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Declaring May 2026 as Affordable Housing Month in the City of Philadelphia, and recognizing the need for stable, safe, accessible, and affordable housing for all residents.
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WHEREAS, Philadelphia and the entire country are experiencing record levels of housing unaffordability and homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Affordable Housing Month is observed annually in May, serving as a nationwide call to action to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing, advocate for policies to ensure that everyone has access to stable, safe, and affordable housing, and highlight the challenges faced by low-income families and individuals who are looking for affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines housing as affordable if its cost does not exceed 30 percent of a household’s income. Households that spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs are known as “cost burdened”, and households that spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs are “extremely cost burdened;” and
WHEREAS, An affordable rent in Philadelphia for someone receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is just $298 per month; an affordable rent for someone working a full-time minimum wage job is just $362 per month; and an affordable rent for a three-person family living at the federal poverty line is just $648 per month; and
WHEREAS, In 2026, more than 250,000 Philadelphia households were housing cost burdened, which is roughly 40 percent of all households Citywide; more specifically, half of all Philadelphia renter households and one-third of Philadelphia homeowner households are cost burdened; and
WHEREAS, A 2025 “Point in Time” count conducted by the Office of Homeless Services showed 5,516 people in Philadelphia were experiencing homelessness. Of those, 1,178 individuals were living unsheltered; and
WHEREAS, Affordable housing contributes to improved health outcomes, reduced homelessness, reduced crime rates, increased financial stability and economic opportunities, and better educational and developmental outcomes for children; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia must commit to expanding fair and affordable housing by funding programs and expanding resources available to low-income renters and homeowners as well as developing policies and increasing investments designed to create more affordable housing. With increased investment in deep and permanently affordable housing, the City of Philadelphia can work to address the affordable housing crisis; and
WHEREAS, Affordable Housing Month serves as a crucial reminder that housing is a fundamental human right and need, and it is essential to work to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable places to live; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby declares May 2026 as Affordable Housing Month in the City of Philadelphia and recognizes the need for stable, safe, accessible, and affordable housing for all residents.
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