NORRISTOWN — An $800,000 state affordable housing grant was awarded to a Montgomery County agency, officials announced.
Your Way Home Montgomery County received the six-figure funds from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund to create more affordable housing opportunities and prevent homelessness.
“These funds will help us expand our rapid rehousing and landlord engagement and support programs, which are crucial to quickly housing individuals and families experiencing homelessness in our community,” Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Housing and Community Development Administrator Kayleigh Silver said in a statement.
The recent cash infusion will assist the public-private partnership with expanding services to the area’s vulnerable populations.
More than 1,000 single adult county residents reportedly experienced homelessness last year, according to figures from the Philadelphia-based Resources for Human Development. Another 435 people were found sleeping outside or in temporary shelters on a night in January, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.
“We are pleased to have been awarded the PHARE grant,” Montgomery County Co-Deputy Chief Operating Officer Dr. Tamra Williams said. “Rapid rehousing with supportive services and assistance for landlords are critical components of Montgomery County’s strategy to address homelessness.”
The development comes just days after county housing officials launched a new website aimed at offering affordable housing data and resources for stakeholders as the county grapples with its affordable housing and homelessness crises.
As of April 2024, the median sales price for a house in Montgomery County was $450,000 and $1,886 per month to rent a two-bedroom apartment, according to a county spokesperson.
Figures from a February conference hosted by the HealthSpark Foundation revealed that 20% of Montgomery County homeowners are considered “cost-burdened,” while 47% of renters pay more than 30% of their income to rent.
Around 74,000 households “live above the poverty line but below what it actually costs to live in Montgomery County,” HealthSpark CEO Emma Hertz said during the Feb. 12 conference, noting those making between $45,000 and $75,000 are considered the “largest growing cohort of housing unstable families.” All while evictions remain on the rise, with 22 per day reported in Montgomery County — the third highest eviction rate in Pennsylvania.
“Housing is necessary to provide the opportunity for the educational, civic, economic, and social empowerment of all Montgomery County residents,” Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder said earlier this week. “However, affordable homes are increasingly out of reach for county residents of all income levels and backgrounds.”
