Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania - Blog

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Programs and Tips to Help with your winter utility bills

11/6/2025

Lowering Temperatures, Rising Utility Costs
It’s a beautiful time of year! The leaves are changing, the wind is getting chilly, and mosquitoes are disappearing for the season! But with these lower temperatures, and Philadelphia projected to see a colder winter than the last couple of years, Philadelphians need to begin preparing now so they are ready for increased electricity and gas bills. As we see these colder weeks and months approach us, knowledge about what to do if your utility bills get too expensive is crucial. In this article, we'll share some energy saving tips, and inform you of the Utility Bill Assistance Programs across Philadelphia that can help dramatically lower your bills and avoid shut offs.

Equal But Not Equitable

10/7/2025

Why Lower-Income Philadelphians Pay more Property Taxes than Other Cities

City of Philadelphia skyline

Philadelphia’s poverty rate consistently ranks as one of the highest in the country for major cities. Pew research has also found that Philadelphia has one of the highest tax burdens for lower income households for a major city. Right off the bat, this seems counter productive. If Philadelphians are already dealing with such high levels of poverty, why is the city insistent on taxing lower income households?

Septa cuts further the impacts of redlining

9/2/2025

If you live in Philadelphia, you have most likely heard about SEPTA, the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority’s, well known funding crisis. Due to significant lack of funds, SEPTA has been forced to reduce service, with the first round of reductions taking place last week, more cuts loom in the distant future, while current cuts planned for September 1st, and 2nd, have been halted by a Philadelphia judge.

These cuts not only impact service, but deeply impact the pocketbooks of the average SEPTA rider.

Predatory Lending - Isn’t that illegal?

8/22/2025

Although some consumer protection laws exist to protect borrowers, law enforcement and regulators don’t have a crystal ball to pinpoint every predatory lender. Perpetrators can operate for years before a class action lawsuit or criminal filing stops them from exploiting people. The best defense is to become informed!

Affordable Utilities in this Environment

7/2/2025

The sweltering summer temperatures will have an impact on your utility bills. The record snow fall probably impacted them too. Here’s what you can do about it!

June is HomeOwnership month!

6/10/2025

As we celebrate National Homeownership Month, we reflect on the vital role that homeownership plays in creating stable, thriving communities. At the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA), we are proud to be part of initiatives that make the dream of homeownership a reality for so many families.

Remembering the MOVE bombing

5/5/2025

This month marks 40 years since the MOVE Bombing leveled blocks of West Philly homes on and around the 6200 block of Osage Avenue, killing 11 people and displacing 253 people. It is a rare instance of the U.S. dropping bombs on American citizens. Why and what justice has been served? There’s renewed attention on this devastating moment in Philadelphia history as researchers aim to answer these questions.

2025 Celebratory Breakfast

4/30/2025

This April, AHCOPA was thrilled to host our second annual Celebratory Breakfast. Building upon the success of our first year, we were excited to add additional awardees!

Homeownership Fairs

3/27/2025

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, we hosted a homeownership fair in Northeast Philadelphia at the Bustleton Learning Center. Over 100 people showed up to learn more about homeownership resources! We have other resource events planned throughout the city and in Delaware County this year. Why do we do it and how can you join the next one?

Philadelphia’s Housing Check-in

2/21/2025

Mayor Parker speaking at the NeighborhoodLIFT launch

A new $15,000 home buyer grant has launched! Real estate publications have labeled Philadelphia’s housing market as HOT. But realistically, what does that mean for renters and prospective buyers?

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