City Council members received a detailed resolution on October 1 outlining the first year of spending for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy, also known as the H.O.M.E. Program. The Annual Program Statement and Budget contain plans to distribute the first year’s funding to build and repair housing across the city.
Some of these programs have expanded their area median income (AMI) eligibility to allow more residents to qualify for assistance with costly repairs or to become first-time homeowners.
Angela Brooks, the city’s Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer, spoke with *The Tribune* on Friday. She noted that much of her role involves community engagement. Residents have asked about the increased AMI thresholds on programs, and some have expressed confusion about the One Philly Mortgage, with some thinking the city is starting a bank.
While the H.O.M.E. Program features many elements and specific output goals are still in development, Brooks emphasized the scope and scale of the comprehensive housing strategy designed to address numerous challenges.
> “It will expand all city neighborhoods, income levels throughout the housing continuum,” she said.
> “This housing crisis will not just be solved by focusing on one component over the next, but that also makes it the most difficult because we are comprehensively trying to solve a housing crisis over all those things.
> “It’d certainly be way easier if we were only focusing on one, but the mayor has an ask,” Brooks added. “She’s set ambitious, achievable goals and we’re tasked to meet them, and I think this plan will do it.”
Brooks explained that part of the reason for few quantitative goals tied to this package is the fluidity of the numbers. City Council members have a 60-day window, starting October 1, to review the legislation before it is introduced, though they may engage with it before the window closes. As has happened in the past, program allocations and the overall budget are likely to change during negotiations.
The most current copy of the legislation obtained by *The Tribune* shows that the largest allocations will go to programs supporting existing properties.
### Major Program Investments
– **Affordable Housing Preservation Funds:** With the biggest investment of $37.5 million, this program provides financing to developers and property owners for improvements and for the acquisition of rental units at risk of being converted to market-rate units. Eligibility targets households earning 60% of AMI or less.
– **Basic Systems Repairs Program:** A popular option helping homeowners fix repairs involving wiring, plumbing, leaky roofs, or broken heaters, this program will receive nearly $34.8 million. Residents earning up to 100% AMI qualify for assistance.
Regarding the **One Philly Mortgage Program**, which partners with lending institutions to offer 30-year mortgages featuring lower down payments and interest rates, Brooks shared a ballpark figure. The program covers the need for private mortgage insurance and is available to residents earning up to 120% AMI. With an earmarked $25 million, the city hopes to enroll approximately 2,000 new participants.
### Councilmember Reactions
Councilmember and Committee on Housing Chair Jamie Gauthier praised the proposed budget:
> “I am encouraged that the Mayor’s proposed budget for the first year of her H.O.M.E. Initiative reflects several changes I championed this spring, especially around strengthening home repair programs,” Gauthier said.
She added that with the Council’s 60-day review period underway, she looks forward to working closely with Mayor Parker, Council President Johnson, colleagues, and the community to thoughtfully review and refine the proposal.
> “As I have emphasized from the start, addressing our city’s housing crisis means seizing this historic opportunity to support the 200,000 households earning under $30,000 a year — families who are just one maintenance emergency or rent hike away from homelessness,” Gauthier said.
### Support for Renters and Prevention Programs
The plan also includes significant investment in programs designed to help renters afford to stay in their homes:
– Approximately $15 million will fund **Eviction Diversion/Targeted Financial Assistance**, helping to resolve cases involving owed rent for residents earning 80% AMI or less.
– Initial funding allocates $3.8 million to **Homeless Prevention**, $2.85 million for **housing counseling and eviction prevention**, and $1.8 million to **PHLHousing+** for rental assistance.
### Legislative Process and Future Outlook
This will be the second consecutive fall that City Council takes on a major legislative task from the administration. While there are discussions about starting work soon, there is no specific deadline to pass this resolution. Introduction could happen as early as Council’s next scheduled meeting.
Brooks said that the administration aims to use this model to determine spending for future fiscal years and align with standard government budget calendars. The timing may influence whether the city borrows annually to meet Council-approved needs or adheres to the two $400 million issuances planned for this year and 2027. Requests for further comment on the planned borrowing were unanswered at the time of publication.
Brooks expressed gratitude toward council members for collaborating with her and the administration over the summer to craft the current version of the plan.
Though resolutions do not require hearings before passage under Council rules, the scale of this plan might prompt Council to invite public comment and expert testimony.
Council President Kenyatta Johnson emphasized the importance of careful review:
> “Council members are doing their important and necessary due diligence in reviewing the Mayor’s H.O.M.E. resolution before taking any final vote on the issue,” Johnson said.
> “That review will continue. This is a massive multi-billion-dollar plan to build and preserve 30,000 housing units over the next few years. Getting the H.O.M.E. Program Annual Statement and budget resolution right is more important than rushing it.”
Johnson underscored that the initiative is about making smart, responsible investments that will impact every neighborhood and resident of Philadelphia.
> “We owe it to the people we serve to take the time to get it right,” he said.
> “Council members are committed to supporting H.O.M.E.’s goals of taking bold and necessary steps toward addressing Philadelphia’s housing challenges. Council remains committed to working collaboratively with the Parker Administration, community partners, and residents to ensure the H.O.M.E. Plan is implemented effectively and equitably.”
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/phillys-city-council-considering-194-5m-package-to-start-mayors-ambitious-housing-initiative/article_203eb7fc-cf16-4443-ab09-8417f1666fe7.html
