Morgan Wasikons, Executive Director | Housing Transitions | August 28, 2019
Housing Transitions has been focused on providing avenues toward long term housing stability since its inception in 1984. Over the years, programs have been developed to provide shelter and housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and to provide guidance to the housing insecure. Housing Transitions, in conjunction with its branch organization Temporary Housing Foundation (THF), will be offering new initiatives to facilitate long term stability for low to moderate income households in Centre County.
For over twenty years, THF has provided home buyer education and budget counseling to first-time home buyers. This program has been focused on service to applicants in the first-time home buyer program in the Borough of State College. Often, people who complete the program go on to purchase a home that was purchased then rehabilitated by the State College Community Land Trust or THF.
THF has recently applied to become part of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Housing Counseling network. This means that THF will be able to offer a much broader scope of service to all of Centre County. The services will include budget counseling, home buyer education and also pre and post purchase counseling. The service is not limited to potential new home owners. Often, budget and credit challenges pose a barrier to long term housing stability. The services will be offered to renters too. This service is expected to be available beginning in October.
Recently, THF was awarded $50,000 in PHARE/RTT funds for use in rental rehabilitation as part of a collaboration to improve energy efficiency and long-term affordability for residents in the Borough of State College. The Energy+ program has been developed along with the State College Community Land Trust, the Borough of State College Planning Office, The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center, and members of the Penn State Architecture program.
THF will be using the $50,000 to make improvements to properties it owns that offer affordable rentals to income qualified households. The Logan Avenue duplex is a recently renovated property featuring two 3-bedroom ranch style apartments. Upgrades to the property were completed following an energy audit that guided decisions, and upgrades to the attic space in these units are now possible thanks to the grant.
Energy audits will also be conducted at the Kemmerer Road Apartments. The 9-unit property will benefit from the bulk of the funds and the goal is to complete energy retrofits that will improve the efficiency and cost of systems in the building to benefit residents.
Together, Housing Transitions and THF provide a continuum of housing related services and looks for new programs and services to make a long-lasting impact on residents in the community.
For more information visit housingtransitions.org or call (814) 237-4863.