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Association News, Industry NewsPAR receives $120,000 NAR grant
A $120,000 grant from the National Association of REALTORS® will jump-start a new program initiated by PAR to identify government-owned properties and create workforce housing across the Commonwealth. NAR awarded an Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant to PAR to help fund the cooperative project between REALTORS® and local housing and redevelopment authorities.
“The Community Reinvestment Project – CORE – will allow REALTORS® to help put government-owned properties back on the tax rolls and into productive housing,” explained Jennifer Shockley, assistant director, PAR Government Affairs. “There are tens of thousands of these properties across the Commonwealth, many of which are vacant or blighted structures. REALTORS® can use their expertise of the local market to help sell these properties and help revitalize communities.”
Initially, the project will involve collecting statistics on all government-owned properties for each county and mapping the statewide data. Based on those results, CORE will target communities where the greatest need is identified.
“Many municipalities like Philadelphia, York and Reading require their employees to live within the city,” Shockley added. “CORE will help create affordable housing for these groups to live near their work.”
The idea was inspired by a program developed by the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS® which started in 2003. In order to bring the program to Pennsylvania, the Greater Philadelphia Association of REALTORS® launched a pilot project with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia earlier this year. Out of seven listings provided to GPAR REALTORS®, two listings have been settled and two contracts have been executed.
A committee is being appointed to begin outlining the program.
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Kim Shindle is the Manager of Media Relations at the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors®. |
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Jennifer,
I have some experience with workforce housing and HOPE VI. While I don’t like to attend a lot of committee meetings, I’m happy to speak with someone at PAR to offer any assistance.
Thanks,
Bob
This is a great opportunity for Pennsylvania Realtors® to play an integral part in transforming blighted communities into viable communities. In partnership with local municipalities, CDC’s, Habit for Humanity and others, we can leverage our investment in workforce housing to create collateral investment in businesses and services that support the working family.
Working families need learning facilities, super markets, pharmacies, medical facilities, entertainment and more jobs to name a few. Let’s use this opportunity to position ourselves to be at the center of the revitalization effort in counties across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Kudos to PAR and GPAR for taking this initiative to the next step.
Mary Lou – there will be ample opportunity for groups such as Habitat for Humanity to become involved in CORE. As we continue to develop the program, information will be available on PAR Just Listed.
I am the chairperson of the Site Selection Committee of Lawrence County Habitat for Humanity. Is there an opportunity for us to become involved?