READING – State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, this week announced that the Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks Inc. has been selected to receive support from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to help more city residents achieve homeownership.
“I’m thrilled to see state support for a program to help make homeownership a reality for hard-working families and individuals in the city of Reading,” Caltagirone said. “Purchasing a home can be out-of-reach for some, but the Down Payment Assistance Program will enable low- to moderate-income members of our community clear the hurdle of pulling together funds for a down payment.
“This program will help make dreams a reality in our community.”
Caltagirone said NHS has been awarded $150,000 in funding from the statewide housing trust fund known as PHARE, to implement the program.
NHS will use those Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement funds to introduce a Down Payment Assistance Program in the city of Reading. The program will use the strengths and expertise of private and public sector partners to assist low- to moderate-income borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership.
PHARE, which is managed by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, was established in 2010 to provide the mechanism to allocate certain state or federal funds to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout the state.
More information about PHARE funding is available at https://www.phfa.org/legislation/act105.aspx.
