United Way of Pennsylvania Receives $750,000 in PHARE Funding to Expand Affordable Housing Access in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania
United Way of Pennsylvania is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $750,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). This funding is part of a larger $64.8 million investment supporting nearly 400 affordable housing initiatives in all 67 counties across the Commonwealth.
The awarded funds will advance the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care (CoC) Landlord Engagement Program, an innovative homelessness prevention initiative aimed at expanding access to safe, affordable rental housing for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
Across Pennsylvania, the affordable housing crisis continues to escalate. In tight rental markets, low vacancy rates and increased competition have left many families with limited options—especially those facing eviction, homelessness, or transitioning from intensive support programs.
In response, UWP’s program leverages this PHARE funding to tackle two critical challenges:
- Landlord Incentive Fund: This flexible fund provides financial incentives to landlords who rent to tenants facing the most significant housing barriers—those experiencing homelessness, exiting service-intensive permanent supportive housing, or with histories of evictions, poor credit, or criminal records.
- Capacity Building: UWP will expand staffing and infrastructure to strengthen collaboration between homeless service providers, landlords, and regional housing leaders.
The program will support approximately 375 households with complex service needs. By offering landlord incentives and leveraging additional CoC funding for rental assistance and supportive services, the initiative will help reduce homelessness, minimize trauma, and promote long-term housing stability.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that every Pennsylvanian has a place to call home,” said Kim Amsler, Director of Mission Advancement at United Way of Pennsylvania. “We are grateful for the PHARE funding and proud to work alongside housing partners and community leaders to create new pathways to housing for our neighbors.”
As communities continue to grapple with housing instability, UWP’s work, supported by PHARE and our Housing Partners across Pennsylvania, offers a replicable model for building landlord trust, maximizing existing resources, and delivering real solutions for Pennsylvanians.
To learn more about the PHARE program and view the full list of 2025 awards, visit the PHFA press release.