shelter system to permanent housing solutions.
The final grant awarded is for $76,000 for the Housing Authority of Chester County to divert homeless individuals living on the streets or in emergency shelters into permanent and affordable housing. Households will be assisted with a case worker who will help locate available units along with the temporary rental assistance.
The PHARE grant for Chester County was approved by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which administers the program.
PHARE is funded through the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee, which was established by Act 13 of 2012 as a fee assessed on the natural gas drilling industry. A portion of that money is used for housing needs through PHARE.