Notice of Funding: PHFA issues PHARE RFP to support local housing initiatives

Application deadline is Nov. 20

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency today is issuing a Request for Proposals soliciting applications from organizations for projects to improve the availability and affordability of housing across the commonwealth. Funding for this RFP is being provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. The total PHARE funding available this year exceeds $85 million.

PHARE receives its funding from the impact fee levied on natural gas drilling companies and a portion of the Realty Transfer Tax. Funding is available for housing initiatives in all of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. PHFA is charged with administering the allocation of PHARE dollars.

To date, $435 million in PHARE grant awards has leveraged more than $2.3 billion from other funding sources – delivering a nearly six-to-one ratio in total funding for housing initiatives.

"Over 13 years, the impact of PHARE on housing across Pennsylvania has been tremendous," said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. "New affordable housing has been created, existing affordable housing has been preserved, and families that could have become homeless have places to live. We're proud of the many ongoing successes of the program."

PHARE applications are completed and submitted entirely online, eliminating the need for paper submissions and simplifying the process for applicants. The RFP is located on PHFA's website at https://www.phfa.org/legislation/act105.aspx. The online application is accessible on the PHARE website at https://phare.phfa.org/. This website will be open to accept applications starting Monday, Sept. 15. The deadline for application submission is 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20.

PHFA is hosting a 90-minute informational webinar at 10 a.m. on Sept. 23 for organizations interested in applying for PHARE funds. The webinar will be recorded and made available online for people who can't watch the event live. A link has been posted at https://www.phfa.org/legislation/act105.aspx for webinar registration.

Questions about PHARE and webinar registration may be directed to Clay Lambert at PHFA via email at [email protected].

About PHFA
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency works to provide affordable homeownership and rental housing options for older adults, low- and moderate-income families, and people with special housing needs. Through its carefully managed mortgage programs and investments in multifamily housing developments, PHFA also promotes economic development across the state. Since its creation by the legislature in 1972, it has generated more than $20.1 billion of funding for more than 206,750 single- family home mortgage loans, helped fund the construction of 110,284 rental units, distributed approximately $362 million to support local housing initiatives, and saved the homes of more than 51,400 families from foreclosure. PHFA programs and operations are funded primarily by the sale of securities and from fees paid by program users, not by public tax dollars. The agency is governed by a 14-member board.

Media contact
Chris Anderson
[email protected]
717-780-3915, office

SOURCE Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency