The fourth annual Summit on Affordable Housing left many local leaders inspired on how to uplift accessible housing throughout the county, writes staff for The Daily Local News.
This year’s theme was “YIGBY: Yes In God’s Back Yard.” The summit focused on how local churches and faith-based organizations can create new housing and support unhoused residents.
The event was hosted by county commissioners Eric Roe, Josh Maxwell, and Marian Moskowitz. Commissioners collaborated with partners at Allies for Housing to address housing solutions throughout the community.
Guests and panelists at the Summit on Affordable Housing included church leaders, non-profit professionals, elected officials, and municipal leaders. The conference ultimately encouraged cross-organizational collaboration to make use of underused religious properties and create more affordable housing for all Chester County residents.
Allies for Housing team member Keith Burress shared that a goal with these collaborations is to increase the number of rental units available for residents making 60 percent or less of the Area Median Income. This equates to individuals making $50,000 and a family of four making $71,640 per year.
According to commissioner Josh Maxwell, fostering community collaborations is key to solving the nationwide issue of housing insecurity. Maxwell said, “We need strong partnerships—among municipalities, faith-based organizations, developers, and investors—to generate creative solutions. This summit has been a catalyst for those collaborations.”
Read more about Chester County’s fourth annual Summit on Affordable Housing in The Daily Local News.
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