City Council takes aim at housing costs

Philadelphia City Council approved $800 million in borrowing for Mayor Cherelle Parker’s H. O. M. E. plan to tackle housing affordability during their final meeting before summer break.

Alongside this, lawmakers expanded the low-income property tax freeze, allowing residents until September 30 to apply for benefits that freeze property valuations for qualifying homeowners. Councilmember Jamie Gauthier championed the measure, which aims to streamline access by potentially enrolling eligible homeowners automatically. Meanwhile, the council unanimously passed an anti-displacement fund aimed at providing rental assistance to tenants displaced by city inspections, although no budget was allocated for it. Advocates are pushing for $5 million from the H. O.

M. E. plan to support this initiative, which would help those forced out of their homes due to uninhabitable conditions. The council also held discussions on other housing protections, including measures against tenant harassment, which will be revisited in September. Local advocates emphasize the need for comprehensive protections for renters, indicating ongoing community engagement in the legislative process.

Approximately 62,000 Philadelphians are estimated to be eligible for the low-income tax freeze, highlighting the program's potential impact.