Regional Housing Legal Services

REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES WORKS TO CREATE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AND TO EFFECT SYSTEMATIC CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOWER-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS STATEWIDE.

SEE SCHEDULE OREGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2023-2024REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES (RHLS) IS A NONPROFIT LAW FIRM WITH UNIQUE EXPERTISE IN AFFORDABLE, SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND ITS RELATED COMPONENTS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UTILITY MATTERS AND PRESERVATION OF HOME OWNERSHIP. RHLS PROVIDES INNOVATIVE PROJECT AND POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT HELP CREATE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OFFERING DECENT, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOWER-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. RHLS IS COMMITTED TO INTEGRATING RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR WORK, IN PURSUIT OF ACHIEVING RACIAL JUSTICE IN HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE DESERVE HOUSING THAT IS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND AFFORDABLE IN A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. RHLS HAS HELPED CREATE OR PRESERVE 10,822 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING $1.92 BILLION IN FINANCING SINCE 1973. RHLS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGING IN THE DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ENGAGING IN SYSTEMS CHANGE THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, AND EDUCATION THAT CREATES OR BOLSTERS RESOURCES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION; INCREASES PROTECTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME TENANTS; AND PROMOTES EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TRAINING, EDUCATING AND INFORMING TO SUPPORT LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ON TOPICS RELATED TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. KEY RHLS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS DURING THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, RHLS REPRESENTED 100 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 149 CASES RELATED TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. WITH SUPPORT FROM RHLS, 439 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING $151 MILLION IN FINANCING WERE DEVELOPED. THIS INCLUDES REPRESENTATION AND FINANCIAL CLOSE OF SEVEN INDIVIDUAL MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FINANCED IN PART WITH THE USE OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT (LIHTC) DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. POLICY AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACYRHLS WORKED IN COALITION WITH PARTNERS IN HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND LEGAL AID TO ENGAGE IN SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS SOME OF THE KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR: BUILDING ON ADVOCACY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, RHLS HELPED ADVOCATE FOR AN INCREASE TO THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND REHABILITATION ENHANCEMENT FUND (PHARE) TO $100 MILLION OF FUNDING BY 2027, BUILDING SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE INITIAL WORK TO INCREASE RESOURCES TO THE PROGRAM. FURTHER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS INCREASED FROM $36 MILLION TO $72 MILLION IN THIS SAME SPENDING BILL. WHILE BOTH WINS WERE THE RESULT OF WORK IN COALITION WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS OVER SEVERAL YEARS, WE ARE PROUD OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACT THIS INFLUX OF RESOURCES WILL HAVE ON PENNSYLVANIA'S COMMUNITIES IN THE COMING YEARS. RHLS STAFF PROVIDED ROBUST AND TARGETED PUBLIC COMMENT ON SEVERAL STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING A HUD PROPOSED RULE ON PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE; THE PA DEPARTMENT OF AGING FOR THEIR TEN-YEAR MASTER PLAN; THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY FOR THEIR QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN; AS WELL AS A HUD NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ON HOW HOUSING PROVIDERS VIEW APPLICATIONS FROM PROSPECTIVE TENANTS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS; AND, TO THE FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY IN RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY'S REQUEST FOR INPUT ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN TENANT RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WITH FNMA AND FDMC MORTGAGES. RHLS ALSO PROVIDED WRITTEN COMMENTS TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH CONCERNING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSING CHAPTER OF THE HEALTH CODE. AS A RESULT OF THIS AND OTHER ADVOCACY, THE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS AGREED TO CREATE A HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AND RECOMMEND COMPREHENSIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE HEALTH CODE. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PITTSBURGH UNITED HOUSING JUSTICE TABLE, RHLS WORKED WITH THE PITTSBURGH MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF PITTSBURGH (URA) TO ENSURE THAT PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY PITTSBURGH'S NEW $31.5 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOND ARE TRANSPARENT AND EQUITABLE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE URA AGREED TO APPLY DEEP INCOME TARGETS TO THE PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA FOR THE BOND FUNDS, TO PROVIDE PREFERENCES FOR HOUSING THAT IS PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE AND FOR PROJECTS WITH COOPERATIVE OR NONPROFIT OWNERSHIP, AND TO MINIMIZE TENANT DISPLACEMENT.TRAINING AND OUTREACHRHLS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE AT THE NEXUS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES AS A SPECIALTY PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE LEGAL AID NETWORK. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, RHLS PROVIDED 30 TRAININGS TO 1,550 ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SUPPORT STAFF ADDITIONALLY PROVIDED 154 REFERRALS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CIVIL LEGAL AID, PRIVATE BAR, SOCIAL SERVICES, OR OTHER SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS UTILIZING THE RHLS WEBSITE ALSO DOWNLOADED 15,230 PIECES OF LEGAL EDUCATION MATERIAL DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. SOME KEY TRAININGS INCLUDED: RHLS, ALONG WITH PACDC, CEIBA, LISC-PHILADELPHIA, THE URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION, AND URBAN LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA HELD A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNIVERSITY FOR NEW MEMBERS OF PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, THEIR STAFF MEMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO BUILD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK IN PHILADELPHIA. A SERIES OF FOUR SESSIONS PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS ISSUES FACING THE CITY. DINA SCHLOSSBERG MODERATED THE PANEL ON RENTAL HOUSING. RHLS AND PULP STAFF CO-PRESENTED A WORKSHOP AT THE HOUSING ALLIANCE OF PA'S HOMES WITHIN REACH CONFERENCE WITH SYLVIA DEADERICK, FOUNDER OF PA HOME MATTERS. THE SESSION SHED LIGHT ON THE DISPROPORTIONATE PERCENTAGE OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIA TENANTS FACING A SHORTAGE OF QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPTIONS, WITH OVER HALF OF BLACK HOUSEHOLDS FALLING INTO THIS CATEGORY. TOPICS INCLUDED UTILITY AND STATE-FUNDED WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVES, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY IN UPHOLDING RENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REGULATIONS, AND STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE HEIRS TO RENT OUT INHERITED PROPERTIES TO PRESERVE GENERATIONAL WEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES. AS FUNDED BY OUR GRANT FROM TRUIST BANK RHLS, THE HOUSING ALLIANCE OF PENNSYLVANIA, LISC-PHILADELPHIA, AND NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIES CONDUCTED OUR FIRST WEBINAR AND CONVENING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. OVER 350 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THE EVENT. THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR CONVENINGS FUNDED BY THIS GRANT THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION PLATFORM.

SEE SCHEDULE OPULP'S PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2023-2024THE PENNSYLVANIA UTILITY LAW PROJECT ("PULP") IS A STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT OF REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES AND IS A MEMBER PROGRAM OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK (PLAN). AS THE DESIGNATED SPECIALIZED PROJECT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK FOR UTILITY ISSUES, PULP'S MISSION IS TO SECURE JUST AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO UTILITY SERVICES FOR PENNSYLVANIANS EXPERIENCING POVERTY.PULP'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: REPRESENTING, AS DIRECT COUNSEL OR CO-COUNSEL, QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL UTILITY CUSTOMERS AND CONSUMER GROUPS COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS AND/OR THAT ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. ADVOCATING FOR THE INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME UTILITY CONSUMERS BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT ADMINISTER PROGRAMS OR HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT ON ENERGY OR UTILITY MATTERS AFFECTING LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. PROVIDING EDUCATION, INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDERS; NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS; LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS; UTILITIES; THE REGULATORY COMMUNITY; AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA.KEY PULP ACCOMPLISHMENTS:IMPACT LITIGATIONIN THE 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, PULP HANDLED 41 HIGH IMPACT CASES INVOLVING COMPLEX REPRESENTATION AND LITIGATION BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. WE COMPLETED AND CLOSED 12 OF THOSE CASES, AND 29 REMAINED IN VARIOUS STAGES OF LITIGATION AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. PULP'S IMPACT LITIGATION IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING UTILITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING RATES, COLLECTIONS, AND TERMINATIONS, AND EXPANDING UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM FUNDING, ASSISTANCE LEVELS, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THROUGH THIS IMPACT LITIGATION, PULP SECURED MORE THAN $1,705,000 IN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY HARDSHIP FUND GRANT ASSISTANCE AND AN ADDITIONAL $401,000 IN INCREASED ANNUAL FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE. OUR ADVOCACY ALSO HELPED TO REDUCE PROPOSED UTILITY RATE INCREASES BY $8,000,000.WHILE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY, PULP'S IMPACT ADVOCACY RESULTED IN NUMEROUS IMPROVEMENTS TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS INCLUDING REDUCTION IN THE APPLICABLE ENERGY BURDEN STANDARDS FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, IMPROVEMENTS TO ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION IN LOW INCOME RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT. THESE PROGRAM POLICY REFORMS WILL GENERATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDED RATE RELIEF TO PENNSYLVANIA'S LOW INCOME CONSUMERS. INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIONPULP CLOSED 452 INDIVIDUAL CASES THROUGH ITS EMERGENCY UTILITY HOTLINE. PULP ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS FOR CLIENTS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION LEVERAGING APPROXIMATELY $378,035 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO OUR CLIENTS: PREVENTED TERMINATION OF SERVICE AND/OR ASSISTED WITH RECONNECTION IN 310 CASES. REMOVED BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT IN UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN 191 CASES. HELPED CLIENTS TO DEFER APPROXIMATELY $177,299 IN UTILITY DEBT FOR FORGIVENESS OVER TIME. REMOVED APPROXIMATELY $16,175 IN DEBTS FROM CLIENT ACCOUNTS. ELIMINATED $7,039 IN FEES AND SECURITY DEPOSITS ASSOCIATED WITH RECONNECTION. OBTAINED $177,522 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL RELIEF THROUGH GRANT ASSISTANCE, REFUNDS, AND REDUCED DEBT.PULP ALSO REFERRED 441 LOW INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS TO OTHER LEGAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDED OVER 58 HOURS OF FREE PRO SE ASSISTANCE TO SELF-REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS.TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEPULP HOSTED OR PRESENTED AT 65 TRAININGS, REACHING OVER 9,600 ATTORNEYS, ADVOCATES, REGULATORS, POLICYMAKERS, AND UTILITY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE. NOTABLE TRAINING EVENTS INCLUDE: PARTICIPATED IN SENATOR HUGHES TELE-TOWN HALL ABOUT WINTER HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (LIHEAP, WAP, CAP, AND OTHERS) FOR PHILADELPHIA AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, REACHING 4,870 PARTICIPANTS. PRESENTED AT THE ENERGY ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYLVANIA'S ANNUAL CONSUMER CONFERENCE TO UTILITY COMPANY STAFF AND PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION STAFF ABOUT SOCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE TO LOW INCOME UTILITY CONSUMERS. PRESENTED FOUR UTILITY SESSIONS AT THE ANNUAL PLAN CONFERENCE, FOCUSING ON VARIOUS UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS - REACHING 140 ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES WITHIN THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK. PROVIDED FOCUSED, LOCATION-SPECIFIC TRAININGS AND CLINICS FOR ATTORNEYS, ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN LACKAWANNA, WESTMORELAND, POTTER, TIOGA, AND ERIE COUNTY. PRESENTED OUR ANNUAL LIHEAP PROGRAM REVIEW WEBINAR, WITH SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, REACHING 526 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDING ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, REGULATORS, AND UTILITY PROFESSIONALS. (WE HAD A RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF REGISTRANTS, 719 IN TOTAL, ALL OF WHOM RECEIVED ACCESS TO THE RECORDING OF THE WEBINAR AND MATERIALS.) PRESENTED A UTILITY BASICS TRAINING FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION, REACHING OVER 900 STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE. CO-HOSTED TWO WEBINARS PROVIDING INFORMATION ON INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PROGRAMMING FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING PROVIDERS, REACHING OVER 557 HOUSING PROVIDERS AND HOUSING ADVOCATES. PULP ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDED OVER 70 HOURS OF CASE CONSULTATION SERVICES TO LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS STATEWIDE TO HELP RESOLVE PRESSING UTILITY MATTERS FOR LOW INCOME CONSUMERS.