As housing costs have risen far faster than incomes for Philadelphia’s poorest residents, Bread & Roses grantees—Philly Thrive, Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities, Make the Road PA, and POWER Interfaith—made the case that the city’s housing funds must measurably benefit the people most impacted. In December, City Council unanimously agreed, passing Philadelphia’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Plan with an amendment that directs even more resources to low-income homeowners and renters.
This victory didn’t happen overnight. Grassroots groups educated neighbors and Councilmembers about housing cost-burden in every district, hosted letter-writing events, published op-eds, built champions inside City Hall, and mobilized community members to show up in force ahead of the vote. The final H.O.M.E. legislation includes funding for home repairs, rental assistance, and accessibility improvements for people with disabilities.