Stable Housing Options Increase In Chester County

WEST CHESTER, PA—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development commended Chester County for providing housing for 149 homeless households and adding 111 affordable housing units since joining the federal initiative House America in June.

Commissioner Josh Maxwell said that on any given night approximately 400 people are experiencing homelessness in Chester County and many others are struggling to afford rent.

“This explains the importance of our commitment to the House America initiative and our focus on finding ways to provide homes for everyone,” Maxwell said.

House America provides funding for communities through the American Rescue Plan funds allocated during the pandemic.

“We are committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to live in this county has affordable housing options available to them,” Marian Moskowitz, commissioner chairwoman. said.

The county also allocates state and local resources to expand housing availability for all.

Affordable housing options that opened up in 2022 include 111 new units in West Chester and Kennett Square.

In November 2022, the county broke ground on Phoenixville Commons, a senior housing development of 51 units located in downtown Phoenixville.

The Villas of West Whiteland – 35 affordable units – has been awarded low-income housing credit and county HUD funding.

Other housing options in the works include:

• 120 new affordable rental units, funded partly by $1.9 million from the county at the Willows at Valley Run in Caln Township.
• 25 to 30 affordable single-family homes for first-time homebuyers in Caln Township. Habitat for Humanity is acquiring land with a $640,000 county grant.
• 100 housing rehabilitation projects within the City of Coatesville over the next three years funded by $500,000 in the county’s American Rescue Plan Act.

Commissioner Michelle Kichline said the county has pledged to continue planning and partnering with municipalities, developers, and state and federal governments to help those who want to live in Chester County.

Dolores Colligan, the director of the Chester County Department of Community Development, is overseeing the House America project.