PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A local nonprofit and a church are working together to bring affordable housing to Old City, and it may be made possible with the help of the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan.
David LaFontaine, executive director of Community Ventures, is working with the Old First Reformed United Church of Christ to continue the church's ministry providing temporary housing for the homeless. The project kicked off after the church donated of a parcel of land at 4th and Race streets in Old City.
"We were hoping to start construction this fall," said LaFontaine. Usually, he explained, the barriers are local community members who don't want affordable housing in their wealthy neighborhoods. This time, however, that wasn't the case.
The neighbors were all on board, but LaFontaine said given the rate of inflation, it has been a struggle to find funding to complete the project. "We've faced incredible cost increases. so we're probably $3-4 million over our budget," he said.
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The organization called on support from neighbors, local agencies and the Biden administration to help.
"We’re working with ... the housing authority, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, but also, the federal government has stepped in with the American Rescue Plan," he said, "which we think is going to be a major source of funding. We're still waiting to hear details but that's a major way we're going to close this gap and get under construction."
LaFontaine said he looks forward to extending a special invitation to the supportive Old City community.
"We are going to be moving an existing house that's on the site, that was built in the 1760s, about 35 feet to the south, and we'll invite everyone out to watch it," he shared.
Maintaining the neighborhood's historic integrity is a priority, he said, adding their plan is to start construction by spring of 2023.
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