Housing Advocates Urge Governor to Fund Housing Programs that Provide Homes and Stimulate the Economy

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Arguing that providing homes for the state's most vulnerable citizens is not only the right thing to do but also stimulates the economy, more than 140 nonprofit and for profit agencies have signed on to a letter to Governor Tom Corbett urging him to continue successful housing programs at current levels.

The advocates, lead by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, urged the Governor to continue funding these programs, pointing out that housing "helps stabilize and grow the economy by producing jobs, tax revenue and creating demand for products manufactured right here in the Keystone state."

Programs highlighted in the letter include:

• Pennsylvania Accessible Housing Programs – modified homes for low-income seniors and the disabled.
• Homeless Assistance Program – prevents homelessness by paying first/last month's rent and security deposits
• Housing and Redevelopment Assistance
• Neighborhood Assistance (Tax Credit) Program

"It's in the best interest of the Commonwealth to sustain these successful programs," said Housing Alliance Executive Director Liz Hersh. "These programs save a lot by spending a little."

In their letter, the housing advocates acknowledge that the state government is facing a very difficult budget situation, but say the more information the governor has about programs that work and those that don't the better.

The letter co-signers include a wide range of organizations with an interest in housing from the Disability Rights Network of PA to Pennrose Properties to several nonprofit community development corporations.

The complete text of the letter and a list of all the agencies signing on are available on the HAP website, http://www.housingalliancepa.org.

For more information on the Housing Alliance of PA - http://housingalliancepa.org/.

SOURCE Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania