Housing Resources

Home Repairs in Philadelphia

provides information about resources that may be able to help homeowners in Philadelphia with repairs and home improvements.

PA Health Law Project (PHLP)

is a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities and individuals who are low-income access health care.  In so doing, PHLP staff is expert on home and community-based waiver services and innovative housing models, and have been instrumental in the creation of affordable limited equity partnerships and co-ops.

PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)

is an agency that was created by the PA General Assembly in 1972 to provide affordable housing for older adults, persons and families of modest means, and persons with disabilities. PHFA administers and/or coordinates a number of programs that include helping people with disabilities become homeowners, assisting homeowners with emergency repairs, and preventing foreclosures.  PHFA also institutes special initiatives, including the Home Modification and Assistive Technology Initiative (http://www.phfa.org/hsgresources/hmat.aspx).

PATF and the Self-Determination Housing Project have compiled information about specific social service and housing resource agencies throughout the Commonwealth to help individuals and providers identify where to start in inquiries about local services and housing-related resources (http://www.phfa.org/applications/housing_services_resources.aspx).

PA Housing Search

is a free, online search of up-to-date Pennsylvania listings of affordable, accessible rentals and homes that are for sale.

Regional Housing Legal Services

is a nonprofit law firm that provides creative, innovative project and policy solutions that help create accessible, sustainable, affordable, and safe housing for Pennsylvanians who are lower-income, including people with disabilities.

The Self-Determination Housing Project of Pennsylvania (SDHP)

provides information and resources to people with disabilities and their families about housing options.  SDHP also administers several statewide and/or county-wide housing programs including the Regional Housing Coordinator Program and the PA Accessible Housing Program.

Visitability

is a housing term that means that a single-family or owner-occupied housing is designed in such a way that it can be lived in or visited by people who have trouble with steps or who use wheelchairs or walkers.  A house is “visitable” when it meets three requirements:  one zero-step entrance, doors with 32 inches of clear passage space, and one bathroom on the main floor that is accessible to someone who uses a wheelchair.  This website includes resources for universal and/or visitability design.