We Are in a Housing Crisis

Local housing providers and government-funded agencies are often doing their best with limited resources and flat funding. During recent interviews with Pottstown-area housing organizations I learned a lot, much of it not good. 

The amount of one’s income recommended by the federal government to be used for housing is 30%. Using that guideline, anyone making less than $25/hr will struggle to rent even a studio apartment in Pottstown. What are the options for such a person to seek housing for below market-rates? It’s dismal!

The Housing and Urban Development programs are vastly underfunded and under-resourced. An application for public housing will typically languish for over five years before obtaining an apartment. If the applicant is a veteran or someone who works or lives in Montgomery County, the wait time can be reduced to a svelte two or three years if they are very flexible about the location and only need a studio or one-bedroom unit. 

The process of obtaining a housing voucher (Section 8) takes luck and patience. Every five years or so, MontCo Housing Authority, which is an independent authority not a county agency, opens the wait list. A recent opening garnered 7500 applications in one week. A lottery is held to choose the 1000 applications the system can accept. The remaining 6500 applicants are left to their own devices. Then the wait of two or three years begins until the applicant gets a voucher. At that point, the client may begin shopping for a landlord who accepts vouchers.

MontCo’s wait times are consistent with housing authorities nationally.

There are a few privately-owned housing options in the Pottstown area that, by following a legislated and complex financial process, are able to offer living space below market-rate as their business model:

1. Rolling Hills has a 10-year waiting list, they do allow pets

2. Hillcrest Village in Boyertown has a waiting list of unknown time, they require income certification, a credit report, a previous rental report, a security deposit and a one-year lease, their prices are based on 30% of the client’s income

3. The renovated Pottstown school building, Jefferson School Apartments, is a shining light in this housing tempest. The entire facility is exclusively for clients over 62 years of age. Features include sliding prices depending on the size/features of the unit and the client’s income. A lot of their clients have housing vouchers, and the operators do require a security deposit and the first month’s rent in advance, proof of income, the last 6 months of banking statements, Social Security card, birth certificate and current ID. Jefferson School Apartments, which has units currently available, does not allow pets

4. Beech Street Factory, the former Fecera’s Furniture warehouse, did not respond to multiple phone messages or a personal visit to the property. One can only assume that with such a lack of customer service they are not having any problems filling their units and they probably have a significant wait list.

   
   
   
   

   

   The Jefferson School Apartments are age-restricted to those over 62.

   
   

What are we to do with this data? I would suggest we demand better of all levels of our government to support the basic needs and rights of our citizens. Contact the offices of your federal, state, county and local representatives and tell them this crisis must be addressed. Many of the requirements to apply for these housing options are unattainable for our neighbors who have been unhoused. There should be avenues available for our most vulnerable residents to achieve basic housing.

Our actions demonstrate our values.