LISC Philadelphia

HUD’s recent cancellation of Section 4 local capacity building grants is a severe blow to the nation’s infrastructure of #affordablehousing and, if sustained, will damage local economies for years to come. For over 30 years, LISC has leveraged Section 4 resources to help local organizations develop affordable housing, support local businesses, and create economic opportunities. These funds have empowered nonprofits to upgrade their operations, expand their reach, and foster long-term growth in both urban and rural areas. We’re appealing this cancellation and urging others to speak out as well. Your organization can join our letter to Congress to help protect this essential funding for communities. Please sign by March 19: https://lnkd.in/eHR_3-6m

The HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Program supports local nonprofits nationwide so they can develop affordable housing & meet community needs. We ask organizations to join our support letter to Congress to ensure continued funding of this key program: https://lnkd.in/eHR_3-6m

The HUD Section 4 Capacity Building Program supports local nonprofits nationwide so they can develop affordable housing & meet community needs. We ask organizations to join our support letter to Congress to ensure continued funding of this key program: https://lnkd.in/eHR_3-6m

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to host Nicole (Nikki) Holsopple, JPMorganChase’s CRA Officer, in Philadelphia. During our visit we: met with local JPMC leaders, toured Mission First Housing Group’s Mid-City Apartments; dined at Booker’s Restaurant in West Philadelphia; convened partners (Clarifi, PACDC, LISC Philadelphia, Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania, and Ceiba) in our community branch to gain insight into issues surrounding housing affordability; and met with OneChase partners to hear about the innovative ways Chase meets the financial health and small business needs of our community. A huge thank you to all of our partners for the learnings and insights we gained in the City of Brotherly Love!

This week, we had the chance to meet with Nicole (Nikki) Holsopple, the Community Reinvestment Act Officer for JPMorganChase, during a roundtable discussion on housing affordability, financial capability, and wealth preservation in Philadelphia. We are grateful to have joined many impactful organizations for this important conversation, including Andrew Frishkoff of LISC Philadelphia, Rick Sauer of Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Will Gonzales of CEIBA, Kenneth Bigos of Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania, and Michelle Henry and Mikaela Ferrill JP Morgan Chase, among others. Our Executive Director, Annie Murphy, and our Vice President of Advocacy, Jill Roberts, have been meeting with JPMorganChase and several other Clarifi partners this past week, emphasizing the importance of our work, deepening partner relationships, and growing with the needs of the people we serve. We look forward to more collaborative efforts like this!

Last Tuesday, LISC Philadelphia spent the morning with Asociacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM) on our annual Day of Service. This year, we helped to collect classroom supplies for 3 and 4-year-old preschool students at APM Rivera Head Start. ? We came together to sort and package the supplies in the community room at Camino de Oro, or “Golden Walk,” an affordable rental property with 44 units for seniors. This was a unique opportunity to spend time in a building where LISC and its affiliate National Equity Fund, Inc. have helped to support development and residential services costs. ? Special thanks to Iliana Dominguez-Franco, Rose Gray, Luz Crespo, Leon Sanford, Lamont Jefferson, and Denzel Thompson for hosting us! We’d also like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone whose donations made the event a success: Friends at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for sponsoring the event, including our Local Advisory Board?(LAB) member Alonzo South, and Sean Jackson and Tessi Ruiz - as well as LISC Philly staff, and our LAB Chairperson Paige Carlson-Heim. ?? Photography credit to Andriana O. for Embassy: Interactive, LLC.

LISC Philadelphia's February newsletter is here! https://lnkd.in/eaF4bhKC Highlights include our 2024 Partner Appreciation event, launching Community Connectors Think Tank Tuesdays, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC)'s Winter Street Project groundbreaking, Broadstreet Impact Services's $10.6M investment in the Chocolate Factory redevelopment, and new Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development project awards supporting financial opportunity and housing stability, thanks to Comcast and Wells Fargo.

Check it out! We've partnered with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a comprehensive toolkit to help HUD grantees and community developers support faith-based organizations in building and preserving affordable housing in their communities. Featuring case studies from across the country, the toolkit provides best practices on partnership opportunities, policy considerations, and financing strategies to help faith-based organizations make a meaningful impact on local housing goals. Learn more + download it here: https://lnkd.in/d6UUJgcw

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) has published its 2024 Annual Report, which chronicles CONVERGENCE's impact in Memphis, Columbus, and Philadelphia. ?? Urban Affairs Coalition and LISC Philadelphia thanks its 400+ partners in Philadelphia for convening together to move the needle on addressing racial disparities in homeownership, and thanks MBA for its innovative creation of the collective-impact initiative. Kudos to our friends at the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio and United Housing, Inc. for their ground-breaking leadership in tackling the important issue of housing equality. ??

Happy #BlackHistoryMonth! This month, and every day, we honor the innovation, influence, and contributions of Black Americans who have shaped the country's past, present, and future. Join us as we celebrate this rich heritage and highlight the powerful impact Black communities continue to have in community development.