State seeking RFPs for $65M in affordable housing funds

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency on Monday issued a Request for Proposals, soliciting applications from organizations for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing in the state.  

Funding for this RFP is being provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. The total PHARE funding available this year exceeds $65 million. 

PHARE receives its funding from the impact fee levied on natural gas drilling companies and a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax. Funding is available for housing initiatives in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.  

“Now in its eleventh year, it’s gratifying to see the many ways this funding has been put to work expanding affordable housing options and preserving existing housing,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. “The local organizations that apply for PHARE funding have done a terrific job of targeting the dollars to their most pressing housing needs.” 

Since the PHARE fund began it has funded more than 1,200 housing initiatives in all 67 counties and the funds have been used to leverage more than $1 billion of investments in housing across Pennsylvania.  

The online application is accessible on the PHARE website at https://phare.phfa.org/.  

The website will be open to accept applications starting Monday, Sept. 18.  The deadline for application submission is 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.