Habitat for Humanity of Chester County (HFHCC) continues to build momentum in its mission to expand access to safe, affordable housing, with recent advocacy and community engagement efforts reinforcing its long-standing role as a local leader in housing solutions.
Specifically, HFHCC has been widely recognized for pioneering the Habitat Tower model — an innovative mixed-income condominium project in downtown Phoenixville — as an answer to the region’s unique housing challenges. The model has garnered interest from state lawmakers eager to explore scalable, community-centered solutions to the housing crisis.
Earlier this month, HFHCC’s CEO Chris Wiseman participated in a housing roundtable with state representatives, where he became the de facto lead speaker as lawmakers directed questions to him about the Habitat Tower concept and HFHCC’s broader work.
The roundtable discussion was held in Phoenixville at Hankin Manor, a state-of-the-art affordable housing community for seniors. Testifiers at the roundtable included Neal Fisher, Vice President of Development for Hankin Group; Kathleen McQuilkin, a Realtor and Board Member of the Suburban Realtors Alliance; Steve Chintaman, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Apartment Association; Kris Keller, a member of Allies for Affordable Housing in Chester County; and Wiseman.
“The stark reality of today’s economy is working families can no longer afford to buy a home in Chester County, and many other regions of the state,” Rep. Paul Friel said at the roundtable event, underscoring the urgency of collaborative solutions.
Wiseman emphasized how Habitat Tower, developed in partnership with Hankin, represents a forward-thinking approach to creating sustainable housing that fosters strength, stability, and independence for families — key goals of Habitat’s mission. His participation helped deepen legislative understanding and build stronger relationships that could support future housing initiatives.
These efforts align with HFHCC’s ongoing annual campaign, which engages donors, volunteers, and partners to support both traditional homebuilding and innovative projects like Habitat Tower. The campaign underscores HFHCC’s core belief that everyone deserves a decent place to live and that collective action — through donations, advocacy, and volunteerism — can expand that reality for more families across Chester County.
As HFHCC moves forward, its combination of advocacy, innovative housing models, and community support continues to create opportunities for affordable homeownership and contribute to long-term community stability.
