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From YouTube: Committee on Finance 4-18-2019
Description
The Finance Committee held a Public Hearing on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 10:00 A.M., to hear testimony on the following item(s):
190129
Constituting the Twenty-Second Supplemental Ordinance to the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989, as supplemented; authorizing the Bond Committee to issue and sell one or more series or subseries of tax-exempt or taxable water and wastewater revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds; authorizing agreements to provide credit enhancement or payment or liquidity sources (or any combination of the foregoing) for such Bonds; providing that such Bonds shall bear interest at fixed or variable rates; determining the sufficiency of pledged Project Revenues; authorizing the Director of Finance to take certain actions with regard to the sale of such Bonds, the investment of proceeds thereof and the City's continuing disclosure obligations with respect to such Bonds; setting forth the use of proceeds of such Bonds; covenanting the payment of interest and principal; and supplementing the Restated General Water and Wastewater Revenue Bond Ordinance of 1989.
190135
Amending Chapter 19-1400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Realty Transfer Tax," to clarify the definition of "Value," under certain terms and conditions.
190231
Approving a Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan 2018-2019 for $19,131,000 from the Housing Trust Fund Non-Recording Fee Sub-Fund, all under certain terms and conditions.
Committee on Finance
Chair: Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (3rd District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Bobby Henon (6th District)
A
We
have
a
quorum
and
some
to
my
left,
the
vice
chair,
Bobby
Heenan,
to
his
left.
We
have
Councilman
Greenlee
and
we
have
Councilwoman
Cheryl
Parker
to
my
work
to
my
right.
I
have
councilman,
and
we
also
have
here
in
our
chambers.
Councilwoman
Maria
can
Oni
Sanchez,
so
obviously
a
quorum
and
more
quorum
is
present.
A
B
You
1901
to
nine
or
ensconced
ax
Tooting,
the
22nd
supplemental
ordinance
to
there
restated
general
water
and
wastewater
revenue,
bond
ordinance
of
1989
as
supplemented
authorizing
the
bond
committee
to
issue
and
sell
one
or
more
series
or
sub
series
of
tax
exempt
or
taxable
water
and
wastewater
revenue,
bonds
and
revenue,
refunding
bonds
authorizing
agreements
to
provide
credit
enhancement
or
payment
for
liquidity
sources
or
any
combination
of
the
four
going
for
such
bonds.
Providing
that
such
bonds
shall
bear
interest
at
fixed
or
variable
rates.
B
Determining
the
sufficiency
of
pledged
project
revenues
authorizing
the
Director
of
Finance
to
take
certain
actions
through
fraud
to
the
sale
of
such
bonds.
The
investment
of
proceeds
there
and
the
city's
continuing
disclosure
obligations
with
respect
to
such
bonds.
Setting
forth
the
use
of
proceeds
for
such
bonds.
Covenant,
een,
the
payment
of
interest
and
principal
and
supplementing
the
restated
general
water
and
wastewater
revenue.
Bond
ordinance
of
1989.
A
C
Morning,
chairwoman
Blackwell,
my
name
is
Christian
Dunbar
and
good
morning.
Members
of
the
Finance
Committee
again
I'm
Christian
Dunbar
deputy
city,
treasurer
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
with
me,
is
Melissa
Buddha,
the
Buddha,
who
is
the
deputy
water
commissioner
and
I'm
here,
to
testify
in
favor
of
failed
number
one.
Nine
zero
one.
Two
nine
bill
number
one:
nine
zero
one.
Two
nine
would
provide
authorization
to
issue
water
and
wastewater
revenue
bonds
in
the
amount
of
800
million
dollars
exclusive
of
original
discount.
C
The
admit
administration
recommends
the
adoption
of
the
ordinance
and
we
respectfully
requests
that
the
committee
give
the
bill.
It's
favorable
recommendation
and
further
that
the
committee
recommend
that
the
rules
be
suspended
has
to
permit
first
reading
of
the
bill
at
the
next
session
hearing.
Thank
you
for
your
consideration.
I
know
this
is
amended
version
of
my
testimony,
but
I
think
my
full
testimony
was
submitted
to
entire
committee.
D
A
D
A
All
right,
so
we
have
no
more
questions.
Thank
you
very
much.
We
will
now
move
on
to
bill
number
one:
nine
zero
one.
Three
five
Realty
transfer
tax
quote
unquote
value
definition,
clarification
and
we
asked
the
clerk
to
read
the
title
of
the
bill
and
Frank
Breslin
I
read
the
new
Commissioner
to
come
forward.
B
E
Morning,
chairwoman
blackballing
members
of
the
Committee
on
Finance,
my
name
is
Frank
Breslin
Commissioner
of
the
Department
of
Revenue
I
am
here
today
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
nine
zero
one.
Three
five
amending
chapter:
nineteen
1400
of
the
Philadelphia
Code
entitled
Realty
transfer
tax
to
clarify
the
definition
of
value
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
E
The
majority
of
Philadelphia
businesses
and
residents
pay
their
taxes
and
do
not
go
out
of
their
way
to
find
opportunities
for
creating
accounting
for
creating
accounting
loopholes
for
most
Philadelphians
and
for
most
real
estate
transactions.
The
calculation
of
the
realty
transfer
tax
is
straightforward.
There
are,
however,
a
small
number
of
often
very
large
transactions
were
the
financial
instruments.
A
number
of
parties
involved
are
very
complex
for
a
100
million
dollar
sale
of
a
Center
City
office
tower.
For
example,
the
3.3
million
dollar
tax
bill
could
create
an
incentive
to
find
ways
to
reduce
the
burden.
E
At
times,
the
parties
involved
have
found
grey
areas
in
the
law
to
pay
less
than
one
might
reasonably
expect,
and
they
willing
them
to
pay
less
than
the
3.27
eight
percent
paid
by
the
average
home
buyer
or
seller.
The
law
and
revenue
departments
have
worked
together
for
years
to
identify
transactions
in
those
gray
areas,
then
auditing,
making
assessments
and
filing
lawsuits
when
necessary.
These
efforts
have
been
successful.
E
However,
given
the
dollars
at
stake
in
these
transactions,
it
is
not
surprising
that
new
work,
arounds
and
dodges
are
being
developed
rather
than
expand
level
and
audit
staff
time
to
catch
these
after
a
sale
has
taken
place.
We
prefer
to
make
clear
exactly
what
the
rules
are
in
advance
through
legislation
and
written
and
regulation
in
2016
City
Council
passed
bill,
one
six,
zero,
eight
one
of
two
close
loopholes
that
allowed
large
sophisticated
corporations
to
avoid
paying
their
fair
share
of
realty
transfer
tax
bill,
one
nine
zero
one.
E
Three
five
will
further
clarify
what
needs
to
be
included
when
calculating
Realty
transfer
tax
so
that
the
tax
is
calculated
on
the
full
price
paid
for
property.
The
realty
transfer
tax
is
based
on
the
amount
of
consideration
paid
for
a
property,
we're
the
amount
paid
for
a
company.
If
all
that
company
does
is
own
a
property
and
buying
the
company
is
what
transfers
ownership
consideration
can
be
cash
paid
by
the
purchaser
to
the
seller
back,
but
can
be
other
things
as
well.
E
With
this
legislation,
we
are
clarifying
that
if
the
buyer
assumes
a
mortgage
or
other
liens
as
part
of
the
deal,
then
the
value
of
those
obligations
are
part
of
the
purchase
price
and
subject
to
the
tax.
We
believe
the
ordinance
already
clearly
includes
the
assumption
of
liabilities
in
its
definition
of
actual
consideration,
but
this
bill
will
remove
any
basis
for
arguing
to
the
contrary.
E
The
Department
of
Revenue
has
already
discovered
an
instance
of
property
owners
trying
to
avoid
tax
on
about
a
hundred
million
dollars
of
an
assumed
mortgage
and
has
assessed
the
full
tax
on
that
transaction.
The
let
the
law
department
plans
to
vigorously
pursue
collection
of
the
full
tax
through
litigation.
This
bill
should
prevent
others
from
attempting
similar,
maneuvers
and
mitigate
the
need
to
further
assess
and
litigate
individual
transactions.
E
E
Importantly,
this
bill
stops
big
real
estate
developers
and
property
owners
from
shortchanging
the
Housing
Trust,
Fund
and
general
fund.
Everyone
from
the
first-time
home
buyer
to
corporate
real
estate
conglomerates
needs
to
pay
their
fair
share
of
the
realty
transfer
tax,
and
this
bill
brings
us
closer
to
that
goal.
E
Don't
and
it's
it's
really
difficult
to
identify
that,
and
so
we
really
do
it
for
transaction
to
transaction
and
look
at
the
transactions.
We
have
our
law
department
and
our
auditors
go
case-by-case,
and
so
the
goal
of
this
would
be
to
remove
that
gray
area
and
keep
businesses
from
trying
to
take
advantage
of
that
loophole.
Thank.
F
A
F
Sure,
good
morning,
chairman
Blackwell
members
of
the
Committee
on
Finance,
my
name
is:
am
fiddling
and
I'm
Director
of
Planning
and
Development
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
I'm
pleased
to
provide
testimony
regarding
bill
number
one:
nine
zero
to
three
one
to
approve
the
substantial
amendment
to
the
annual
action
plan
2018
through
19.
As
you
know,
last
year,
mayor
Kenney
announced
the
property
tax
revenues
from
properties
with
expiring
tax
abatements
would
be
directed
to
affordable
housing.
Additionally,
the
payments
made
by
developers
to
access
density
bonuses
are
directed
to
support,
affordable
housing
over
the
next
10
years.
F
Those
sources
are
projected
to
provide
an
additional
186
million
dollars
to
make
and
keep
housing
affordable
in
Philadelphia
by
directing
resources
from
expiring,
abatements
and
density
bonuses
to
affordable
housing.
We
ensure
that
all
Philadelphia
and
sharing
the
benefits
of
our
recent
building
boom.
The
first
installment
of
this
funding
is
19
million
dollars
allocated
in
this
fiscal
year.
We
will
direct
it
to
key
initiatives
in
our
housing
action
plan.
F
The
funding
will
support
the
production
and
preservation
of
affordable
homes,
help
for
new
homebuyers
through
down
payment
and
closing
cost
assistance,
keeping
residents
in
their
homes
through
housing,
counseling,
financial
literacy
and
Tangled
title
support
a
shallow
rent
pilot
program
to
assist
tenants
and
seeding
of
annex
housing.
Accelerator
fund,
the
Division
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
has
published
a
substantial
amendment
to
its
annual
action
plan
2018
through
19
for
public
comment.
This
is
the
first
step
towards
utilizing
these
housing
dollars.
C
F
G
H
A
I
F
This
is
something
we're
basing
off
a
lot
of
big
cities
now
are
starting
to
do
these
accelerator
funds.
It's
a.
We
anticipate
taking
some
of
this
money.
It's
a
one-time
infusion,
combining
it
with
some
other
dollars
that
we've
identified
that
would
seed
this
fund.
It
would
sort
of
sit
at
the
bottom
of
the
balance
sheet.
It'd
be
a
long
term
zero
interest
loan
that
would
provide
credit
enhancement
and
guarantees
in
a
way
for
us
to
attract
additional
private
capital,
which
would
then
be
loaned
out
to
support,
affordable
housing.
A
D
You,
madam
chair,
and
thanks
and
for
for
coming
in,
and
this
is
sort
of
unfinished
business
and
just
into
a
process
from
last
year's
budget,
FY
19.
As
we
approach
you
know,
we've
proven
FY
20,
so
we'll
be
back
here.
But
as
we
move
forward
and
come
back
in
a
few
weeks
with
a
with
the
consolidated
plan,
they
certainly
will
be
kind
of
getting
an
update
on
own
how
the
hearings
went
last
year
through
through
to
get
like
19
budget
and
consolidated
leading
up
to
this.
D
F
A
Thank
you
very
much
any
of
thank
you
any
other
questions
or
comments
all
right.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you.
Certainly,
panel
to
Beth
McConnell
Philadelphia
Association
of
CDC's
Stephanie
Selden,
rebuilding
Together
Philadelphia
will
Gonzales
say
by
March
chance
AARP
tone
that
a
grande
president
Strawberry
Mansion
CDC.
A
J
Good
morning,
chairperson
blackwell,
my
name
is
Beth
McConnell
I'm,
the
policy
director
at
the
Philadelphia
Association
of
Community
Development
Corporation's.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
bill
number
one:
nine
zero.
Two
three
one
I
submitted
longer
written
testimony.
I'll
summarize
for
my
verbal
testimony,
but
I
do
want
to
first
start
by
thanking
council
president
Clark
and
council
person
Sanchez
and
Swilley,
along
with
the
Kenny
administration,
for
working
together
to
allocate
these
funds
to
the
new
Housing
Trust
Fund
sub
fund.
J
Thanks
to
you,
thousands
of
philadelphians
who
currently
are
struggling
to
afford
quality,
affordable
homes
will
find
relief.
This
will
stabilize
families
improve
health
outcomes
and
educational
attainment,
all
of
which
are
critical
to
lifting
philadelphians
out
of
poverty.
The
first
think
PA
CDC,
wants
to
urge
counsel
on
the
administration
to
do
is
ensure
that
these
resources
support
the
availability
of
affordable
units
for
the
households
that
are
most
in
need.
J
Philadelphia
had
a
deficit
of
more
than
41,000
rental
units
available
to
households
under
earning
under
50%
area,
median
income
and
a
more
than
70,000
deficit
for
those
under
30%
area
median
income.
Yet
we
have
a
surplus
of
rental
units
available
to
households
above
80%
area,
median
income,
additionally
of
for
the
affordable
home
ownership
resources.
We
urge
that
as
much
as
possible
be
set
aside
for
households
under
80
percent
area.
J
Median
income
and
below
the
cost
of
new
construction
is
extremely
high
in
Philadelphia
that
locks
moderate
income
households
out
of
the
ability
to
purchase
a
new
newly
constructed
home,
and
so
we
urge
those
resources
to
be
targeted
there.
Pa
CDC
also
supports
the
allocation
of
2
million
for
a
project
based
a
shallow
rent
subsidy
program.
J
We
also
are
very
excited
to
see
an
additional
3
million
and
resources
for
down
payment
and
closing
cost
assistance.
And
again
we
hope
that
as
much
as
as
much
as
possible,
those
resources
are
available
to
households
at
80%.
Ami
or
below,
which
is
around
$70,000
a
year
for
a
family
of
four
in
our
written
comments
to
DHCD
a
PA
CDC
also
urged
the
agency
to
boost
the
housing
counseling
line-item
even
further.
J
Finally,
as
counsel
in
the
administration
negotiate
over
the
FY
2008,
we
urge
that
another
20
million
is
transferred
into
the
housing
trust
fund
sub
fund.
The
initial
agreement
between
counsel
in
the
administration
in
September
was
for
around
nine
million.
The
mayor
has
proposed
upping
that
to
about
thirteen
million
this
year
and
we
hope
console
will
propose
going
even
higher.
So
that
we're
moving
at
least
20
million
in
general
fund
resources
every
year
into
the
housing
trust
fund.
J
We
also
want
to
urge
an
annual,
recurring
and
permanently
dedicated
revenue
stream
into
this
sub
fund
to
make
sure
that
we
can
make
more
significant
strides
in
meeting
our
affordable
housing
needs.
Thank
you
for
considering
our
comments
and
we
look
forward
to
working
with
Council
until
every
Philadelphian
has
a
safe,
affordable,
home
Thank
You.
A
K
Good
morning,
chairwoman,
Blackwell
and
members
of
the
committee,
my
name
is
Stephanie
Selden
and
I'm.
The
president
and
CEO
of
rebuilding
Together
Philadelphia
I'm,
also
going
to
summarize
my
written
testimony
and
I
also
want
to
thank
Councilwoman,
cannulas,
Sanchez,
councilman,
schoola
and
council
president
Clark
for
their
efforts
to
add
additional
resources
to
affordable
housing
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
rebuilding
together,
Philadelphia
revitalizes
underserved
communities
by
transforming
vulnerable
owner-occupied
houses
into
safe,
healthy
and
energy-efficient
homes.
K
First,
rebuilding
Together
applauds
the
priorities
identified
to
be
funded,
which
are
all
critically
important
needs
in
Philadelphia.
Nevertheless,
we
urge
the
City
and
City
Council
to
more
clearly
include
home
preservation
for
support
through
the
housing
trust
sub
fund
allocation.
The
city's
has
an
action
and
acknowledges
that
one
of
Philadelphia's
biggest
challenges
is
to
revitalize
existing
housing
stock.
Nearly
90
percent
of
units
are
over
30
years
old
and
many
are
in
need
of
repairs
and
upgrades.
The
plan
notes
that
there
are
31,000
housing
units
without
complete
kitchens
in
27
thousand
units
without
complete
plumbing
facilities.
K
This
is
a
disgrace.
The
homes
we
live
in
are
major
predictors
of
quality
of
life
and
economic
opportunity.
There's
substantial
scientific
evidence
that
people
zip
codes
are
often
more
important
to
their
health
than
their
genetic
code.
So
let
me
talk
about
who
is
receiving
home
repairs
and
who
is
being
left
out.
The
SRP
assists
homeowners
with
households
who
are
in
less
than
50%
of
ami.
The
new
home
repair
loan
fund
can
serve
anyone
up
to
120
percent
of
ami
within
their
credit
parameters
and
within
their
ability
to
repay
alone.
K
The
extraordinary
investment
in
these
two
programs
are
both
incredible
wins
for
City
Council
and
for
home
reservation.
I
sincerely
applaud
the
additional
resources
provided
for
these
homeowners.
However,
we've
left
out
a
group
of
homeowners
who
are
above
50%
of
ami
and
cannot
qualify
for
B
SRP
and
those
below
120
percent
of
ami
who
cannot
qualify
for
the
home
repair
fund.
Excuse
me,
the
home
repair
loan
RTP,
urges
the
city
and
city
council
to
continue
to
prioritize
homeowners
with
incomes
under
50%
of
ami
those
that
are
currently
served
through
B
SRP.
K
However,
RTP
also
urges
the
city
to
use
the
Housing
Trust
some
fund
to
assist
homeowners,
who
need
repairs
and
earn
between
fifty
and
a
hundred
and
twenty
percent
of
ami
who
cannot
qualify
for
the
loan
program.
The
need
is
there.
Last
year,
rebuilding
Together
received
a
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
grant
from
the
Pennsylvania
Housing
and
rehabilitation
enhancement
fund
to
repair
32
homes
in
Northwest,
Philadelphia
for
seniors
earning
up
to
100
percent
of
ami
RTP
began
outreach
on
October
1st
2018.
In
just
six
weeks.
K
Let
me
tell
you
about
titania
body
she's
lived
on
in
her
house
on
blir
street
for
over
ten
years,
with
her
seen
with
her
two
children.
Her
son
Xavier
suffers
from
severe
asthma
and
allergies,
replacing
the
carpet
with
vinyl
flooring,
reduced
dust
and
asthma
trigger
and
reduced
savior's
asthma
attacks.
Titania
also
had
her
kitchen
and
basement
doors
replaced
and
secured
roof
plumbing
and
electrical
board
players.
New
handrails
and
other
repairs.
Miss
body
told
RTP,
that
is
a
single
mother
of
two
children
working
full-time.
It
was
challenging
to
keep
up
with
her
home.
K
Miss
body
lives
in
West,
Oak,
Lane,
a
middle
neighbourhood.
A
middle
neighbourhood
is
comprised
of
reason.
It's
comprised
of
reasonably
affordable
households,
those
earning
80
to
120
percent
of
area
median
income.
A
study
by
the
reinvestment
fund
found
that
middle
neighborhoods
are
often
on
the
edge
between
growth
and
decline,
despite
the
fact
that
they
are
a
source
of
naturally
occurring,
affordable
housing
and
that
they
have
played
an
important
role,
building
opportunity
and
prosperity
for
their
residents.
This
category
of
neighborhoods
barely
gets
any
attention
in
Philadelphia.
K
Dhcd
proposes
that
10
million
of
the
sub
fund
be
used
toward
the
development
of
affordable
mixed
income
and
workforce
housing
developments,
while
earlier
language
does
include
affordable
housing
preservation,
implying
that
home
preservation
could
be
funded,
the
language
is
unclear
and
might
be
interpreted.
Otherwise
we
urge
the
committee
to
amend
this
bill
to
sure
ensure
that
there
is
no
ambiguity.
The
most
affordable
home
is
one
already
lived
in
today.
K
L
A
L
I'm
happy
to
be
here
to
share
the
testimony
of
will
Gonzalez
save
us
executive
director,
mr.
Gonzales
apologizes,
for
not
being
here
himself
ceiba
thanks,
City
Council
and
the
mayor
for
the
infusion
of
19
million
dollars
to
the
annual
action
plan
2018-19
from
the
Housing
Trust
Fund.
Non-Recording
fees.
Sub
fund
saver,
however,
hopes
that
the
proposed
infusion
supports
equitable
development
in
Philadelphia.
L
At
a
time
when
the
city
faces
serious
challenges
related
to
limited
english-speaking
populations,
not
receiving
the
equal
access
promised
by
the
Philadelphia
Home
Rule
Charter,
an
executive
order,
number
716
saiva
also
respectfully
requests
that
the
proposed
infusion
of
19
million
dollars
aim
to
help
the
people
who
need
assistance.
The
most
for
most
in
this
group
is
the
Latino
community
of
Philadelphia.
The
u.s.
census
reveals
that
Latinos
have
the
highest
rate
of
poverty
of
any
ethnic
group
in
Philadelphia
44%
of
Latinos
live
in
poverty,
that's
twice
the
national
rate
of
23.5
percent.
L
We
are
heartened
that
the
proposed
infusion
seeks
to
devote
10
million
to
affordable
rental
housing
production
and
preservation.
We
encourage
the
city
to
use
community
based
CDC's
for
affordable
rental
housing
production.
This
is
especially
relevant
in
Eastern
North
Philadelphia,
as
Latino
CDC's
have
an
excellent
track
record
of
affordable
housing
production
and
our
leaders
in
their
field
using
Latino
CDC's
in
eastern
North
Philadelphia
will
magnify
the
city's
investment
in
affordable
rental,
housing
production
and
preservation
beyond
the
housing
arena.
L
A
save
a
study
undertaken
with
the
help
of
the
University
of
Pennsylvania's
Department
of
City
and
regional
planning
determined
that
on
which
every
dollar
of
government
funding
received
by
Latino
nonprofits
in
Philadelphia
generates
a
six
dollar
return
on
the
investment.
We
are
happy
to
see
a
1
million
dollar
increase
in
spending
to
support
housing,
counseling
financial
literacy
and
tangle
title
work.
However,
this
increase
is
not
enough
to
meet
the
growing
need
for
housing
counseling
in
the
city.
As
the
scope
of
counseling
agencies,
work
will
be
expanded
to
serve
renters
and
people
at
risk
of
homelessness.
L
We
do
not
want
to
break
the
cart
by
putting
too
much
weight
on
it.
Housing
counseling
is
one
of
the
strengths
of
Philadelphia's,
affordable
housing
activities.
We
strongly
recommend
that,
as
the
responsibilities
of
housing,
counselors
are
broadened,
DHCD
assemble
a
work
group
that
include
representatives
from
housing,
counseling
agencies
and
other
relevant
stakeholders
to
develop
a
plan
to
implement
the
expansion
and
an
intentional
manner.
L
We
also
respectfully
request
that
you
increase
the
funding
for
housing
counseling,
if
not
this
year,
then
next
year,
housing
counseling
is
central
to
the
economic
viability
and
health
of
people
in
low-income
communities.
We
are
all
supposed
to
spend
no
more
than
35
percent
of
our
income
on
housing.
Unfortunately,
few
of
us
do
and
most
low-income
families
do
not
the
advice
and
work
of
housing.
Counselors
must
be
central
component
of
equitable
development
in
our
neighborhoods,
but
to
carry
out
all
the
work
that
they
must
do.
They
need
additional
resources,
training
and
support.
L
M
Good
morning,
Councilwoman,
Blackwell
and
council
persons,
my
name
is
March
chance
and
I.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
I'm
here
today,
representing
AARP
of
Pennsylvania,
with
this
1.8
million
members
in
the
state
of
Pennsylvania
and
500,000
members
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Aarp
is
a
nonpartisan
nonprofit
organization
that
has
helped
as
helps
empower
people
to
choose
how
they
live
as
they
age
strengthens
communities
and
fights
for
the
issues
that
matter
most
to
families
such
as
Aging
in
Place,
housing,
affordability
and
creating
livable
communities.
They
are
peepin.
M
Sylvania
strongly
supports
the
proposal
to
make
19
million
dollars
in
the
housing
trust
fund
sub
fund
available
to
better
meet
the
needs
of
philadelphians
desperate
for
affordable
housing.
Aarp
is
particularly
concerned
about
the
availability
of
affordable
housing
for
older
philadelphians
in
the
United
States,
almost
20
million
households
with
adults,
ages,
50
and
over
living
them
spend
more
than
30
percent
of
their
income
on
housing.
They
are
therefore
considered
and
I
quote:
housing
costs
burdened
approximately
nine
point.
Six
million
households
headed
by
someone
age,
50
or
older,
are
severely
and
again.
M
I
quote
housing
cost
burden,
which
means
they
spend
more
than
50
percent.
Of
their
income
on
housing,
housing
cost
burdens
affect
both
homeowners
and
renters.
Some
older
adults
experience
housing
problems
resulting
from
high
costs
and
inaccessible
home
design,
features
disrepair
or
all
three
of
these
things.
These
problems
can
reduce
physical
safety,
increase
isolation
and
prevent
people
from
aging
in
their
homes
and
communities.
A
livable
community
contains
a
range
of
housing
options.
This
ensures
that
residents
of
all
backgrounds,
income
levels
and
ability
levels
can
find
housing
that
meets
their
needs.
M
Aarp
supports
Philadelphians
dedication
to
funding
to
address
these
issues.
One
of
our
key
recommendations
is
that
public
and
private
incentives
to
preserve
and
create
more
affordable,
accessible
units
and
are
developed
and
implemented.
We
believe
this
proposal
will
help
to
alleviate
concerns
for
older
adults
who
wish
to
remain
in
the
communities
they
live.
They
have
lived
in
for
years
where
they
have
built
support
systems,
but
are
unavailable
to
do
so.
M
Due
to
increasing
house
costs,
we
look
forward
to
working
with
the
division
of
Housing
and
Community
Development
to
ensure
that
these
funds
are
utilized
wisely
and
that
this
initiative
will
contribute
to
the
goal
of
ensuring
that
all
Philadelphians
of
all
ages
have
a
safe
and
affordable
place
to
live.
Thank
you
thank.
A
I
Thank
you,
madam
chair
and
I,
want
to
thank
each
of
you
for
your
testimony
here
today
and
I
want
to
say
a
special
thank
you
to
you.
Stephanie
from
rebuilding,
Together
and
I
have
to
just
note
this
for
the
benefit
of
those
who
are
home
and
who
are
watching,
who
don't
do
what
we
do
every
day
and
are
not
very
familiar
with
the
intricacies
associated
with
the
numbers,
as
was
the
case
in
September
and
as
will
remain
the
case.
I
I
want
to
be
clear
that
I
am
unapologetic
in
my
support
for
keeping
the
income
cap
at
120
percent
of
the
ami
and
for
allowing
100%
of
the
funds
to
go
to
individuals
at
that
income,
cap
and
or
below
Stephanie
I
want
to
say
thank
you
to
you
for
noting
the
reinvestment
fund
study
and
report
on
middle
neighborhoods.
They
conducted
that
study
in
preparation
for
hearing
that
we
held
here
in
City
Council
to
raise
awareness
about
this
constituency
and
for
noting
that
42%
that's
what
Councilman,
Greenlee
and
I.
I
You
know
just
noted
that
it's
such
an
important
data
point
and
that
report
report
that
42%
of
homeowners
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
residents
live
in
middle
neighborhoods.
In
addition
to
that,
when
we
talk
about
120
percent
of
the
ma,
mi
I
want
to
be
clear
that
that
is
not
rich.
It
is
not
rich.
Those
are
not
trust
fund
babies.
These
are
working-class
people,
many
of
whom
are
living
paycheck
to
paycheck
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
and
and
it's
another
issue.
I
That
is
always
a
sticking
point
from
me
and
I
often
have
an
issue
with
this
when
we
only
use
income
as
the
sole
barometer
for
a
person's
well-being.
Now
I
want
us
to
think
about
our
constituents
who
are
living
heavily
in
debt.
So
I
want
us
to
think
about
this,
which
you
know,
council,
president
Clark
and
I
and
all
members
of
council.
I
We
work
very
hard
when
we
generated
that
revenue
that
allowed
us
to
float
the
bond
to
get
the
funds
to
eliminate
that
basic
systems,
home
repair
backlog
on
the
the
innovation
and
creativity
that
it
took
to
create,
restore
repair.
Renew.
That's
the
city's
new
home
repair
program,
eligibility
requirements
at
120
percent
of
the
ami
and
income
eligibility,
and
we've
never
seen
underwriting
criteria
like
this
for
any
home
loan
product
produced
by
government
anywhere
in
the
nation.
I
I
We
are
very
proud
of
that
that
underwriting
criteria,
but
guess
what
some
people
are
still
not
going
to
qualify,
because
their
debt
to
income
ratio
is
still
too
high.
So
that
means
when
we
are
talking
about
how
we
define
poverty
and
those
who
are
in
need
of
assistance,
I
believe
we
need
to
think
about
mortgages.
Think
about
car
leases,
think
about
college
loans
for
themselves,
their
kids
or
even
their
grandkids,
think
about
medical
bills
and
think
about
family
members
who
are
caring
for
other
family
members.
I
I
It
is
unfair
for
us
to
develop
public
policy
that
way
and
as
counsel
being
Greenlee
and
I
were
just
talking
over
here
when
you
describe
what
middle
neighborhoods
are
it's
as
if
people
are
saying
middle
neighborhoods
have
to
decline
to
the
point
where
they're
imperil
in
order
for
us
in
the
city
to
say
that
they
deserve
investment.
We
should
stabilize
them
now
and
help
to
ensure
that
they
don't
fall
to
such
a
decline.
I
That,
like
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia
I'm
thinking
about
their
aging
infrastructure,
five
billion
dollars
was
the
dollar
amount
that
state
senator
Vincent
Hughes,
a
democratic
chair
of
the
Appropriations
Committee
and
the
Senate
after
he
and
the
plan
committee
did
this
statewide
tour
and
research.
We
wouldn't
need
five
billion
dollars
to
tortora
and
essence
repair,
restore
remediate,
fill
it
up
your
school
buildings.
We
cannot
continue
to
do
that.
So
I
want
to
thank
council
president
Clark
I
want
to
thank
the
administration
and
all
members
of
council
who
are
working
to
develop.
I
A
Thank
you
very
much.
We're
now
up
to
panel
three
George
gold
rush',
the
Phillips
Community
Legal,
Services,
wendy,
buckler
senior
law
center,
George
Donnelly,
public
interest
law,
Center
Rachel,
Faulk
of
Philadelphia
interfaith
hospitality,
Network
and
Kenneth
bigos,
affordable
housing,
centers
Pennsylvania.
N
Good
morning
my
name
is
Rasheeda
Phillips,
managing
attorney
of
the
housing
unit
at
community
legal
services,
Thank
You
chairwoman
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
today
on
March,
7th
2019
council
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
other
City
Council
members
introduced
legislation
to
establish
the
low
income
tenant
lease
fund.
The
creation
of
this
important
fund
recognizes
the
extreme
harm
that
evictions
caused
the
families
in
the
city
and
the
value
of
investing
in
legal
representation
to
prevent
eviction.
The
low-income
tenants
fund
currently
has
no
funding
mechanism
tied
to
it.
N
Cls
strongly
urges
the
mayor
council
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
DHCD
to
consider
reallocating
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
non-recording
fee
sub
fund
to
provide
funding
to
the
low-income
tenants
fund.
Doing
so
will
allow
for
continued
scalable
funding
of
projects
like
the
Philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project,
an
innovative
initiative,
assisting
tenants
facing
eviction
through
legal
representation,
court
assistants,
financial
counseling,
a
live
hotline,
a
walk-in
Help
Center,
community,
trainings
and
educational
materials.
Pepp
is
a
collaboration
across
six
organizations.
N
Community
legal
services
clarify
legal
clinic
for
the
disabled,
senior
law
center
turn
and
Philadelphia
VIP,
where
the
primary
goals
of
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
are
to
address
Philadelphia's,
affordable
housing
needs,
housing,
preservation
and
homelessness
prevention.
Allocating
funding
to
eviction
prevention
is
in
close
alignment
with
those
goals.
N
There
is
a
growing
national
understanding
of
legal
representation
as
one
of
the
most
effective
tools
to
prevent
eviction,
displacement
and
homelessness,
and,
as
a
result,
several
cities
are
investing
in
expanded
legal
representation
programs
for
low-income
tenants
in
New
York,
for
example,
a
year
after
passing,
a
right
to
counsel
for
low-income
tenants
measure.
84%
of
tenant
families
were
able
to
stay
in
our
homes
despite
an
eviction
filing
when
the
family
had
a
lawyer.
Rights
of
council
guarantees
that
any
tenant
who
needs
the
assistance
of
a
lawyer
on
their
eviction
case
can
have
access
to
one.
N
Investing
in
legal
services
and
a
right
to
counsel
for
tenants
is
cost-effective
and
one
of
the
boasts
one
of
the
best
mesh
to
prevent
evictions,
housing,
instability
and
homelessness.
A
recent
report
of
the
Philadelphia
Bar
Association
estimated
that
for
every
one
dollar
invested
into
legal
representation
to
prevent
eviction
saves
nearly
13
dollars
in
costs
to
city
services.
N
Eviction
rates
are
highest
in
Philadelphia's,
poor
and
predominantly
black
neighborhoods
and
evictions
disproportionately
affect
poor
communities
of
color
beyond
the
damage
to
individuals
and
families.
Evictions
can
unravel
the
fabric
of
a
community
helping
to
ensure
that
neighbors
remain
strangers
and
that
their
collective
capacity
to
promote
civic
engagement
remains
untapped.
Investing
in
eviction
prevention
and
anti
displacement
measures,
including
an
increase
in
rental
assistance
and
ensuring
a
right
to
counsel
for
tenants,
has
proven
to
be
cost
effective
in
in
many
other
cities.
N
Peps
preliminary
findings
demonstrate
that
tenants
who
saw
a
pep
advocate
are
more
likely
to
show
up
to
their
court
date
when
their
case
and
enter
into
agreements
with
their
landlords
and
tenants
who
did
not
have
representation.
Findings
have
also
shown
that
only
5%
of
tenants
with
representation
experienced
disruptive
displacement
as
compared
to
78%
of
tenants
without
representation.
A
continued
investment
in
pepped
to
help
expand
a
full-scale
could
assist
over
4,000
low-income
tenants,
making
it
one
of
the
major
and
anti
displacement
efforts
in
the
city.
N
For
these
reasons,
it
is
absolutely
critical
that
city
that
the
city
continue
its
investment
in
legal
representation
for
low-income
tenants
for
the
current
fiscal
year
city
council.
Contributions
to
pep
are
eight
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
spreading
across
six
organizations.
An
investment
of
1.5
million
in
fiscal
year.
N
20
is
in
in
a
natural
next
step
toward
ensuring
that
pep
advocates
can
continue
to
provide
expert
and
effective
legal
representation
to
tenants
facing
eviction
and
displacement,
and
in
order
to
begin
to
meet
the
goals
of
the
low-income
tenant
defense,
Legal
Defense
Fund,
an
investment
of
3.5
million
dollars
over
a
period
of
three
years,
will
enable
Philadelphia
to
join
the
national
movement
to
provide
a
right
to
counsel
for
our
city's
most
vulnerable
residents
facing
loss
of
their
housing.
Thank
you.
O
Good
morning,
I'm
Wendy
buckler
from
senior
law
center,
legal
director,
Thank
You
chairwoman,
Blackwell
and
members
of
the
finance
committee
for
this
opportunity
to
provide
senior
law
centers
perspective
on
the
critical
need
to
fund
housing
programs
and
access
to
justice
for
Philadelphia's,
older
adults.
We
know
that
you
all
join
us
in
believing
that
our
parents,
grandparents,
senior
veterans
of
World,
War,
two
Korea
and
Vietnam,
and
all
older
philadelphians,
who
built
our
great
city,
deserve
our
attention,
respect
and
enhanced
responses
and
services.
O
I'm
here
to
tell
you
that
older
people
in
our
city
are
struggling
almost
one
and
to
Philadelphia
seniors
lives
deeply
in
or
near
poverty
levels.
We
have
the
poorest
senior
community
in
the
country
and
one
of
the
largest
seniors
need
your
attention
and
they
need
our
services
to
help
them
to
live
safe,
healthy
lives
of
Independence
and
dignity
to
not
languish
in
poverty,
abuse,
exploitation
and
homelessness.
We're
here
to
ask
that
you
ensure
that
older
Philadelphians
are
made
a
priority
in
the
city's
housing
plan.
O
Senior
law
centers
an
independent
nonprofit
organization
that
protects
the
rights
of
older
Pennsylvanians,
we're
the
only
nonprofit
organization
dedicated
to
providing
legal
representation
to
Pennsylvania's
senior
citizens
and
we're
the
primary
provider
of
legal
services
for
older
tenants
and
homeowners
in
Philadelphia.
Our
attorneys
provide
free,
critically
needed
legal
assistance
to
thousands
of
seniors
each
year
with
our
greatest
percentage
of
requested
services
being
those
of
older
adults
facing
housing
crises.
O
We
also
run
the
only
statewide
legal
helpline
geared
toward
Pennsylvania
residents,
who
are
60
and
older,
reaching
6
all
67
he's
on
all
civil
legal
issues
affecting
their
lives,
including
home
ownership
rights
and
tenants
rights
we
receive
over
200
calls
per
week
for
assistance
from
some
of
the
most
vulnerable
citizens
of
our
Commonwealth,
many
of
them
facing
housing.
Issues
I'd
like
to
briefly
share
a
few
statistics
regarding
seniors
in
Philadelphia
that
demonstrate
the
potential
impact
of
increased
funding
for
housing
programs
for
this
community.
O
In
Philadelphia,
almost
half
of
all
renters
spend
more
than
a
third
of
all
their
household
income
on
rent
28.4%
of
Philadelphia
homeowners
spend
more
than
a
third
of
the
monthly
household
income
toward
mortgage
payments.
Seniors
face
particular
challenges
to
mitigate
mitigating
the
negative
consequences
of
this
significant
financial
burden.
The
mean
annual
Social
Security
income
of
Philadelphia
is
fifteen
thousand
nine
hundred
and
forty
four
dollars
and
the
mean
retirement
income
is
just
over
20
thousand,
even
with
these
basic
public
benefits
which
serve
as
the
most
common
sources
of
individual
income
for
seniors.
O
Eighteen
point:
eight
percent
of
seniors
in
Philadelphia,
almost
one
in
five,
live
below
the
federal
poverty
level,
with
almost
a
quarter
of
them
at
less
than
125
percent
of
the
federal
poverty
level,
and
almost
one
in
two
living
at
below
200%
national
research
demonstrates
that
at
this
level
of
income,
seniors
struggled
to
pay
for
one
or
more
of
the
critical
expenses
of
daily
living
food,
medicine
and
shelter.
It
is
clear
from
these
statistics
that
housing
costs,
weather
toward
rent
or
mortgage
payments
are
a
huge
drain
on
our
poorest
oldest
population
of
Philadelphia.
O
The
city's
recent
housing
Action
Plan
identifies
several
potential
programs
that
would
help
meet
the
existing
crisis
in
senior
housing
in
our
city
for
homeowners.
The
plan
identifies
several
programs
which
would
significantly
benefit
our
seniors,
such
as
a
low-income,
low-income
senior
tax
freeze,
an
income
based
real
estate
tax
abatement
for
a
long
time.
Homeowners,
while
property
tax
assistance
programs
can
help
ease
the
financial
burden
on
senior
homeowners.
O
The
city
must
also
replenish
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
one-time
housing
trust
fund
payments,
averaging
three
thousand
dollars
were
used
last
year
to
reinstate
forward
and
reverse
mortgages
for
senior
homeowners
who
fell
behind
on
their
mortgages,
often
due
to
unexpected
medical
bills.
The
death
of
a
family
member
with
the
attendant
funeral
and
burial
costs
and
emergency
home
repairs
working
with
the
housing,
counselor
Network
senior
loss
center,
helped
our
clients
use
these
emergency
funds
to
save
their
homes
and
to
reinstate
mortgages
that
were
delinquent
due
to
non-payment
of
property
taxes
and
homeowners
insurance
premiums.
O
We
encourage
the
finance
committee
to
allocate
increased
funding
for
this
essential
program,
as
you,
chairmen,
Blackwell
and
all
City
Council
members
know
well,
thousands
of
Philadelphia
properties
have
tangled
titles,
meaning
people
residing
in
properties
do
not
appear
as
the
record
owner
and
Philadelphia's
land
records.
These
properties
are
already
often
referred
to
as
family
homes.
Since
many
generations,
often
going
back
to
the
early
1900's,
have
been
raised
in
these
homes
whose
deeds
remain
in
the
name
of
long
deceased,
grandparents
or
aunts
and
uncles.
O
If
the
current
generation
residing
in
the
house
does
not
appear
on
the
title
deed
theft,
indeed,
fraud
becomes
a
real
threat,
making
it
easier
for
imposters
to
convey
properties
to
third
parties.
The
residents
of
these
family
homes
often
face
great
obstacles
when
they
try
to
apply
for
city
sponsored
property,
tax,
home
repair
services
and
utility
assistance.
Programs.
Senior
loss
center
is
working
hard
to
keep
up
with
the
demand
that
comes
from
seniors,
asking
us
for
legal
services
needed
to
probate
the
estate
of
a
deceased
relative
and
transfer
the
deed
to
the
residence.
O
From
a
landlord-tenant
perspective,
the
plan
recommends-
and
we
applaud
its
discussion
of
eviction
prevention
as
a
major
policy
goal
and
a
foundation
for
multiple
programs
highlighted
by
the
anticipated
launch
of
an
eviction.
Diversion
program
similar
to
Philadelphia's
nationally
claimed
mortgage
foreclosure
diversion
program
in
which
senior
loss
center
has
been
pleased
to
participate
on
behalf
of
older
homeowners
in
the
city.
O
With
the
goal
of
maintaining
home
ownership
of
individuals
and
stability
of
neighborhoods
Senior,
Law
Center
provides
legal
services
to
low-income,
older
tenants
and
we're
proud
to
be
a
partner
in
the
Philadelphia
eviction
prevention
project
or
pep.
Low-Income
tenants
need
enhance
services,
particularly
those
who
are
older
and
facing
the
challenges
of
Aging
and
poverty.
O
Development
of
this
eviction
diversion
program
in
conjunction
with
the
already
successful
pet
project,
to
provide
tenants
at
risk
of
eviction
with
free
legal
assistance
to
avoid
eviction
proceedings,
as
well
as
with
access
to
pretrial
mediation
and
housing
and
budget
counseling,
has
currently
worked
so
successfully
in
the
mortgage.
Foreclosure
diversion
program
we'd
go
a
long
way
toward
alleviating
the
existing
landlord
tenant
crisis
in
Philadelphia
development
of
an
emergency
homeless
prevention
program
with
flexible
rental
assistance
would
also
support
this
goal.
O
The
particulars
is
faced
by
low-income
seniors
such
as
mobility,
disability,
access
to
food
and
medicine,
isolation
and
attachment
to
communities
over
a
lifetime
exacerbate
the
already
overwhelming
consequence
of
the
eviction,
but
at
the
same
time
illustrate
the
potential
positive
impact
of
this
type
of
program.
Many
seniors
have
lived
in
their
homes
for
decades
and
likely
do
not
have
the
funds
necessary
to
pay
for
a
move
or
destroy
their
lifetime
possessions,
let
alone
to
complete
the
process
of
becoming
a
new
tenant
somewhere
else.
O
The
high
percentage
of
disabled
Philadelphia
seniors
almost
half
further
demonstrates
the
practical
obstacles
to
relocation.
One
of
the
consequences
of
the
opioid
crisis
has
an
increase
in
the
number
of
seniors
raising
grandchildren,
which
reveals
the
impact
eviction
can
have
on
those
just
beyond
just
our
senior
population.
Housing
stability
is
an
essential
need
for
our
city,
and
this
plan,
if
funded,
will
have
a
significant
impact
toward
that
stabilization.
O
In
order
to
stem
the
tide
of
massive
evictions
in
Philadelphia,
increased
funding
must
be
specifically
devoted
to
program
such
as
PAP
that
have
already
proven
helpful
in
this
area.
Early
data
shows
the
success
of
this
project
and
providing
counsel
for
previously
unrepresented
tenants
facing
eviction
and
landlord
tenant.
Court
has
receded.
They've
details
on
a
dedicated
allocation
of
funding
to
this,
and
similar
initiatives
would
provide
increased
support
for
eviction
prevention
efforts
that
can
benefit
not
just
seniors
but
tenants
throughout
our
city.
Please
ensure
that
senior
tenants
get
the
targeted
service
they
need
through
this
project.
O
Increased
funding
will
also
enable
programs
that
have
strained
to
more
effectively
meet
demand
with
a
much
broader
basis
base
of
seniors
in
need,
for
instance,
with
the
demand
for
new,
affordable
senior
housing
rushed
skyrocketing.
Increased
funding
to
help
keep
seniors
in
their
current
homes
can
stem
the
flow
of
seniors
to
this
group.
One
such
program,
our
senior
loss
center
triage
project
in
the
mortgage,
foreclosure
diversion
Corps,
provides
critical
help
to
housing,
counselors
and
homeowners,
who
are
facing
mortgage
and
reverse
mortgage
foreclosure.
O
Last
year,
however,
in
just
the
first
eight
months
of
our
DHCD
contract,
our
invoices
for
this
program
exceeded
100%
of
the
funding,
so
we
had
to
pay
for
those
last
four
months
of
the
year
ourselves
out
of
other
funds,
and
although
we
continue
to
handle
these
cases
during
the
final
quarter,
the
use
of
other
funding
sources
was
necessary.
Increased
funding
for
our
homeownership
services
is
critically
needed.
The
impact
of
our
work
is
clearly
demonstrated
and
the
older
PI
homeowner
population
and
their
10,000
Americans
turn
65
each
day.
O
I
know
you
join
us
in
believing
that
the
seniors
in
our
city
are
in
need
and
deserving
of
significantly
increased
assistance
and
resources
to
protect
and
maintain
their
homes,
enable
them
to
age
in
place
in
their
communities.
With
the
new
availability
of
the
ability
of
these
funds,
we
ask
each
of
you
and
all
of
our
city
leaders
to
make
a
demonstrable
commitment
that
we
value
the
seniors
in
Philadelphia
those
who
came
before
us
and
knocked
on
whose
shoulders
we
all
stand.
We
stand
ready
to
work
with
you
and
thank
you
for
your
time.
Thank.
A
H
A
H
A
H
We
are
a
HUD
approved
housing,
counseling
organization,
that's
two
offices,
one
up
along
North
Broad
Street
in
North
Philadelphia
second
office
in
Northeast,
Philadelphia
I'd,
like
to
thank
chairwoman
Blackwell
and
the
Finance
Committee
for
allowing
me
to
present
my
comments.
Today's
hearing
as
a
housing,
counseling
organization
of
coppa
assists
households
in
preparation
to
purchase
their
first
home
and
assist
distressed
homeowners
that
are
facing
foreclosure.
Due
to
the
link
with
mortgage
and/or,
real
estate,
tax
payments
and
2018,
we
served
over
1,200
households
most
of
these
households.
We
serve
our
low
and
moderate
income.
H
People
of
color
female
run
households
I'm
here
to
testify
about
the
importance
of
the
housing
counseling
in
the
need
for
additional
funding
resources
from
the
local
level
to
support
submission
to
serve
Philadelphia
households,
particularly
its
vulnerable
populations.
I'm
also
here
to
express
the
need
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
to
increase
the
great
amount
given
to
income
eligible,
first-time
homebuyers
I
request
that
the
Signet
allocations
from
the
housing
trust
fund,
non-recording,
free
sub
fund
be
dedicated
for
those
services
initiative
and
initiatives
in
our
first-time
homebuyer
program.
H
The
services
that
a
coppa
husband,
counselors
provide
include
edge
households
how
to
qualify
for
a
mortgage,
the
nuances
of
the
home
transaction,
the
responsibilities
of
home
ownership
and
money
management
skills,
counselors,
provide
guidance
to
households
that
seek
to
purchase
a
home.
The
plan
is
established
to
trim
how
much
they
can
afford
what
steps
they
need
to
take
to
build
their
credit
history
and
how
they
could
be
able
to
access
downpayment
assistance
resources
in
the
last
three
years
of
Coppa.
As
this
council
300
households
X
successfully
pushed
their
home.
H
This
includes
a
client
that
purchased
their
home
last
summer,
who
was
homeless
from
2013
to
2016.
A
Coppa
also
works
with
households
at
their
risk
of
foreclosure,
distressed
home
or
has
turned
to
house
counselors
to
sometimes
perform
miracles
to
resolve
their
more
shalinka,
see
to
help
them
stay
in
the
home.
Last
year,
our
office
assisted
a
Philadelphia
police
officer
that
lives
in
Northeast
Philadelphia
obtain
a
modification
to
stop
their
foreclosure
on
his
property.
H
Prior
to
using
our
services,
he
paid
$9,000
to
a
March
relief
services
firm
in
California
for
assistance
with
his
foreclosure
situation,
in
which
they
performed
no
work.
On
his
behalf,
a
challenge
that
the
H
sees
that
offer
housing
counseling
services
will
soon
face
the
requirement
that
all
housing
counselors
will
need
to
be
certified
by
HUD.
As
of
August
1st
2020.
This
is
an
exam
which
tests
the
person,
knowledge
on
boards,
affordability,
financial
management,
Fair,
Housing
boards,
foreclosure
resolution
options
and
tenant
rights.
H
Any
housing
counselor
that
has
not
passed
this
certification
certification
exam
by
August
1st
2020
can
no
longer
serve
in
their
role
based
on
the
services
we
provide
and
accreditation
that
we
will
need
to
obtain
to
perform
our
work.
Resources
are
needed
to
make
sure
existing
housing.
Counselors
are
fairly
compensated
to
perform
the
necessary
services
for
the
community,
and
our
industry
will
face
the
challenges
of
retaining
or
quoting
talented,
competent,
compassionate
individuals.
H
Recently,
the
city
of
Philadelphia
crease,
the
down
payment
systems
grant
from
first
for
first-time
buyers
from
$500
to
$1,000.
This
is
a
great
first
step.
However,
it
is
insufficient
for
a
low
moderate
income
households
to
overcome
one
of
the
biggest
barriers
associated
with
purchasing
a
home,
the
cost
of
the
home
transaction,
the
increase
in
the
downpayment
assistance
for
first-time
income
eligible
buyers
will
influence
lenders
and
realtors
to
refer
their
clients
to
housing,
counseling
services.
H
Many
industry
professionals
want
their
clients
to
avoid
their
advice
that
we
provide
to
clients,
because
we
may
recommend
them
to
purchase
the
less
expensive
home
that
they
could
afford
it
or
wait
a
few
months
to
purchase
the
home
after
they
approve
their
credit.
And/Or
savings
increase.
The
DAO
p.m.
assistance
grant
for
the
first-time
homebuyers
will
benefit
the
city
in
multiple
ways.
First,
it
will
measure
the
stem
send
the
tide
of
the
loss
of
owner-occupied
properties
having
additional
resources
for
low
and
moderate
income.
H
Households
looking
to
purchase
their
first
home
will
increase
the
market
eligibility
for
eligible
homebuyers
and
can
better
compete
with
buyers
that
are
looking
at
buying
properties
for
investment
purposes.
The
second
reason
increasing
down
payments
its
grant
will
benefit
the
city.
It
will
reduce
the
risk
of
foreclosure
for
Philadelphia
homeowners
because
they
engaged
a
housing
counselor
prior
to
purchasing
the
home.
In
addition
to
the
services
I
mentioned
that
housing
counselors
can
provide
councils
can
make
recommendations
on
proper
loan
programs
that
the
homebuyer
can
pursue.
H
H
Here's
and
do
some
plumbing
cosmetic
repairs,
plus
many
studies
have
reported
the
value
of
housing
counseling
to
reduce
the
risk
of
foreclosure
compared
to
those
who
purchase
their
home
without
receiving
housing,
counseling
services,
I
think
the
Finance
Committee
and
chairwoman
Blackwell
for
having
me
having
this
hearing
to
hear
our
testimony.
I
asked
you
to
seriously
consider
our
comments
to
determine
the
appropriate
appropriate
allocation
for
these
resources
at
how
they
can
effectively
be
implemented.
Thank
you
very
much.
Thank.
A
M
Want
to
thank
chairman
chairwoman
Blackwell
for
holding
these
hearings
on
this
important
issue
and
I
want
to
applaud
the
fact
that
19
million
dollars
is
going
into
the
housing
trust
fund,
which
is
very
important.
My
name
is
George.
Gold
I've
been
an
attorney
at
community
legal
services
and
worked
in
the
area
of
affordable
housing
from
us
50
years,
we're
clearly
seeing
in
this
city
a
housing
crisis
for
low
income
families,
the
income
level
is
a
hundred
and
twenty
percent
of
area
medium
income,
we
believe,
is
high.
That's
a
substantial
amount
of
money.
M
However,
we
do
agree
with
council
woman
Parker's
analysis
that
in
some
cases
you
have
to
look
at
other
factors
beside
income
such
as
mortgage
and
insurance,
and
things
like
that,
and
these
obviously
have
the
factors
on
people's
ability
to
get
by
on
a
day
to
day
basis.
However,
we
believe
that
50%
and
others
will
talk
about
it-
of
these
funds
should
be
targeted
to
families
who
are
below
30%
of
area
median
income.
We
think
this
is
very
important.
M
Philadelphia
continues
to
have
a
very
high
poverty
late
and
it's
just
critical
that
money
be
targeted
to
these
families.
We
also
think
it
would
be
helpful
if
more
monies
can
be
put
in,
because
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
is
a
unique
process
where
monies
can
go
to
help
for
affordable
housing.
Thank
you
thank.
P
Thank
You
Councilwoman,
Blackwell
and
committee
members,
my
name
is
Rachel
Falco
I
serve
as
the
executive
director
of
Philadelphia
interfaith
hospitality,
Network.
We
are
a
homelessness
prevention,
shelter,
housing
and
basic
needs
program
for
extremely
poor
families,
those
living
at
or
below
30%
of
ami,
many
of
our
services.
Most
of
our
services
are
delivered
in
counseled
men,
Heenan's
district
and
in
Councilwoman
Parker's
district
in
middle
neighborhoods.
P
P
Our
homelessness
prevention
program
is
a
recent
addition
to
our
offerings
developed
in
response
to
families
coming
in
who
had
already
sought
shelter
at
the
Appletree
Center
and
were
turned
away
for
lack
of
bed
space
during
our
first
year
of
operating
this
prevention
program.
On
rather
a
shoestring
budget,
we
were
able
to
help
52
families,
with
one-time
targeted,
supports
to
avoid
eviction
and
to
provide
deposits
for
market
rate
housing
post
displacement.
P
The
experience
of
not
knowing
where
one
will
sleep
at
night
next
week
or
next
month
is
terrifying
for
children
and
parents,
adults,
miss
work
and
children
miss
school.
The
Philadelphia
School
District
reported
that
in
2017
that
over
7,000
students
reported
not
having
a
permanent
home.
It
is
common
for
students
to
transfer
schools
one
or
more
times
during
the
school
year.
Homelessness
is
disruptive
to
children's
academic
progress
and
to
their
ability
to
form
friendships
and
attachments.
It
ruins
academic
advancement
for
students
and
prevents
them
from
growing
into
qualified
workers.
P
For
adults,
the
distraction
and
worry
of
homelessness
prevents
them
from
being
a
being
reliable
employees.
Stable
housing
is
the
glue
that
keeps
an
individual
or
family
unit
whole
and
is
the
foundation
for
a
self-sufficient
life.
The
experience
of
homelessness
almost
assures
a
life
appart.
It
almost
assures
a
person,
a
life
of
poverty,
the
housing
trust
fund
sub
moneys
offers
our
city
a
chance
to
equalize
housing,
the
housing
affordability
framework
for
philadelphians.
P
My
primary
reason
for
offering
comment
on
the
proposed
use
of
the
Housing
Trust
Funds
supp
fund
dollars
is
my
concern
that
the
plan,
like
all
of
the
previous
plans,
outlining
the
use
of
Housing
Trust
Fund
dollars
short
changes.
Those
families
who
need
help
the
most
those
at
or
below
30%
of
the
ami,
our
board
and
volunteers,
from
52
area
congregations
in
the
city
and
our
constituents
have
watched
with
great
interest
the
development
of
the
Housing
Trust
Fund.
P
P
Each
year
we
have
been
hopeful
that
the
plan
would
pay
attention
to
those
residents
living
at
30%
of
the
a.m.
the
extremely
poor
who
are
the
most
likely
candidates
for
eviction
and
homelessness.
We've
been
continually
disappointed
that
the
plan
seems
to
skip
over
the
growing
segment
of
extremely
cost
burdened
tenants
for
all
the
good
that
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
has
accomplished
throughout
the
years.
P
According
to
a
2016
study
by
apartment
list,
48%
of
Philadelphians
are
renters
about
half
of
the
city's
renters
spend
30%
or
more
of
their
income
on
rent
and
a
staggering
25%
of
renters
spend
50%
or
more
of
their
income
on
rent.
The
share
of
cost
burden
renters
has
doubled
since
1960,
when
just
24%
spent
30
percent
of
their
income
on
rent
or
more
on
rent
renters
are
are
spending.
P
I'm
sorry
renters
are
significantly
more
cost
burdened
than
home
owners,
with
only
twenty
eight
point:
three
percent
of
homeowners
spending,
30
percent
or
more
of
their
income
on
rent.
Compared
to
forty
nine
point,
seven
percent
of
renters
only
11
percent
of
homeowners
are
severely
cost
burden.
Less
than
half
the
rate
for
renters
homeowners
tend
to
have
larger
median
Inc
our
median
incomes
and
are
more
insulated
to
price
changes
once
they
have
purchased
a
home
and
signed
a
mortgage.
P
Lower
income
and
cost
burdened
households
are
less
likely
to
become
homeowners,
as
it
is
difficult
to
save
enough
for
a
down
payment.
Unfortunately,
this
creates
a
cycle
where
poor
families
are
stuck
in
the
rental
market,
struggling
with
increasing
rents
and
unable
to
build
wealth
through
homeownership.
In
a
recent
study
by
the
national
Low
Income
Housing
Coalition,
there
are
only
20,
affordable
units
for
every
100,
extremely
poor
families
in
need
and
57
for
those
at
50%
of
AMI.
P
If
I
am
reading
the
plans
for
the
sub
fund
correctly,
the
proposal
devotes
at
most
10
percent
of
the
funds
towards
the
most
vulnerable
renters.
At
a
time
when
our
city
is
facing
an
eviction
crisis,
one
in
14,
according
to
the
reinvestment
fund
report
from
2017
and
actually
in
the
middle
neighborhoods,
one
in
seven
in
councilman,
Heenan's
district
and
Councilwoman
Parkers
District,
one
in
seven
renters
ends
up
in
the
case
of
eviction
using
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
monies
to
support
a
shallow
rent
pilot
is
a
step
in
the
right
direction.
P
P
If
the
shallow
rent
pilot,
as
well
as
the
new
housing
created
by
Housing
Trust
Fund
dollars,
reserved
a
higher
percentage
for
those
at
30%
of
ami,
we
would
stabilize
many
rental
households
who
would
otherwise
end
up
being
evicted
for
non-payment
of
rent.
We
would
certainly
have
many
fewer
displaced
families
and
children
costing
the
city
in
many
other
ways.
P
Several
city
departments,
the
office
of
homeless
services
and
DHS
and
their
contract
agencies
have
operated
rate,
rent
assistance
programs
for
the
past
several
years.
I
hope
that
DHCD
shallow
rent
assistance
pilot
will
be
done
in
collaboration
with
these
departments.
This
is
an
opportunity
to
share
the
best
practices
and
to
develop
comparative
outcome
measures.
It
would
be
helpful
to
implement
uniform
practices
and
payment
standards
across
the
various
programs.
D
I
am
I'll,
be
very
quick,
chairperson
blackwell
and
I'm,
not
gonna,
read
from
my
written
testimony,
I'm
just
gonna
summarize
it
very
quickly
because
I
know
everyone's
getting
antsy
the
three
things
that
we
asked
for
in
our
letter
and
again:
I'm
George
Donnelly
from
the
Public
Interest
Law,
Center
eviction,
defense
funds
and
shallow
rent
subsidies
that
explicitly
go
to
folks
facing
eviction.
Those
folks
are
already
in
their
homes.
That
is
the
definition
of
stability,
so
keeping
folks
in
their
homes
with
eviction,
defense
funds
and
shallow
rent
subsidies
for
people
facing
eviction
is
critically
important.
D
50%
of
this
19
million
dollars
in
the
trust
fund
should
go
to
folks
and
households.
Making
under
30%
am
I
helping
our
poorest
citizens
ensure
that
they
have
access
to
afford
affordable
housing
and,
finally,
something
that
hasn't
been
addressed.
Yet
we
want
10%
of
constructed
housing
to
be
accessible,
and
a
hundred
percent
visit
able
for
people
with
disabilities
and
I
just
want
to
share
a
quick
story
on
this.
It
is
hard
enough,
as
a
tenant
in
Philadelphia,
to
find
affordable
housing
to
find
affordable
housing.
That's
also
accessible
for
people
with
disabilities.
Forget
about
it.
D
One
of
my
neighbors
and
council
member
scrillz
district
he
lived
in
his
home.
His
home
Bush
was
tried
to
make
it
accessible
for
40
years.
He
was
on
a
waitlist
for
an
accessible,
affordable
house
for
17
years.
He
just
got
his
first
place
as
a
49
year
old
adult
after
17
years
on
the
waiting
list.
So
I
just
want
to
stress
that
for
our
our
neighbors
with
disabilities,
it's
an
even
harder
struggle
to
find
accessible,
affordable
housing,
and
the
last
thing
I
want
to
note
is
that
I've
been
really
pleased
with.
D
You
know,
I
feel
very
fortunate
to
be
working
in
this
area.
At
a
time
when
city
council
is
taking
the
rights
of
renters
so
seriously,
council
member
Parker
has
introduced
legislation.
Also,
member
Reynolds
Brown
has
introduced
legislation,
both
of
which
were
passed.
Good'cause
legislation
was
passed
unanimously
by
this
body.
D
I
really
appreciate
what
this
body's
been
doing,
to
recognize
the
rights
of
runners
and
I
hope
that
that
focus
and
that
understanding
comes
through
in
this
funding
as
well
as
Rachel
said,
48%,
almost
half
of
our
households
in
the
city
are
renters
and
we've,
given
a
hundred
million
dollars.
Recently
to
homeowners
as
we
should,
we
should
be
stabilizing
those
homeowners
and
those
households,
but
I
ask
that
we
continue
our
focus
on
renters
rights
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
I.
Appreciate
that
you've
what
you've
done
so
far.
Thank
you.
Thank.
C
You,
madam
sure,
I,
do
have
two
another
commitment.
Bob
wanted
to
be
recorded
as
voting
I
on
old
bills,
but
I
do
have
a
question
before
I
leave
for
Miss
Phillips
if
it
possible,
and
that
is
in
the
legal
representation.
I
just
want
to
make
sure
I
understand
what
your
request
is.
It
says
that
currently
you're
getting
$850,000
and
are
you
requesting
an
additional
1.5
or
the
difference
between
850
and
1.5.
N
N
In
the
future,
we
would
like
to
see
going
forward
that
there
be
a
total
investment
in
three-point
foot
that
we
increment
increase
up
to
3.5
million,
because,
according
to
the
stout
report,
an
investment
of
3.5
million
annually
will
get
us.
You
know
a
full
full
representation
for
people
who
need
it,
but
we
as
legal
services,
would
not
be
able
to
absorb
3.5
in
one
year.
So
that's
why
we're
asking
the
season
so.
C
N
N
C
I
You,
madam
chair,
and
want
to
say
a
special
thank
you
to
each
of
you
who
testified.
You
know
we
rely
on
you
so
much
for
providing
constituent
services
to
residents
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
particularly
when
they
need
legal
representation,
because
we
even
those
of
us
who
have
attorneys
on
our
staff,
they
are
not
allowed
to
provide.
I
I
You
were
here
and
you
and
you
testify,
but
Councilwoman
Blackwell's
district
was
number
one
Councilwoman
Cindy
basses
district
was
number
two
and
the
cat
ninth
council,
Matic
district
was
number
three
and
I
wanted
us
to
get
on
the
record,
because
I
wanted
it
to
show
that
sort
of
race
socioeconomic
status
did
not
discriminate
and
we're
these
reverse
more
people
with
these
reverse
mortgages,
who
found
themselves
in
foreclosure
where
they
were.
It
was
in
your
district
Councilwoman
and
am
I.
I
So
even
if
the
number
of
the
number
of
people
living
in
deep
poverty
in
those
areas,
those
stats
actually
differ,
there's
still
the
seniors
suffering
from
issues
like
reverse
mortgages
and
being
in
foreclosure.
So
I
wanted
to
note
that,
for
the
record,
I
also
wanted
to
thank
senior
law
for
again
just
talking
about
the
demand
for
new
and
affordable
housing
for
seniors
the
demand
it
is
so
increasing.
I
In
a
district
like
the
ninth,
we
are
like
and
Councilwoman
Blackwell
say
to
you:
councilman
Squealer,
you
know
Johnson,
you
know
sometimes
I
get
low
frustrated
right,
because
I
don't
have
some
of
the
problems
that
you
all
are
having
because
we're
landlocked
and
we
we
don't
have
lots
of
space
to
build
new,
affordable,
particularly
senior
houses.
So
you
know
any
small
sliver
of
anything
that
we
can
think
of
we're
trying
to
encourage
developers
of
senior
housing
to
say
choose
here,
because
our
people
want
to
stay
where
they
own
their
homes.
I
They
like
want
to
stay
in
the
region
because
their
family
is
there
their
churches
there
and
that's
what
it's
what
they
know
so
I
just
wanted
to
tell
you
that
I
appreciate
your
bringing
of
that
issue
up
in
your
testimony
and
if
there
are
any
developers,
oh,
you
know
looking
for
a
place
to
build
a
new
senior
housing
that
is
affordable.
I.
Ask
that
you
please
consider
looking
in
a
ninth
Council,
Matic
District
and
we
will
work
as
hard
as
we
possibly
can
to
help
you.
Thank
you.
A
A
Q
My
name,
my
name,
is
Tanya
curry
I'm
here
with
the
act-up
organization.
I
just
want
to
thank
everyone
for
allowing
me
to
share
my
testimony
with
you
guys.
I
was
hoping
that
today
we
made
some
kind
of
movements
where
we
can
be
of
more
help
into
the
homeless.
Areas
is
where
I
found
myself
ever
to
being
a
homeowner
for
14
years
to
bring
it
in
a
certain
bracket
of
income
to
now
homeless
on
the
street
today,
with
nowhere
to
go
no
income
or
anything
else.
Because
of
situations,
that's
happened
that
beyond
my
control,
I.
Q
I've
never
been
homeless
before
until
now,
so
I
did
not
know
how
bad
things
are
out,
how
bad
they
are
out
here.
I
do
understand
that
we
are
living
in
America
and
we
have
a
bunches
of
money
here
and
to
help
other
people,
I
think,
is
great.
I.
Think
I
was
raised
to
take
care
home
first
and
I'm
just
accident.
We
can
just
take
care
of
our
own
people
at
home,
as
well
as
other
people
abroad,
and
just
allow
us
to
get
back
on
our
feet
that
fall.
Q
There's
a
lot
of
physical
mental
things
going
on
here
and
we're
trying
to
see
if
there's
a
way
that
we
can
get
stabled
and
more
funding
will
help
that
Fernwood
East
disclosed
up
in
their
beds
are
empty
and
we're
still
out
here
with
nowhere
to
lay
our
heads
at
night.
I
think
it's
horrible
I
am
asking
for
help,
not
just
for
myself
or
for
all
the
other
homeless
people,
and
it
seems
like
the
single
women
is
where
a
lot
of
forget
is
like.
Q
Give
me
housing
so
I'm,
just
bounced
around
from
living
in
my
car
for
several
months
after
one
shelter
dinner,
another
shelter
and
I'm
just
act
saying
that
if
we
can
just
do
a
little
better
somewhere
somehow
and
this
this
journey
has
taken
me
on
a
whole
new
outlook
in
life,
where
I
see
where
there's
need
and
help
and
where
I
decided
to
stand
on
myself
and
join
the
movement
of
helping.
If
you're
not
believe,
if
you're,
not
a
part
of
the
solution.
Q
But
I
do
thank
God
for
what
he
sent
me
because
out
of
the
help
that
we've
gotten
some
help-
and
it
allowed
me
to
now
be
a
proud
member
of
the
poor
people-
economic
human
rights
campaign,
because
those
are
one
of
the
people
along
with
X
who
stepped
out
and
helped
me
and
that's
how
I'm
trying
to
get
back
up
on
my
feet
now.
You
know
it's
hard.
I've
come
from
having
income,
don't
have
to
worry
about
anything.
Q
Didn't
know
it
was
still
this
I
didn't
know
it's
worse
now
than
it
was
years
ago,
because
I
seen
them
cleaning
up
the
streets
and
I
thought
things
were
better
and
I
see
it's
not
it's
just
Reese
placed
somewhere
else
and
pushed
it
around
in
different
areas.
So
I
just
want
to
just
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
stand
here,
sit
here
and
testify
in
front
of
you
and
wish
it
for
your
help,
and
you
know
everything.
A
You
miss
curry,
I
asked
that
you,
my
office's
the
last
one
at
the
end
of
this
hall
and
ask
for
penny,
would
try
to
help
you
and
thank
you
for
making
that
testimony
now.
What's
so
sad,
it
wasn't
like
this
years
ago
was
that
we
don't
have
transitional
housing,
we
need
so
when
you
get
out
of
shelter,
there's
no
place
for
you
to
go.
A
We
have
had
good
programs
and
programs
of
PHA
and
others
where
folks,
like
you
and
other
mothers,
and
even
families
and
even
fathers
have
places
to
go
and
play
with
or
without
children,
but
it's
tough
now,
because
you
know
you
go
in
the
shelter
for
a
while.
You
come
out,
you
say
now.
What
do
I
do
right.
Q
Q
23
years
ago,
I
was
in
a
similar
situation.
I
was
not
homeless.
My
left
situation,
it
wasn't
healthy
for
me,
and
my
child
was
five
years
old
at
the
time
and
we
went
into
a
shelter
system
and
we
got
help
then
in
that's.
When
I
had
a
fall
and
I
had
to
nurse
myself
back
up
to
help
I
said
well,
you
know
what
I
did
it
before
I,
don't
have
my
baby
with
me.
It's
just
myself.
D
Wanna
she's
nice
I'm,
not
hello,
everybody
Cheri
honkala
from
the
poor
people's
economic
kin,
Rights
Campaign
I,
just
want
to
say
that
Tana
Tonya
is
currently
homeless.
Right
now
because
of
the
closing
of
the
Fernwood
East
shelter,
we
were
told
that
there
was
no
money
and
we're
helping
her
in
our
shelter
right
now,
at
a
time
when
the
city
is
littered
with
homeless
people
and
especially
single
women
and
everybody
is
running
for
elected
office.
D
We're
looking
forward
for
somebody
to
step
forward
by
Monday
and
champion
this
issue
and
find
the
money
for
that
shelter,
because
if
we
have
a
rate
where
we
have
more
units
for
luxury
units
versus
homeless
women
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
something
is
wrong.
So
Monday
we
intend
to
house
those
women
from
Fernwood
here
at
City
Council,
if
somebody
doesn't
step
forward
and
figure
out
how
to
get
money
out
of
the
budget,
keep
that
shelter
open
or
follow
through
on
the
commitment
to
provide
affordable
housing
for
this
women.
A
G
Q
G
G
Q
That
when
they
started
coming
in
later
or
about
in
January
or
February
I
started
hearing
from
the
people
that
was
coming
in,
stating
that
we
had
a
deadline
of
March
which
I
did
not
believe
them,
because
no
one
told
me
that
I
didn't
hear
from
any
reputable
sources
and
then
BAM
three
weeks
before
the
shelter
clothes
is
when
we
got
the
news.
Yes,
that
was
actually
true.
So
it's
bad
over.
There
is
the
staff.
There
is
no
one's
in
them,
I
don't
know
if
it
was
supposed
to
be
a
winter
initiative
program.
Q
That's
not
what
they
told
me,
but
a
couple
other
people,
but
even
if
it
was
I
believe
we
still
could
somehow
make
it
into
a
regular
shelter,
it's
easier
on
people
who's
homeless,
not
to
move
around
and
round
and
round.
That's
that
really
does
get
to
a
person.
Mental
when
you're
constantly
moving
at
like
I
was
in
my
home
for
14
years.
You
know
thank
God
and
unfortunately,
I
lost.
My
husband
and
I
had
no
widow
now
for
three
years
and
now
I'm
dealing
with
homelessness.
A
Q
R
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
Christy
Clark
and
I'm
here
to
testify
about
Bill
number
one:
nine
zero.
Two
three
one
I've
offered
my
full
testimony
in
writing.
So
I'm
gonna
keep
it
short.
I
work
at
the
women's
community.
Revitalization
project,
also
known
as
w
CR
P
W
CR
P,
is
also
a
proud
member
of
the
Philadelphia
Coalition
for
affordable
communities.
I'm
sure
you've
seen
us
here
before
in
our
bright
green
t-shirts,
we're
a
coalition
that
just
keeps
growing.
R
We
just
want
to
take
a
minute
to
thank
all
the
council
members
that
stood
with
our
coalition
to
pass
the
construction
impact
tax,
and
we
wish
we
were
here
today
to
talk
about
a
permanent
source
of
funding
that
adjust
is
our
city's
housing
needs,
and
we
also
want
to
thank
councilmembers,
Blackwell
and
Reynolds
Brown
for
originally
introducing
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
and
making
it
such
a
powerful
tool
that
works
for
low-income
folks
in
this
city.
We
care
about
expanding
the
housing
trust
fund,
because
it's
a
program
that
has
traditionally
worked
especially
for
very
low-income
people.
R
There
has
been
an
increased
emphasis
on
home
ownership
by
members
of
council
and
while
we
recognize
the
value
of
that,
half
half
of
our
city
earns
less
than
forty
thousand
dollars
a
year
for
a
family
of
four
and
a
full
third
earns
less
than
$20,000
per
year.
Getting
a
mortgage
and
buying
a
home
is
well
out
of
reach
for
these
philadelphians.
R
Our
research
shows
that
in
each
of
your
council,
districts
between
46
and
62%
of
renters
are
paying
well
more
than
they
can
afford
on
housing,
leaving
very
little
left
over
for
other
basic
needs
like
food,
child
care
and
medicine.
Housing
security
is
necessary
to
address
poverty
and
for
most
Philadelphians
that
starts
with
rental
housing.
We
want
the
Housing
Trust
Fund
to
continue
to
prioritize,
affordable
rental
development
for
low
and
very
low
income
households.
We
want
you
to
amend
this
year's
proposed
allocation.
R
Specifically,
we
want
you
to
commit
half
of
the
12
million
dollars
being
set
aside
for
new
construction
preservation
and
shallow
rent
subsidy
to
go
to
households,
earning
30
percent
or
less
of
area
median
income
without
that
guarantee.
In
writing.
We
are
not
confident
that
the
money
will
go
where
it's
needed
most.
R
R
$300
a
month
could
go
a
long
way
to
help
folks
at
this
income
level
secure,
affordable
housing,
while
also
covering
their
other
basic
needs.
We
would
really
love
to
see
you
add
more
money
to
the
shallow
rent
subsidy
program.
We
are
also
calling
on
you
to
increase
the
budgeted
commitment
to
the
housing
trust
fund
from
19
million
dollars
to
35
million
dollars
this
year
and
every
year.
R
R
We
want
you
to
stand
with
us
to
ensure
that
any
new
resources
coming
into
the
housing
trust
fund
serves
the
programs
and
the
people
that
it
has
historically
served
we're
ready
to
work
with
you
to
ensure
that
low
and
very
low
income
residents
can
afford
to
stay
in
the
communities
they
call
home.
We
invite
you
to
stand
with
us
to
ensure
that
Philly's,
not
just
a
city
for
those
with
wealth,
but
that
it's
a
city
for
us
all.
Thank
you.
S
Morning,
my
name
is
Zachary
Davidson
I'm,
the
housing
stabilization
specialist
at
lutheran
settlement
house
I'm,
basically,
the
guy
in
the
who
spends
the
funds
in
the
housing
Stabilization
Fund
and
speaks
with
families
who
are
going
to
be
recipients
of
those
funds
in
this
capacity,
I'm
tasked
with
the
challenge
of
utilizing
prevention
and
diversion
tactics
to
lessen
the
influent,
the
influx
of
families
who
are
experiencing
homelessness
and
preventing
those
families
from
entering
our
emergency
shelter
system.
Affion.
S
Since
december
of
2018
I've
received
over
300
referrals
from
my
for
my
program
and
have
met
with
over
a
hundred
sixty
households
with
the
help
of
two
part-time
interns.
We
with
each
referral,
we
conduct
an
assessment
of
the
households,
housing
crisis
and
try
to
establish
a
housing
plan.
That's
pretty
feasible.
One
example
would
be
one
of
our
clients
named
Patrice
she's,
a
32
year
old
single
mother
of
one.
She
has
a
bachelor's
degree
and
works
at
a
nonprofit
agency.
Here
in
Philadelphia.
She
lost
her
job
in
November.
S
S
Patrice
is
now
still
in
her
apartment
and
she's
working
again
and
part
of
that
process,
in
speaking
with
her,
was
in
coming
up
with
plans
for
her
future
in
speaking
about
creating
a
will
setting
aside
emergency
funds
in
the
event
of
another
health
scare
seeking
more
affordable
housing
speaking
about
first-time
home
ownership,
which
was
not
really
a
feasible
option
for
her
at
the
time
due
to
the
stress
of
potential
home
repairs
and
moving
with
her
health
issues.
The
reality
is
that,
as
it
was
already
said,
is
that
40%
of
all
Philadelphians
are
currently
renters.
S
Resolving
a
housing
crisis
is
always
the
first
order
of
business
for
us
when
we
meet
with
a
family
who
is
imminently
facing
homelessness,
but
we
know
that
stability
begets
stability.
Our
clients
work
hard
to
re-establish
their
place
in
the
private
rental
market,
but
securing
this
position
while
often
facing
debt
judgments.
Credit
issues
is
a
very
long
and
tedious
process
for
those
experiencing
a
housing
crisis.
S
We
need
fast
solutions
which
cannot
be
addressed
within
the
framework
of
a
home
buying
program
at
all
times
or
even
if
you've
provided
more
in
it's
just
not
realistic
for
many
families
in
that
crisis.
In
our
time
we
have
yet
to
work
with
a
client
who
has
rapidly
resolved
their
homelessness
with
a
home
buying
solution.
There
is
always
a
crucial
middle
step
or
steps
of
the
in-between.
We
implore
you
to
support
an
increase
of
the
general
funds
to
the
Housing
Trust
Fund,
from
the
current
slated
19
million
to
35
million.
S
S
The
funding
of
a
shallow
rent
program
is
prudent
to
support
the
nature
of
the
current
rental
market
of
Philadelphia.
The
rental
market
is
fast
becoming
the
system's
go-to
solution
for
homelessness.
As
you
pointed
out,
Councilwoman
Blackwell
that
there
there
isn't
much
of
a
after
time
of
shelter
solution
there.
It's
its
rental
properties
and
rent
the
rental
market,
as
I
said,
is
becoming
the
solution
for
our
supportive
housing
stock
as
housing.
Affordable
housing
is
becoming
more
scarce
in
Philadelphia
and
non
existent
options
for
many
families,
increasing
the
funds
may
direct
to
low
income.
S
Households
is
also
good
for
Philadelphia
business
owners.
We
work
with
a
lot
of
landlords
who
are
women-owned
and
minority-owned
businesses
and
they're
committed
to
working
with
programs
like
ours
and
working
with
families
who
are
in
this
vulnerable
financial
states.
These
are
landlords
that
expressed
to
us
that
going
to
court
is
often
a
lose-lose
situation
for
them
and
they
view
part
of
their
wealth
and
their
businesses,
as
as
something
that's
very
important
to
the
communities
that
they
live
in.
Thank.
C
And
I
am
6
to
8
years
old
and
I
have
problems
the
probability
that
the
problem
with
homelessness
is
that
I
cannot
afford
it,
because
I'm
going
to
get
to
several
hundred
and
seven
dollars
a
month,
income
so
SSI.
And
it's
just
that
a
problem
with
this
debt
or
say:
oh
yeah
yeah,
you
can
get
apartments,
that's
not
going
to
do
it
because
my
credits,
kind
of
shallow
have
problems,
and
after
there
was
somebody
there
was.
C
Somebody
to
meet
is
me
to
make
me
to
help
them
to
help
them
causes
that
there's
no
way
you
can
live
on.
500
500
dollars
for
rent
I
mean
I,
got
to
hundreds
of
dollars
left
and
that's
not
gonna
pay.
Nothing
and
then
I
miss
some
disabled,
a
lot
of
problems
and
we
need
affordable
housing
for
people
who
needs
help
not
because
of
a
problem
of
their
own,
because
there
is
that
I've
had
accident
and
just
that
it's
problems
there.
C
C
You
build
them
up
and
you'll
be
like
you
can
see
things
grow
and
get
better.
People
get
proud
like
that,
and
they
will
work.
You
were
you
work
with
them
there.
What
were
you?
A
handout
is
great,
so
somebody
else
had
a
handout
for
us
too,
and
we
need
their
hand
and
if
we
help
all
to
help
those
who
help
themselves,
you
can
help
too.
C
You
see
a
positive
in
of
what
you
have
been
doing.
It
and
I've
been
I'm
still
I'm.
Still
in
the
system.
My
Manchester
City
Council
to
fully
fund
towards
affordable
housing
for
people
which
they
might
like
myself,
who
is
making
less
than
$25,000
a
year.
I.
Thank
you
and
for
the
question
is
our
answer
for
you.
G
A
We
thank
you,
and
we
all
agree
that
we
shouldn't
have
people
who
don't
have
someplace
to
sleep
who
don't
have
the
food
they
need
them
would
like
that
shouldn't
happen
really
anywhere
in
America
in
our
country.
We've
always
thought
that
way
and
always
fought
against
it.
My
office
is
always
open
to
you
any
of
you
and
we
thank
you
for
coming
down
and
standing
up
for
you
and
for
people
in
your
circumstances
and
we'll
do
our
best
to
help
so
keep
in
touch.
Thank
you.
G
Like
four
months
ago,
I
was
homeless
straight
out
for
months
and
recently
I
just
got
to
say,
patreon
to
plot
their
homes
and
I
also
got
hired
to
parts
of
homes
at
the
same
time
and
I'm
just
here,
it
helped
the
community
because,
like
I'm
doing
with
like
numerous
people,
each
and
every
day
to
watch
at
homes
is
like.
Don't
got
no
world
go
because
like
when
it's
it's
like
Sunday
breakfast
is
great
clothes
and
moved
to
a
new
location,
and
they
is
being
asked
to
move
and
I
got
mad.
G
Friends
is
I'm
being
harassed
by
cops
each
and
every
day
and
it's
and
they
call
me
in
to
the
a
and
and
I
can
bounce
warm
won
numerous
occasions
and
like
once,
like
all
these
shelters
like
the
leave,
was
just
talking
about
her
shelter,
disclose
recently
that
it's
a
whole
bunch
of
abandoned
houses.
On
my
block
where
I
live
at
on
my
safe
haven
and
everything,
is
it
female
sort
of
put?
G
The
message
is
on
my
blog
because
I'm
on
best
hangover-
and
we
it's
just
asking
for
close
to
forty
thousand
dollars
a
year,
because
it's
like
once
the
shelter's
is
closed
for
good-
that
it
will
be
a
chain
reaction
and
people
go,
be
hearing
locked
up
out
the
police
because
they
are
hanging
out
and
train
stations
like
suburban
station
and
just
as
the
station
is
the
main
target
that
if
they
sit
in
there,
they
got
into
midnight.
And
once
midnight
happens,
that's
it.
They
gotta,
be
back.
C
C
To
maintain
a
place
to
live
because
the
rent
has
been
too
expensive
for
me
to
afford.
I
was
living
with
a
friend
who
used
to
have
a
grant
from
the
city,
and
today
cut
that
funding.
That
was
helping
us
pay
the
rent,
and
then
our
rent
went
up
to
$800,
which
we
couldn't
afford,
because
we
was
living
off
with
disability
and
exercise
which,
in
turn
caused
us
to
be
homeless.
C
C
We
need
more
affordable
housing,
because
many,
like
myself,
saw
tilling
with
chronic
conditions
and
are
homeless
right
now,
right
now,
I'm
blessed
to
have
a
room
which
I
could
barely
pay
but
I'm
blessed
to
have
it
I'm
asking
city
councilor
to
make
more
make
it
more
permanent
funding
for
people
who
need
it,
the
most
like
myself
and
the
people
that
can't
afford
the
rent
that
most
landlords
support
and
I'm
I
like
to.
Thank
you.
C
A
Thank
you,
I.
Thank
you
all
for
coming
and
I
always
regret
that
we
have
to
go
through
these
times
where
people
don't
have
what
they
need.
The
women
are
still
waiting
and
threatening
to
demonstrate,
and
and
again
we
don't
feel
that
we
should
be
where
we
are
in
our
city,
but
we're
committed
to
doing
what
we
can
to
make
it
better
I.
Thank
you
all
for
coming
down
and
and
thank
you
for
standing
up
for
what
people
need
I.
Thank
you.
Anybody
have
any
comments.
A
D
You
Matt
thank
you,
madam
chair
I,
move
that
bill
numbers
one,
one:
nine
zero
one:
two,
nine
one:
nine
zero
one:
three,
five:
one:
nine
zero!
Two
three
one
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
of
council
be
is
appended
to
permit
the
first
reading
of
these
bills.
At
our
next
session
of
City
Council.
A
It
has
been
moved
and
seconded
that
bill
numbers,
1,
2,
9,
1,
3,
5
and
3
3
1
be
reported
out
of
committee
with
the
favorable
recommendation
and,
furthermore,
that
a
recommendation
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended.
So
it's
to
permit
first
reading
out
our
next
session
of
council,
all
the
favor
say
aye
all.