Thank you for your interest in learning more about the affordable housing crisis impacting the Lehigh Valley. Whether you came here as a result of attending our Affordable Housing panel discussion organized by AIA’s Eastern Pennsylvania chapter or found this resource page by happenstance, we welcome you to browse these important resources linked below.
Watch the Affordable Housing for All Panel Discussion!
Did you miss the live event? Watch our panel discussion using the following links:
- Watch Part 1 – Get to know our Affordable Housing expert panelists and discover why affordable housing is a crucial topic in our community.
- Watch Part 2 – Learn about data and trends related to population growth, equity, and the economy in the Lehigh Valley region and how it impacts Affordable Housing.
- Watch Part 3 – Hear a conversation about barriers to Affordable Housing in the Lehigh Valley, as well as an exciting announcement about the City of Bethlehem.
- Watch Part 4 – In this section, Reverend Lindsey Clifton presents examples of affordable housing solutions through the faith based community.
- Watch Part 5 – Randy Rhoads, Architect and Executive Director of Affordable Housing at Cushing Terrell provides stories of affordable housing communities that have been constructed in different locations throughout the nation.
Additional Resources:
City of Bethlehem, PA:
The City of Bethlehem’s Community and Economic Development Department has a great website with affordable housing news and educational events. Their site has information about Bethlehem’s Homebuyer Assistance Program and short-term rental payment assistance. They provide resources about obtaining legal support related to complaints about decent and suitable housing options.
https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Community-Economic-Development/Community-Development/Housing
Community Action Lehigh Valley (CALV):
CALV’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. They build communities with access to economic opportunity, the ability to pursue that opportunity, and where inhabitants can impact decisions that affect them. In addition to affordable housing, their key areas of impact include advocacy, business start-ups and development, food access and nutrition, neighborhood revitalization, and youth.
https://www.communityactionlv.org
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Hope 6
The Hope VI program serves a vital role in transforming public housing by changing the shape of public housing, establishing positive incentives for resident self-sufficiency, lessening concentrations of poverty, and forging strategic partnerships.
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/ph/hope6/about
Choice Neighborhoods
Choice Neighborhoods supports locally driven strategies that address struggling neighborhoods with distressed HUD housing through a comprehensive approach. Their three core goals are to replace distressed public and HUD-assisted housing with high-quality, mixed-income housing, to improve the lives of residents living in targeted housing, and to create strong, safe, sustainable, and inclusive neighborhoods.
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/choice-neighborhoods/
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC):
The LVPC guides orderly growth in the Lehigh Valley’s two counties and 62 municipalities. Their purpose is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the Lehigh Valley region in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
https://www.lvpc.org/subdivision—development.html
https://lvpc.org/data-lv-development.html
Cushing Terrell
Cushing Terrell is a multi-displinary design firm. The firm recently completed astudy on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) with a summary of efforts in ten states.
