WAYNE and PIKE COUNTIES, PA — Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) and Reps. Jonathan Fritz (R-111) and Jeff Olsommer (R-139) announced more than $1.75 million in state funding has been awarded to communities across the 20th Senatorial District, including Wayne and Pike Counties, through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund.

The awards, made possible by funding through the Realty Transfer Tax and Marcellus Shale impact fees, will support critical repairs, homelessness prevention, housing rehabilitation, transitional housing and homeowner assistance programs across Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Funded projects include:

• Wayne County: $300,000 for a broad homelessness prevention effort, including rental assistance, foreclosure prevention and emergency shelter support.
• Pike County: $200,000 to support the county’s Expanded Housing Stabilization Program serving households earning up to 100% of the area median income.
• Luzerne County: $200,000 to Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton for vital repairs to the chapel connected to St. Stanislaus Apartments, benefiting 30 low-income households.
• Monroe and Pike counties: $100,000 to Family Promise of Monroe County for homelessness prevention services focused on families, individuals, and youth.
• Susquehanna County:
  
  • $325,000 for the Housing Rehabilitation Program to provide essential repairs for low-income homeowners.
  • $140,000 to Trehab for rental and utility assistance.
  • $350,000 to Trehab for homeownership assistance, including down payment and closing cost support.
• Wyoming County: $140,000 for transitional housing for male offenders in recovery through the Wyoming Sullivan Treatment Court Program.

The PHARE program is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and funded by the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee, the Realty Transfer Tax and the National Housing Trust Fund.

This funding is part of a $73 million round of PHARE funding, supporting 387 housing and community development projects across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro. In total, the PHARE funding will create 270 new affordable housing units; preserve or rehabilitate 2,050 existing units; build 56 new single-family homes; provide housing assistance to more than 13,900 families; and deliver housing counseling and financial education to over 11,400 households. At least $49 million — or 67 percent — of PHARE funding this cycle will support projects benefiting households earning less than 50 percent of the area median income.

“This funding represents a thoughtful, strategic approach to addressing housing insecurity and improving quality of life,” Baker said. “From assisting seniors and families on the brink of homelessness to supporting those in recovery and helping first-time homebuyers, these grants are strengthening the social safety net in communities that need it most.”

“The central focus of government is improving quality of life for constituents, especially the elderly,” said Fritz. “These funds are essential in ensuring that all our neighbors are able to live in a setting that promotes happiness and provides peace of mind.”

“This funding is a vital assistance toward expanding affordable housing and preventing homelessness,” said Olsommer. “It’s about helping families stay housed and strengthening our communities.”

“My Administration is making the largest investment in housing in Pennsylvania history because we know that housing is a key foundation for opportunity,” said Governor Shapiro. “If we want kids to succeed in school, if we want people to work and build a better life, they need a place to call home. That’s why we’ve nearly doubled the amount of funding available for PHARE—the largest, most flexible, most effective tool we have for building and repairing affordable housing—and why my budget lays out a commonsense plan to build more housing, lower costs, and help more Pennsylvanians achieve the American Dream.”