Today, Governor Josh Shapiro is set to visit Lancaster's Farnum Street East, an apartment building managed by the Lancaster City Housing Authority, in a strategic move to spotlight his administration's efforts to expand affordable housing access. This visit puts a face to the recent $73 million injection through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund - a sizable advancement supporting 387 housing initiatives across the state. Notably, $300,000 of this funding is earmarked for the renovation of the 169-unit complex catering to seniors and individuals with disabilities, as noted in official statements released by the Pennsylvania government website.
The Governor's tour will showcase the results of the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, which set the stage for nearly doubling Pennsylvania's affordable housing budget, raising the PHARE cap gradually to $100 million by 2027. Governor Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposal, aiming for the largest overall housing investment in state history, throws another $10 million into the PHARE pot. The budget also allocates $50 million to a new statewide housing repair fund and $10 million to support first-time homebuyers, along with targeted eviction sealing reform, demonstrating a commitment to fortifying the foundations of community security.
Joining the Governor at the community room of the Farnum Street East are key players including Robin Weissmann, Executive Director and CEO of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Barbara J. Ellis Wilson, Lancaster City Housing Authority Executive Director, and Representative Ismail Smith-Wade-El. The visit is scheduled for today at 12:00 PM.
