The City of Philadelphia and PHDC’s guaranteed income program.
Three hundred renter households were selected from Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher and public housing waitlist to receive a direct cash payment on a prepaid debit card every month for 2.5 years to cover a portion of the household’s housing costs.
The monthly payment amount is calculated to close the gap between the housing costs they can afford – generally 30% of the household’s income – and their actual housing costs. This means monthly payment amounts will differ across households. The funds are unconditional and unrestricted. This provides a more flexible resource for participants to make their own decisions to meet their family’s needs.
Who is eligible to participate?
Participants were randomly selected from PHA’s waitlists and were asked if they wanted to participate in PHLHousing+. Participation is by invitation-only. To be eligible, invited households must earn no more than 50% of Area Median Income at the time of enrollment and have a child at or under the age of 15 in the household.
Resources
Funding for this pilot comes from a combination of public and philanthropic sources, including the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative bond proceeds, Housing Trust Fund, PHFA, William Penn Foundation, Spring Point Partners, and Stoneleigh Foundation
Program partners: Housing Initiative at Penn, Center for Guaranteed Income Research, The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank & Philadelphia Housing Authority.
Research and statistical gathering
Our research partners at University of Pennsylvania are surveying and interviewing participants to understand their experience.The results will be used to contribute to the national conversation around the effects of rental assistance and direct cash assistance programs on the well-being of children and families.
Read about the Success of the pilot program PHLHousing+
Read about recipients of HousingPHL+
Questions? Email PHLHousingPlus@phila.gov for more information.
