News & Recent Developments
RHLS is currently engaged in numerous consumer-focused activities, including those listed below. If you would like further information about any of these matters, we welcome you to contact us.
Glenside Office
2 South Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038
Phone: (215) 572-7300
Fax: (215) 572-0262
Revitalizing the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP)
RHLS helped to revamp the financial viability of the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). This will increase private investments in community and economic development efforts by $18-20 million per year.
In 1967, the Pennsylvania legislature created the innovative NAP to encourage businesses to provide capital to help improve distressed neighborhoods—the first program of its kind in the nation. NAP enabled businesses who made contributions to approved nonprofit organizations to obtain state tax credits. Thousands of business participated and millions of dollars were distributed to community-based organizations. NAP also helped banks to fulfill their corporate missions: to contribute to community development within their service areas.
Use of the NAP credit in Pennsylvania served as a model for other states. It proved that—given the right state credit incentives—businesses will invest in programs designed to improve disinvested neighborhoods. By the late ‘90s, NAPs existed in more than10 states and generated over $63 million in private sector contributions to nonprofit organizations.
In recent years, however, due to competing investment credit opportunities for businesses, the appeal of the NAP waned. In some years, over 50 percent of available credits went unused in Pennsylvania. Thanks to recent changes in NAP legislation, the NAP will hopefully be well-used again.
Read more in the article from Philadelphia Lawyer, Winter 2008
Download the Neighborhood Assistance Program Memo (PDF)
Neighborhood Assistance Program Brochure (PDF)
Helping Victims of Predatory Lending
Community development efforts are being thwarted by the epidemic of predatory lending that has swept through the nation in recent years. Predatory lending is causing numerous homeowners, especially African American women, to lose their homes.
RHLS, Community Legal Services (CLS), PHFA and the City of Philadelphia are structuring a rescue loan program to assist victims of predatory lending in order to stem the tide of foreclosures that is impeding the economic revitalization of poor communities. The City has already committed $1 million to this special Homeowner’s Equity Recovery Opportunity (HERO). That pledge is expected to leverage $10 million from PHFA, and increased funding is anticipated from both sources to bring overall participation to over $20 million. RHLS is now talking with county officials about expanding this initiative to other parts of the State.
Making Energy Affordable
Rising energy costs are causing a housing crisis for those struggling to make ends meet.
RHLS and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) are collaborating with ACTION-Housing in Pittsburgh to structure a $500,000 pilot program for weatherizing older houses in Western Pennsylvania using Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits. This will fund home repairs that will permit habitability and increase energy savings in low income households.
Creating longer-term viability of these homes will benefit both the residents and their communities. An additional goal of the program—dubbed “Energy Conservation Assisted by Critical Home Improvements”—is to demonstrate the value of a system of private investment supported by tax incentives in preserving housing and reducing energy consumption. If the pilot is successful, the partners will work with the DCED to build the program statewide.