Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has reaffirmed her dedication to Philadelphia's rowhomes following the City Council's vote on the H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made Easy) legislation. In a city where rowhomes make up 70 percent of all housing, the mayor emphasized the necessity of maintaining these structures, many of which are over 50 years old and in need of repair. Despite the progression of the H.O.M.E. Plan in the Committee of Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, a key amendment addressing income eligibility for repair programs, was notably absent from the proceedings.
Mayor Parker, in a statement released in response to the vote, highlighted the critical question of income eligibility limits for programs like the Basic Systems Repair and the Adaptive Modifications Programs (BSRP and AMP). The amendment, intended to ensure that working Philadelphians, and City employees are included in these programs, did not make it to the council floor. “If we don’t save Philly rowhomes, we’re going to become a city of used-to-be neighborhoods, blocks that used to be nice but now are showing signs of age and decline. I will not allow that to happen – not on my watch as Mayor of Philadelphia," the mayor told Philadelphians, as noted by the city's website.
Throughout her statement Mayor Parker iterated a message of inclusivity and resolve. "I will not leave any Philadelphian behind, including working Philadelphians or their neighborhoods!" she affirmed, according to the press release.
The stalled amendment has raised concerns about the future of housing assistance in Philadelphia. The H.O.M.E. Plan — a key part of the administration’s effort to protect neighborhood stability — remains undecided. Because rowhomes make up much of the city’s housing stock, the issue reaches far beyond City Hall and affects thousands of homeowners. Still, Mayor Parker says she is committed to her “Save Row Homes in Philadelphia” campaign and will continue to push for it in all her public engagements.
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