URGENT UPDATE: A groundbreaking affordable housing initiative is set to transform North Philadelphia, as a $1.7 million grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will fund the construction of 40 affordable homes. This development is aimed at addressing the critical housing crisis in the Fairhill neighborhood, where a staggering 42% of residents earn less than $25,000 annually.
The grant has been awarded to the Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP), a prominent developer in affordable housing. Construction will take place at 513-533 W. Cumberland St., on a block that has been largely vacant and plagued by blight. The project, titled the Nayda Cintron Apartments, is expected to consist of two one-bedroom, 23 two-bedroom, and 15 three-bedroom units—10 of which will be reserved for individuals with physical disabilities.
WCRP anticipates completing the project by early 2028, with an estimated total cost of $23.5 million. This timely investment comes as Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker kickstarts her ambitious $2 billion Housing Opportunities Made Easy project, aiming to create or preserve 30,000 units of affordable housing across the city in the next four years.
“Fairhill is a neighborhood on the precipice of intense gentrification, with low incomes and aging housing stock affecting livability and affordability for families,” said Lorissa Luciani, executive director of WCRP. “Without intentional affordable construction, many households and families in Fairhill will be forced to move if they cannot afford rising housing costs.”
The Nayda Cintron Apartments will provide tenants with project-based rental subsidies tied to their incomes, allowing them to afford housing amidst growing expenses. With 94% of residents earning less than $50,000 spending more than one-third of their income on housing, these new units will provide much-needed relief.
Residents will also benefit from supportive services that include health care, food, clothing, and utilities. This initiative marks WCRP’s 18th affordable housing project in Philadelphia, having already developed 369 units, with another 105 planned or under construction in various neighborhoods.
The state grant aligns with ongoing advocacy from housing organizations and City Council members emphasizing the necessity of supporting Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents. Advocates are urging that the initial funding of the HOME program prioritize the city’s poorest households before extending to those just above the federal poverty line, projected to be around $32,150 for a family of four next year.
As the city prepares to approve the first-year budget for the HOME initiative by the end of this year, the Nayda Cintron Apartments project stands as a beacon of hope for Fairhill residents, promising to revitalize a community in dire need of affordable housing solutions.
Stay tuned for more updates as this significant project unfolds, and share this news to raise awareness about the ongoing housing challenges facing Philadelphia.
