All Categories - Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania

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Understanding foreclosure

11/11/2024

Foreclosure is a difficult topic to address. It is not as fun or exciting as buying your first home, but foreclosure prevention counseling is a big part of what we do at AHCOPA. Our housing counselors support homeowners facing complicated financial situations and help them identify realistic solutions.

What’s going on at 5901 Market St?

9/27/2024

A lot, plus it’s home to our West Philadelphia office! Several nonprofit organizations, including those that specialize in health and housing, a city council member’s office, and a child care center are located at 5901 Market St. Click Read More to see an outline of what they all do!

Turn the Key has helped over 100 Philadelphians become homeowners!

9/16/2024

Affordable housing is top of mind for leaders across the nation and Philadelphia is on the forefront of this issue. The City of Philadelphia’s Turn the Key program provides prospective homeowners with $75,000 toward their down payment! On Friday, September 6, we joined Mayor Parker and Turn the Key leaders to celebrate the program’s 100th home loan closing. The program aims to close 1,000 home loans and is part of Mayor Parker’s goal to increase the number of affordable homeownership opportunities. Learn how you can benefit from this initiative!

In Loving Memory of Mildred Brown

8/23/2024

With a heavy heart, I am saddened to announce AHCOPA's former Board President, Mildred Brown, passed away last week. Here she is pictured at her retirement from the Board of Directors in 2018.

Mildred was part of the organization many years before I became executive director. I learned that in 2008 when ACORN disbanded, there was a possibility that the organization's housing counseling services would discontinue and AHCOPA would not exist.

It was Mildred’s steadfast leadership and belief that the mission needed to continue, that helped transition ACORN to what is now AHCOPA.

Mildred –You left AHCOPA in good hands and we thank you for your unrelenting determination, which has enabled thousands of Philadelphians achieve the dream of homeownership. I appreciate your confidence in contributing to the organization’s legacy, which you deeply cared about.

Rest in peace, Mildred.
Sincerely,

Kenneth Bigos
Executive Director

Kenneth Bigos

Kenneth is the Executive Director of AHCOPA.

"What Home Can I afford to Buy?" We help you answer that question!

8/1/2024

First-time home buyers are eager to answer one question: “What can I afford?”. The answer is more complicated than you might imagine. Several factors impact what a person can realistically afford, including debts, monthly expenses, credit, family size, and lifestyle. Depending on who does the math, it may seem you can “afford” a home that is actually above your means. However, at AHCOPA, we are unbiased advisors, not interested in a sale. Our housing counselors are solely invested in setting up our clients for success now and in the future!

Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication Ceremony

6/24/2024

On June 13th, we had the pleasure of joining Habitat for Humanity at the Home Dedication Ceremony for five AHCOPA clients! We provided housing counseling for these homeowners as a part of Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership Program. Habitat for Humanity will be building more homes nestled just a few blocks away from Fairmount Park! Learn how you can be one of those future homeowners.

Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street speaking at the Habitat for Humanity Home Dedication Ceremony at Coltrane Commons

AHCOPA's inaugural celebratory breakfast

5/3/2024

Last Friday morning, AHCOPA proudly hosted about 150 guests at our inaugural awards ceremony at The Arts Ballroom in Center City Philadelphia. The festive breakfast served as a moment for partners in our work to come together and celebrate the collective efforts of the housing justice network within Philadelphia.

Rachel Gallegos, staff attorney at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia – who was honored with AHCOPA’s Community Partner Award for their work advancing estate planning – commented on the occasion, “These moments where we take time to celebrate are very important because the work is hard, but it's made better when we can look around at our partners and realize we are not doing this alone. We all deserve a safe place to live, food on the tables, and to educate our kids. It is our common goal and together we are working towards it every day."

A safe, stable and affordable home is the bedrock of a successful life, healthy communities, and a vibrant city... We need housing counselors like AHCOPA" -- Councilmember Jamie Gauthier

AHCOPA @ NCRC Just Economy Conference

4/22/2024

Last month, AHCOPA staff attended the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) Just Economy Conference in Washington D.C. NCRC was formed to foster investment in underserved communities and work to increase wealth-building opportunities within those communities. The conference was a gathering of national leaders, researchers, and community advocates. If featured many informative panel discussions and presentations, below are recaps of key takeaways from the panels AHCOPA staff attended by the members who attended the panel.

A Key to Homeownership: Down Payment Assistance

4/11/2024

The housing market is at a point where more than a third of homebuyers rely on down payment gifts from parents. However, many people, especially BIPOC people, don’t have the luxury of wealthy elders to gift them homeownership.

AHCOPA’s First-Time Homebuyer Program is the most popular program among our robust offerings of housing counseling services. Part of the success of this program is how well we connect prospective home buyers to down payment assistance programs!

You want to buy a home, we can help!

2/23/2024

Jasmine purchased her home after completing housing counseling.

AHCOPA Housing Counselors are advocates for homeowners at every stage of homeownership. Our counselors are experts who will guide you through your home purchase journey. Your counselor will help you navigate the pre-purchase and purchase phases, access grants, and establish a realistic budget.

Whether you are 2 months away from buying a home or 2 years away, we assist by providing free financial counseling to empower you to make informed decisions.

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