►
Description
City Officials, Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and community leaders announced the Philly First Home program with expanded down payment assistance of up to $10,000.
“The Philly First Home program is one more tool in the City’s toolbox to help make home ownership a reality for our residents,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “I want to thank our financing partners for allowing us to increase the amount of down payment assistance available to eligible home buyers. I look forward to seeing this vital program grow and help even more Philadelphians own their own homes.”This program was designed to help neighborhood sustainability in Philadelphia by making homeownership more affordable. The Philly First Home programs funds can be used towards a down payment and/or closing costs.
More info: http://phlcouncil.com/city-of-philadelphia-announces-up-to-10000-for-first-time-homebuyers/
A
And
everybody
we're
gonna
get
started
so
take
your
seats
and
please
hold
your
comments
down.
So
my
name
is
an/fo
Doolin,
I'm,
Director
of
Planning
and
Development
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
I'm,
really
really
thrilled
to
be
here
today
to
announce
a
major
increase
in
our
down
payment
and
settlement
assistance
program.
A
We've
been
running
this
program
for
a
number
of
years
and
we've
been
handing
out
grants
of
$500
I
want
to
say
about
six
months
ago
we
were
able
to
get
some
additional
dollars
from
JPMorgan
Chase,
which
allowed
us
to
up
that
to
about
$1,500.
But
now,
thanks
to
the
incredible
efforts
of
the
mayor,
City
Council
and
our
housing
advocates
and
we've
gotten
some
additional
dollars,
and
we
are
now
going
to
be
able
to
provide
assistance
of
up
to
$10,000.
A
Right
really
really,
we
think
this
is
gonna,
be
a
game
changer.
This
is
gonna,
make
homeownership
much
more
accessible
to
many
more
residents
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
We
are
all
well
aware
of
the
incredible
inequitable
wealth
gap.
How
important
homeownership
is
to
being
able
to
build
equity
and
wealth
and
to
be
able
to
offer
that
opportunity
and
access
to
that
opportunity.
For
so
many
more
of
our
residents
is
just
really
really
exciting
and
I'm
so
thrilled
to
be
here
today.
So
let's
kick
off
the
program.
A
B
Good
afternoon,
everyone,
it's
a
really
pleasure
to
be
here
today
and
I'm
very
proud
to
announce
the
Philly
first
home
program.
For
many
years,
the
city
has
had
a
program
to
help
first-time
homebuyers,
with
their
down
payment
or
closing
costs.
We've
given
up
to
$500
in
downpayment
assistance
and
recently
moved
that
number
up
to
a
thousand.
Now,
because
the
additional
funding
provided
by
the
Housing
Trust
Fund,
the
city
is
able
to
get
Philadelphians
up
to
ten
thousand
dollars
towards
their
down
payment
and
closing
costs.
B
We
won
Philadelphia's
to
be
able
to
become
homeowner
and
become
longtime
residents
of
their
neighborhoods.
This
program
increases
the
possibility
and
provides
more
substantial
support
for
residents
who
are
ready
to
buy
their
first
homes
to
receive
these
funds.
Future
homeowners
go
to
a
free,
homeownership
counseling.
This
helps
them
fully
prepare
for
the
next
major
phase
in
their
life
during
counseling.
They
learn
about
purchasing
a
home
within
their
budget,
avoiding
dangerous
mortgages,
improving,
repairing
and
maintaining
credit
money
management,
avoiding
foreclosure
and
so
much
more.
B
The
Philly
first
home
program
will
start
this
June
and
we
are
looking
forward
to
helping
residents
across
the
city
officially
become
new
homeowners.
Homeownership
is
really
important.
Achievement
in
our
society
and
in
our
city.
I
would
know
that
there's
been
a
lot
of
concern
relative
to
the
cost
of
housing
and
and
how
neighborhoods
are
changing
and
the
tax
abatement
and
all
that
stuff.
B
But
we
really
want
to
make
sure
that
we
get
we
get
to
the
people
who
need
the
assistance
to
be
able
to
have
them
meet
their
goal
of
homeownership
and
the
more
homeowners
we
have
the
more
stable.
Our
communities
are,
the
more
more
profitable
people,
but
the
more
productive
people
are,
and
they
have
something
to
live
for.
Maintain.
So
I
really
want
to
thank
everybody
involved
in
this
and
I
look
forward
to
we're
coming
in
June
thanks.
A
So
before
I
have
the
members
of
City
Council
come
up.
I
just
want
to
thank
them
right
because
I
think
the
work
of
this
council
that
in
in
office
right
now,
has
really
brought
the
whole
conversation
about
affordable
housing
to
the
forefront
in
Philadelphia,
and
it's
such
an
important
issue
across
the
country,
but
in
our
community
as
well,
and
to
have
be
having
the
conversations
that
we're.
Having
that.
We
that
lead
to
the
kind
of
results
that
we're
here
to
announce
today
is
really
really
important
and
so
I.
Thank
them
for
that
I'm.
C
Okay,
good
afternoon,
it's
another
great
day.
We
seem
to
be
having
a
lot
of
these
lately.
That's
a
good
thing.
So,
first
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
and
the
administration
for
working
with
us
on
this
initiative.
For
a
long
long
time,
we've
understood
the
need
to
have
homeownership
wherever
possible.
C
We've
moved
on
a
lot
of
different
initiatives,
but
the
simple
reality
is:
is
that
the
federal
government
and
to
some
degree
the
state
has
cut
back
dramatically
its
support,
ie
dollars
and
so
long
ago,
when
we
used
to
do
homestead
and
we
had
the
choice
neighborhoods
over
in
the
eastern
side
of
the
city,
philadelphia
that
money's
gone
now.
So
we
have
to
continue
to
come
up
with
creative
ways
of
ensuring
that
we
have
opportunities.
C
C
Lo
and
behold
of
this
program
has
far
surpassed
anything
we've
done
since
the
good
old
days
and
I
actually
think
even
far
surpass
that,
when
the
federal
government
used
to
give
us
like
150
million
dollars
a
year
and
Block
Grant
dollars-
and
that
was
so
long
ago,
I
can't
even
remember
when
it
was.
But
this
is
an
awesome
program.
It
will
help
us
facilitate.
You
know
the
city's
initiative
on
workforce
housing.
C
It
will
allow
all
these
individuals
that
are
moving
in
the
city
and
moving
in
apartments,
because
they
simply
can't
be
in
a
position
to
purchase
a
home
but
would
like
to
stabilize
individuals.
Have
this
significant
student
debt
keep
working
on
some
strategies
with
that
to
actually
buy
a
home,
so
we're
excited.
We
look
forward
to
moving
ahead.
I
want
to
thank
my
colleagues
for
pushing
the
issue.
Obviously
I
actually
see
barber
out
there
in
real
estate
community
to
be
pretty
excited
about
that
because
will
stimulate
the
market
even
more
so
this
is.
C
A
So
I
want
to
invite
Councilwoman
Kenny
onus
is
she
I
saw
her
come
in
there.
You
are
over
my
left.
She
has
been,
as
we
know,
a
big
champion
of
affordable
housing
really
was
one
of
the
strong
impetuses
around
starting
that
whole
conversation
and
rising
it
up
in
the
city,
and
so
we're
thrilled
to
be
here
with
you.
Thank.
D
You
thank
you.
I
also
want
to
thank
our
our
advocates
in
the
community,
who
remained
really
committed
and
figuring
out
all
the
different
tools
and
options
that
we
have
the
mayor
and
and
her
team,
because
this
is
about
toolboxes,
it's
about
looking
at
our
toolboxes
and
making
sure
that
the
tools
within
those
are
sharpened,
and
we
believe
this
is
a
sharpening
of
another
tool
of
many
other
tools.
D
One
thing
council,
president
Clark
councilman
Parker
as
Willa
and
others,
because
whether
you're
talking
about
the
restore
rebuild,
what's
the
name,
we
renew
you
know
that
product
line
is
hugely
important.
We
believe
this
product
line
is
even
more
important
because
it
really
sends
a
message
to
folks
who,
for
whatever
reason,
because
of
student
loans
and
other
things
have
not
had
that
access
to
capital.
We
cannot
do
this
alone.
D
The
private
market
is
extremely
important
in
this
partnership
and
being
able
to
to
provide
the
housing
opportunities
in
a
more
streamlined
way
and
access
to
folks,
I
was
upstairs
at
scatter.
Good
Foundation
just
released
a
report
around
the
city
and
it
looked
at
assets
and
risk
and
conversation
can
no
longer
be
about
equality.
It
really
has
to
be
about
equity,
and
this
is
one
of
those
equity
points
that
I
think
we're
getting
it
hugely
right
and
so
I
want
to
thank
everyone.
Who's
been
part
of
it.
Thank
you.
A
So
this
next
Councilwoman
is
is
a
wonderful
reminder
about
how
we
need
to
support
all
types
of
neighborhoods
and
communities
in
our
city,
and
she
particularly
is
tireless
in
voicing
the
needs
of
workforce
middle
income
neighborhoods.
Those
who
may
still
need
assistance,
but
just
be
slightly
over
income
for
a
lot
of
our
assistance
programs,
but
really
important
for
us
to
support
our
middle
neighborhoods.
So
we
make
sure
that
those
neighborhoods
continue
to
succeed
and
don't
become.
You
know,
disinvested
community,
so
Councilwoman
Parker.
E
So
this
is
in
fact
another
tool
in
the
toolbox
to
help
to
preserve
Philadelphia
and
to
say
not
just
student
loan
debt,
but
student
loan
debt,
the
child
care
car
loans,
I
mean
that
kind
of
that
puts
home
ownership
just
out
of
the
reach
of
the
the
average
Philadelphian
who
is
trying
to
walk
to
gum
at
the
same
time
and
still
maintain
a
nice
quality
of
life.
So
I
want
to
thank
each
and
every
one
of
you
less.
E
No
one
say
that
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
this
mayor,
this
administration,
led
by
Darrell,
Clark
and
all
members
of
council,
that
we
have
not
been
tirelessly
working
to
ensure
that
we
address
the
issue
of
access
to
affordable
housing
and
in
ensuring
that
it's
equitably
been
able
to
be
accessed
by
all
of
Philadelphia.
So
I'm
just
really
proud.
Mr.
mayor
council,
president
Clark,
and
also
just
a
little
tired
of
people,
not
thinking
that
we're
not
working
hard
I,
think
people
think
we're
down
here
twiddling
our
thumbs.
E
A
F
And
thank
you
very
much
and
mr.
mayor.
Congratulations
on
a
really
great
program.
American
cities
are
measured
on
their
amount
of
homeownership.
Falloff
is
always
done.
Okay,
but
with
this
program,
we're
gonna
do
even
better
when
you
build
equity
and
home
ownership.
You're
building
a
city
and
great
cities
in
America
are
built
on
home
ownership.
This
is
another
very,
very
good
tool
to
make
this
work.
The
fact,
in
the
end,
when
it's
really
looked
upon,
this
is
the
essential
tool
to
make
this
program
work
well.
Thank
you
very
much.
F
G
Hello,
everyone
yeah
what
a
great
program
this
is
yeah
the
real
estate
industry
we
just
found
out
about
it.
You
know
is
super
excited,
you
know
so
kudos.
You
know
to
the
mayor.
You
know
kudos
to
you,
know:
city,
council,
president
Darrell
Clarke
and
all
the
city
council,
folks
yeah
that
worked
very
hard
to
put
this
together.
You
know,
as
several
people
have
already
said,
you
know,
home
ownership
is
critical
for
community
stability.
You
know
for
the
opportunity
you
know
for
individuals
to
build
wealth
every
time.
Sometimes
it
could
be.
You
know
their
greatest
asset.
G
A
A
They
are
at
the
street
level
meeting
the
residents
where
they
exist,
where
they
want
to
be
really
working
to
build
community
in
some
really
dire
situations,
sometimes,
and
sometimes
they
push
us
a
little
further
than
we
want
to
be
pushed,
but
that
we
appreciate
that
too,
because
that's
how
we
get
to
think
about
things
in
a
new
and
different
way.
So
I
want
to
welcome
Beth
McConnell
who's
representing
PA
CDC.
H
Good
afternoon
again,
my
name
is
Beth
McConnell
on
the
policy
director
at
the
Philadelphia
Association
of
Community
Development
Corporation's
PA
CDC.
This
Philly
first
home
program
is
the
perfect
example
of
equitable
development,
a
boost
in
revenue
to
our
Philadelphia
housing
trust
fund,
funded
by
expired
property.
Tax
abatements
will
put
the
dream
of
homeownership
in
reach
for
300
or
more
philadelphians
this
year.
H
As
the
city's
housing
market
continues
to
get
stronger
and
property
values
rise,
it
is
becoming
harder
and
harder
for
first-time
homebuyers
to
purchase
in
neighborhoods
that
used
to
be
in
reach,
and
our
homeownership
rate,
which
has
historically
been
very
high
compared
to
other
cities,
has
dropped
significantly
in
recent
years.
But
with
this
boost
in
downpayment
assistance,
more
of
our
neighbors
will
benefit
from
rising
property
values
because
they
will
own
a
piece
of
Philadelphia.
H
Ownership
builds
equity
and
it's
often
the
only
way
for
moderate
and
low-income
Philadelphians
to
build
wealth
which
can
be
passed
down
to
their
kids
and
grandkids.
It
changes
families
for
a
very
long
time.
This
is
one
critical
way
that
Philadelphia
is
responding
to
gentrification
by
directing
resources
and
opportunity
from
a
growing
city
to
people
that
otherwise
could
be
hurt
from
that
growth
or
be
pushed
out.
Pa
CDC
applauds
Mayor,
Kenny
and
City
Council,
particularly
council
president
Clark
councilmember,
Sanchez
Squealer
and
parker
councilman
Todd
burger.
H
H
A
I
Affordable
housing,
starers
of
Pennsylvania,
as
well
as
other
housing,
counseling
organizations
I
serve
thousands
of
homeowners
each
year
in
our
pre-purchase
counseling
program,
and
we
work
with
the
working-class
people
in
the
city
they
work
until
such
as
health
care,
education,
one
of
the
city's
departments
or
as
well
as
nonprofit
industries.
There
are
Millennials
people
color
and
immigrants
that
the
demographic
groups
that
historically
have
lower
homeownership
levels.
I
I
Thanks
to
this
new
program,
where
one
can
receive
up
to
$10,000
in
downpayment
assistance,
the
city
of
Philadelphia
has
transformed
this
achievement
of
being
a
home
work
for
clients
that
we
were
that
would
counsel
from
sometimes
an
arduous,
sometimes
insurmountable,
mountain
into
a
manageable
molehill.
I
congratulate
the
city
of
Philadelphia
for
helping
these
houseboats
become
homeowners,
so
affordable
housing
standards
and
the
other
Hazzard
County
organizations
in
the
city
are
very
excited
about
this
new
downpayment
assistance
program
and
we're
right
to
help
every
new
qualified
Philadelphian
become
utilizes
program.
Thank
you.
A
C
They
say:
I
got
heart,
I'll,
take
it
so
into
the
day,
and
we've
actually
were
scheduling
a
meeting
with
some
representatives
from
the
disability
community,
and
we
understand
that
they're
concerned
that
there's
not
enough
money
out
of
the
new
funding
being
diverted
to
that
initiative.
You
can
take
every
category
this
program,
where
they're
discussing
the
day,
the
affordable
housing
program,
downpayment
assistance,
all
that
it
varies,
can
guess
what
there's
not
enough
money
for
any
of
those
programs,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day,
there's
more
money
than
it
was
before.
C
We
got
an
agreement
to
get
twenty
million
dollars
on
an
annual
basis
to
go
into
program
so
whatever
we
put
in
and
that
will
be
discussed
over
time,
but
we
had
a
flexibility
to
adjust
and
to
put
revenue
on
the
table
for
all
of
the
different
programs.
You
know
it's
more
than
what
we
had
so
I
understand,
they're
supposed
to
advocate
for
their
interest,
but
similarly,
I'll
have
people
out
here
some
folks
in
the
CDC
community,
right
councilman
that
are
interested
in
building
affordable
housing,
traditional,
affordable
housing
and
under
the
law,
particularly
with
this
funding.
C
Every
development
we
build
has
to
have
accessible
units,
so
it's
not
like
that's,
been
that's
not
being
addressed
in
all
aspects
of
it.
Adaptive
modification
that
allows
you
to
convert
existing
units
to
accommodate
individuals,
so
I
understand
they
have
to
lobby
what
they
lobby.
But
this
is
putting
a
lot
more
money
on
the
table
for
that
that
advocacy
group
in
any
other
advocacy
group.
A
So
the
programs
offered
through
our
housing,
counseling
agencies
and
there's
a
list
of
those
on
our
website.
So
if
you
contact
the
housing
agency,
that's
closest
to
you
know
your
community.
They
can
help
you
about
how
you
work
through
the
through
the
process
because
going
through
housing
counseling
is
one
of
the
requirements
to
be
able
to
access
the
dollars.
F
A
C
A
Right
yeah,
so
so
this
year
we
have
three
million
dollars
allocated
to
the
program.
So
if,
if
everybody
needed
ten
thousand,
that's
where
the
300
came
from,
we
have
about
2.5
million
allocated
for
next
year
for
the
program.
So
it's
really
probably
first-come.
First,
qualified
right,
yeah,
you
know,
and
and
and
as
council
president
so
eloquently
spoke
about.
A
Unfortunately,
you
know
we
don't
have
enough
resources
to
meet
any
of
the
needs,
but
we
hope
that
we
think
we
put
a
substantial
amount
of
dollars
into
this,
and
you
know
we
honestly,
we
probably
love
to
have
the
problem
of.
We
got
too
many
people
that
need
this
or
that
are
qualified
to
be
homeowners
and
then
we'll
try
to
figure
out
how
to
how
to
resource.
Based
on
that.
A
A
Right,
it
really
depends
on
when
the
individual
applies.
How
much
you
know
what
their
budget
condition
is,
what
kind
of
credit
repair
they
may
need?
It's
really
more
about
getting
the
right
information
together
and
then
making
sure
that
you
know
that
applicant
is
going
to
have
what
they
need
to
be
able
to
qualify
for
the
mortgage
portion
of
the
of
that
cost.