On September 13, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2) announced a $500,000 neighborhood revitalization grant for the Yorktown neighborhood, including the Harrison Plaza Low-Rise.
This federal funding will help renovate Harrison Plaza Low-Rise to create a more comfortable and secure living experience for families and promote investment to create a neighborhood that is vibrant, safe, and welcoming.
“Too many Pennsylvanians struggle to find safe, affordable housing in their communities,” Senator Casey said.
“Thanks to this federal funding, Philadelphia can breathe new life into affordable housing in the city, better connect residents to cultural activities and public transit, and attract new investments that boost its economy,” he added.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding the funding to the Housing Authority of the Philadelphia Housing Authority and the City of Philadelphia through the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants Program.
Photo of typical Yorktown neighborhood by Smallbones via Wikipedia.
“Housing is a human right, and it’s our responsibility to make sure every community has the resources to provide people with safe and affordable housing,” Senator Fetterman said.
“This funding from HUD will help our most vulnerable communities in Philadelphia access that basic right,” he continued.
HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Program funds locally-driven improvements to public housing and the surrounding neighborhood.
“This funding will support locally driven approaches to revitalize distressed public and/or HUD-assisted housing,” Congressman Boyle said.
“I’ve always said that local stakeholders with boots on the ground are the best people to decide where to allocate federal funding. This investment does just that while also providing a firm foundation for safe and affordable housing for residents by building stronger, more inclusive communities,” he concluded.
The program awards two-year planning grants to assist communities in developing comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans focused on redeveloping a severely distressed public housing or HUD-assisted housing project, improving opportunities for the families that live there, and improving amenities in the neighborhood.
Photo of an interior at the newly-renovated Harrison Plaza Senior Tower courtesy of Philadelphia Housing Authority.
Learn more about HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Program.