City Council calls for Mayor Parker's H.O.M.E. plan to prioritize Philly's poorest residents

[Homely Hedgehog]

Council Members Question Philly's H.O.M.E. Plan for Prioritizing Poorest Residents

As Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker's $2 billion Housing Opportunities Made Easy initiative prepares to launch, city council members are raising concerns that the program may not be doing enough to prioritize the city's poorest residents.

The four-year plan aims to support affordable housing by building new units and repairing old ones. However, some council members are questioning whether allowing people with incomes up to 100% of the area median income (AMI) - which would include many middle-class families - is a recipe for disaster. They fear that this approach could divert funding away from those who truly need it most.

Critics argue that expanding the AMI threshold could lead to a dilution of resources, as households with incomes above the poverty line may not be struggling as hard to make ends meet. In fact, some council members have pointed out that households earning just below the AMI are often those who are responsible for maintaining affordable housing in neighborhoods.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said, "I don't see it being fiscally responsible to open up programs to the middle class without any prioritization of people who - but for the city's dollars - are going to be on the streets." She advocates for clearing out existing applications and implementing a tiered approach that prioritizes those with lower incomes.

Despite these concerns, Parker officials argue that the AMI is just one factor in determining eligibility and doesn't tell the full story. They claim that the administration wants to have flexibility as the need shifts and changes over time.

However, council members are pushing back, saying that they want to codify their priorities into legislation. Council President Kenyatta Johnson has stated that while City Council supports the H.O.M.E. initiative, more input is needed on some of the spending plans.

The fate of the H.O.M.E. plan now hangs in the balance as city council must approve the budget plan before officials can access the funding. If approved, the city will be able to access $800 million in bonds as early as December; if not, it may stretch into January.

 

[Wid]

man this is a total mess i'm all for helping the poor and all but prioritizing only those who are struggling even more is the way to go in my opinion. we gotta make sure we're doing everything we can to get them outta poverty, not just giving them some scraps off the table like they're gonna magically fix their situation if we give 'em some cheap housing it's just not that simple... council member jamie gauthier is totally on point with her tiered approach tho

 

[Better Bug]

I mean, what's up with this? A $2 billion initiative to help the poorest residents and council members are already worried that they'll get some of the cash because their middle-class in-laws live in Philly too? Like, hello, you're getting funding for affordable housing, not a tax break for your aunt's mortgage. Prioritize those who really need it most, guys – the ones who can't afford to pay rent without selling their kidney on the black market.

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

Wow Philly's H.O.M.E. plan is getting scrutinized and I think it's interesting how some council members want to prioritize the poorest residents over middle-class families. The idea of a tiered approach sounds fair to me but it's not just about numbers, it's also about understanding the complexities of people's lives

 

[Sore Salamander]

You know what's crazy? We're all gonna end up on the streets one day... I mean, it's not that people won't get help, but have we ever stopped to think about who really needs it most? We're always talking about helping those in need, but sometimes we don't realize our own privilege. If we're making 100% of AMI and still struggling, what does that say about us? Maybe instead of worrying about who gets to be next, we should take a step back and think about how we can make the system better for everyone. We gotta recognize that those at the bottom are often the ones holding everything up. It's not just about throwing money at the problem, it's about understanding the real issue.

 

[Testy Tern]

Council members are like " Wait, what's going on here? We're giving money to people who have jobs and can afford rent ! What about the ones who are struggling? Shouldn't we prioritize them? "

They want to make sure that people who really need help get it first . But, what if they don't know who needs help most? It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack . They're proposing a tiered system where those with lower incomes come first .

I think this is a good idea . We can't just give money to anyone who wants it . We have to make sure that the people who need it most get it first . Let's hope they can figure it out and pass the bill before time runs out !

 

[Sim Beat Power]

I'm getting worried about this H.O.M.E. plan . I think council members are right to question whether prioritizing middle-class families is the best way to go about supporting Philly's poorest residents. I mean, those families might be doing okay financially, but they're still contributing to affordable housing in neighborhoods because of their income.

It doesn't make sense to me that we'd divert funds from people who truly need it most just because some families are making a decent living. We should be focusing on the ones who are struggling to make ends meet. And I agree with Jamie Gauthier, clearing out existing applications and implementing a tiered approach would be a step in the right direction .

It's also concerning that city officials are trying to downplay the AMI threshold as just one factor in determining eligibility. That's not good enough. We need clear priorities and guidelines so everyone knows what they're getting into. The council needs to stand firm on this and make sure their voices are heard .

 

[Sham]

I'm like totally worried about this Philly H.O.M.E. plan . They're trying to help the poorest residents, but I think they might be making a huge mistake by including middle-class families with incomes above 100% AMI. It's just not fair to those who really need it most, you know?

I mean, think about it - if these households can afford housing without any help, why should we give them aid too? It's like, don't get me wrong, I'm all for supporting families in need, but let's make sure we're targeting those who are struggling the most. We can't just dilute our resources and expect everyone to benefit equally. That's not how it works, right?

And what's with the tiered approach idea? I think that's a solid plan. We need to prioritize those who are really struggling, like families living on the streets or with chronic homelessness issues. They're the ones who need our help the most!

 

[Xenophobic]

I think this is a total bummer, fam . Those poorest residents deserve the most support and resources . It's crazy that some council members are questioning prioritizing the middle class over those who really need it . Like, what's the point of having a plan if we're just gonna water down the resources for people who are actually struggling? We gotta make sure that the H.O.M.E. initiative is doing everything in its power to support the most vulnerable members of our community . Let's keep pushing for clarity and accountability !