Housing
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Residents cannot fully participate in their community without a safe, secure place to live. Recognizing this, we began our real estate development program in the early 1980s. Since then, we have rehabilitated or repaired over 400 formerly derelict houses and provided clean, refurbished rental units and homeownership opportunities to hundreds of Allegheny West residents.
AWF is first and foremost a community development corporation dedicated to revitalizing and strengthening our community’s infrastructure through the development of affordable housing. Our housing development activities have contributed to a nearly 70 percent homeownership rate in the community.
From renters who have lived in the area their whole lives to young professionals looking to invest in their own home, and their community, we’ve made it possible for low- to moderate-income families to find a place to thrive. In fact, we are the leading provider of affordable housing in our community, and the demand for housing continues to grow, with an average of 50-60 applicants per year interested in purchasing homes in the community.
Over 1,200 families have applied for the units we’ve refurbished, and the value of housing developed and sold by AWF increased 31 percent between 1980 and 2002, adding a substantial economic asset to those families who purchased an AWF home. In the neighborhood as a whole, the average home price increased from $35,000 to $48,330 between 2002 and 2004, representing a 38 percent increase in value.
We assist residents who apply for housing through every stage of the process. Those who pre-qualify are referred to a certified housing counseling agency, which provides potential owners with a full range of housing and budget counseling and makes sure families are ready to purchase a home. For those who need to take additional steps such as budgeting, they’re there to help them as well.
In partnership with PNC Bank, we also offer the Homebuyer’s Club, a 10-class education series for first time homebuyers, at our community center.
AWF also offers quality rental housing to qualified tenants, 10 percent of whom go on to purchase their own homes through us. We have a selection of one, two- and three-bedroom apartments in addition to two- and three-bedroom houses. You must be income eligible and have good credit to qualify, and we accept Section 8 certificates.
We also address larger issues in the community, including blight caused by vacant homes, which contributes to the destabilization of the entire surrounding community. We’ve stabilized and sealed many vacant homes in the area, in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, demolished abandoned and derelict sites throughout the area, and greened empty spaces.