Philadelphia City Council Questions Mayor Parker's H.O.M.E. Plan for Prioritizing Poor Residents
At a hearing to review the $2 billion H.O.M.E. initiative, aimed at supporting affordable housing through new units and repairs, city council members expressed doubts about the program's ability to prioritize the poorest residents.
The plan is a four-year investment that includes $195 million in funding for 27 initiatives in its first year. However, concerns were raised by some council members regarding the use of the Area Median Income (AMI) as a determining factor in eligibility. The AMI in Philadelphia is set at $119,400 annually for a family of four, and the plan proposes allowing residents with up to 100% of this amount to apply.
Council member Jamie Gauthier questioned whether opening up the program to those with higher incomes would dilute its impact on the most vulnerable populations. "It's not enough to say we're organically going to help the people who need our help the most," she said. "We should codify that in the legislation."
In response, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson emphasized that the council supports the H.O.M.E. initiative but wanted more input on the spending plan.
Despite these concerns, city officials argued that AMI is just one factor in determining eligibility and does not capture the full story. They also claimed that the administration's proposed approach allows for flexibility as needs shift and change.
A letter to the mayor's administration, signed by eight council members, called for prioritizing existing applicants, especially those with lower incomes, citing chronic underfunding of affordable housing programs. The plan is expected to receive funding via $800 million in city bonds, which will be sold next year.
City officials warned that if the budget legislation is not approved by next week, access to the funding may stretch into January.
The final approval of the budget plan requires the support of City Council, and officials are holding their breath as they await a decision.
At a hearing to review the $2 billion H.O.M.E. initiative, aimed at supporting affordable housing through new units and repairs, city council members expressed doubts about the program's ability to prioritize the poorest residents.
The plan is a four-year investment that includes $195 million in funding for 27 initiatives in its first year. However, concerns were raised by some council members regarding the use of the Area Median Income (AMI) as a determining factor in eligibility. The AMI in Philadelphia is set at $119,400 annually for a family of four, and the plan proposes allowing residents with up to 100% of this amount to apply.
Council member Jamie Gauthier questioned whether opening up the program to those with higher incomes would dilute its impact on the most vulnerable populations. "It's not enough to say we're organically going to help the people who need our help the most," she said. "We should codify that in the legislation."
In response, City Council President Kenyatta Johnson emphasized that the council supports the H.O.M.E. initiative but wanted more input on the spending plan.
Despite these concerns, city officials argued that AMI is just one factor in determining eligibility and does not capture the full story. They also claimed that the administration's proposed approach allows for flexibility as needs shift and change.
A letter to the mayor's administration, signed by eight council members, called for prioritizing existing applicants, especially those with lower incomes, citing chronic underfunding of affordable housing programs. The plan is expected to receive funding via $800 million in city bonds, which will be sold next year.
City officials warned that if the budget legislation is not approved by next week, access to the funding may stretch into January.
The final approval of the budget plan requires the support of City Council, and officials are holding their breath as they await a decision.
I think the city council is being a bit harsh on Mayor Parker's H.O.M.E. plan 
. I mean, come on, $2 billion is a lot of money to invest in affordable housing 
. And yeah, using AMI as a determining factor might not be perfect, but it's a start 
. What's really needed is more funding for the program 
. I'd rather see those city bonds being used to support existing applicants who are already waiting for help 
. It's just common sense, you know? 
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for making sure everyone has access to affordable housing, but let's not forget the most vulnerable populations first 
.
. This whole H.O.M.E. initiative sounds like a total setup to me. They're talkin' about prioritizin' poor residents, but at the same time, they're considerin' people with higher incomes for eligibility? That just don't add up, you know? It's like they're tryin' to water down the program so it doesn't really make a difference. And then there's this whole thing about flexibility in the spending plan... I mean, what's the real motive here? Are we just gettin' some fancy talk about helpin' the people who need it most? I don't buy it. They're hidin' somethin', and I'm gonna keep an eye on this one 
.
. I get that council members are just trying to make sure the program is working effectively, but at what cost? It's already a $2 billion investment, and if it doesn't go through as planned, where will all that money come from? 
I also feel like its not entirely clear how city officials plan on making this program flexible and accommodating as needs change 
it's like they're trying to water down the whole thing just 'cause some council members don't want to deal with the higher income people, you know? Like, shouldn't we be tryin' to help all the people who need it, regardless of what their income is? It just seems like a bunch of backroom politics goin' on instead of actual community support 
. seriously though, can't they just agree on something already? 
i mean, 100% AMI eligibility is like saying "hey, rich people too! come on over!" 
doesn't sound like the best idea to me 