(HARRISBURG) Legislation that would establish the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Program (PHARE) has been introduced by Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock.
“The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has done a tremendous job in addressing housing and community development needs for many years,” Yaw said. “This bill, if approved, would have Pennsylvania join 38 other states that have created similar housing trust funds.”
Yaw said the program would allow PHFA to develop resources to build, rehabilitate and preserve homes for low to moderate income individuals and families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The legislation also allows construction, rehabilitation and repair of homes, rental assistance, foreclosure prevention and counseling costs.
“This program will complement many of the existing programs through PHFA which encourage homeownership,” Yaw said. “We are, however, taking an incremental approach with this legislation.
“With a tough state budget in our foreseeable future, this legislation does not allocate any state funds at this time. However, it does create a vehicle in which we can fund with future budgets.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing of which Yaw is Chairman.
Contact: Adam Pankake
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