Community Action Program of Lancaster County - Housing Development Program

North Market Street Homes

In 1993, CAP purchased two dilapidated homes wpe8.jpg (3200 bytes) from the City Redevelopment Authority and renovated them with financial assistance from the City of Lancaster's Department of Community Development and the Bank of Lancaster County.

wpe9.jpg (2539 bytes) Upon completion, the homes were sold to two first time home buyers. One of the original homebuyers still lives in the property she purchased eight years ago.

Bridge Housing for Victims
of Domestic Violence

This project provides transitional housing for ten victims of Domestic Violence and their children for up to 18 months, as well as housing for transitional services to the residents. In addition to housing, women are provided with extensive support services in the area of job training and education, parenting skills, and other life skills. Participation in these programs is mandatory as part of the contract for living in the apartments. Women pay no more than thirty percent of their income during residency.

This project was funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority and the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership.

In August,1999 the project received a National Best Practices Award from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development at its annual meeting in St. Louis.

Duke Manor Apartments

CAP Housing, in partnership with HDC, acquired these Section 8 subsidized apartments from a private owner through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's Mark to Market Program. By acquiring them, CAP and HDC assured that the apartments will continue to be available to low income families. The units contain 25 one bedroom units, 25 two bedroom units and 30 three bedroom units. Because of their affordability and quality, there is currently a waiting list of over 125 families for the apartments.

Housing subsidy contracts are expiring on thousands of privately owned multifamily properties with federally insured mortgages. Many of these contracts set rents at amounts higher than those of the local market. As these subsidy contracts expire, the Mark-to-Market program will reduce rents to market levels and will restructure existing debt to levels supportable by these rents and will assure that these properties remain available to low income families. The goal, according to HUD, is to eliminate rents that exceed what landlords would charge in the private market; root out bad properties; save taxpayers millions each year; and preserve the local stock of affordable housing.

Support for this effort also was received from the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership.

The Loreto Building

In 1992, Meridian Bank donated its wpeA.jpg (3130 bytes) Columbia branch office to CAP. With financial assistance from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and that Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority, and mortgage financing from the Bank of Lancaster County, CAP created four apartments for senior citizens as well as a new Columbia Outreach office for its local human service operation. The first floor is commercial space occupied by Union National Community Bank.

Nissly Chocolate Factory Apartments

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This project was developed in partnership with Progressive Investments, Union National Mount Joy Bank, Fulton bank, and Dauphin Deposit Bank. The old Nissly Chocolate Factory was converted into 28 apartments for Senior Citizens. Funding was also provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs and the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority. The project is currently being managed by Progressive Property Management.

The project received the Pillars of the Community Award in 1998 from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

Ephrata Family Housing Associates

Renovation of the former Market House in the Borough of Ephrata was completed in the fall, of 1999 and is now fully occupied. Located one block from center square, Ephrata, the project provides 11 units of affordable housing. Funding was provided through PA. Housing Finance Agency, Farmer's First Bank and Ephrata National Bank as well as the County of Lancaster, LHOP and the Federal Home Loan Bank. The project will be managed by the Housing Development Corporation.

Old Market Apartments features ground source heating and cooling for the tenants which results in considerably lower electric utility bills.

Dollar Homes Program

CAP Housing has acquired its first house under Lancaster city's Dollar Home program. These homes are made available through the Federal Housing Administration for one dollar to the City of Lancaster. The City, in turn, sells them to first time home buyers or to non profits. Non profits, like CAP Housing are required to fix them up and sell them to first time home buyers.

The first home (above left) acquired was 39 West Frederick Street. The Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership provided the financing for the renovations to the property. Bear Building & Remodeling served as the general contractor for the renovations which included upgraded insulation, new flooring/carpets, painting and other general repairs. The home was sold in 2001 to a first time home buyer. Above at right shows the home at 54 Chester Street which is currently for sale for $46,500, thanks to financial support from LHOP and the City of Lancaster.

CAP plans to continue acquire these homes and make them available to first time home buyers.