In the past, the Philadelphia Energy Authority has received federal grant funding and state funding through the Whole-Home Repairs program. But Whole-Home Repairs funding has failed to make it through the Pennsylvania legislature the past two years, and a total of $16 million in “anticipated” federal funding for the Built to Last has been eliminated, while roughly $4 million of the authority’s existing federal funding is currently “at risk,” Schapira said.
The cuts to anticipated funding that Schapira listed included part of a $20 million grant to launch a Grays Ferry Community Resilience Hub in South Philadelphia. That grant appeared on a list obtained by Senate Democrats that detailed grants they said were “targeted” for termination. But the grant’s primary recipient, the Energy Coordinating Agency, has not yet received a termination letter, CEO Steve Luxton said.
Without more city funding, the authority would need to “stop or slow down programming,” Schapira told councilmembers Wednesday.
“As the federal picture grows ever more challenging, we’re asking for some certainty from city funding,” she said.
Funding for Built to Last is also not included from Parker’s ambitious plan to create and preserve 30,000 dwelling units, supported by $800 million in borrowed bonds. The Philadelphia Housing Opportunities Made Easy plan published to the city’s website last week recommends the Built to Last program “continue,” but the initiative does not currently include funding for the program, Grace said.
Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke, one of several councilmembers who have advocated for more funding for Built to Last, said during Wednesday’s hearing that home repairs are key to affordable housing.
“Although building housing is important, our primary concern should be repairing and rehabbing the plentiful housing stock that currently already exists in the city of Philadelphia,” he said. “Repair is both cheaper and less likely to displace long-term residents who have consistently told us that they are concerned about being displaced.”
Advocates with the Grays Ferry-based nonprofit Philly Thrive have been pushing the city to fund Built to Last. Policy fellow Ella Israeli says the program is unique in its ability to facilitate holistic home improvements that address health, safety, affordability and sustainability.
“You can’t put solar panels on a roof that needs repairs,” Israeli said.
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