Council approves $278M for housing phase as city spends $38M
The administration has used 13% of the bond funds allocated for the first phase of the H.O.M.E. initiative ahead of the June 2027 deadline.
By Jonathan Ramirez ·
Philadelphia City Controller Christy Brady reported that the city has spent only $38 million of the $278 million budgeted for the first phase of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy initiative. The funds were approved by City Council in January. The current fiscal year ends on June 30, 2027.
As of September 30, spending reached 13% of the allocated budget. Brady said the administration needs to accelerate spending to meet its targets. She noted that affordable housing supports community stability. The city plans to spend the remaining $240 million by the fiscal year end.
Chief Housing and Urban Development Officer Angela Brooks stated that the approved programs are on pace to exceed their budgets. She cited high demand for home repairs and accessibility modifications. Brooks explained that spending is tied to project milestones rather than specific calendar dates. She added that the first-phase budget covers new construction, preservation, and homeownership programs.
The initiative was first proposed in February 2025. It aims to build or preserve 30,000 housing units during Parker’s first term. The program is funded by $800 million in city bonds approved by Council in June 2025. The administration issued the first $400 million bond tranche in early 2026 after legislative negotiations concluded.
Brady’s report found that only four of the 29 approved H.O.M.E. programs had expenditures as of September 30. All four are existing programs receiving additional support. The Basic Systems Repair Program received the largest share, with just under $26 million in funding. Brooks said these four programs have used more than half of their first-year budgets. Spending focused on emergency repairs in North, West, and Southwest Philadelphia.
The administration intends to launch new programs later this year. This includes the One Philly Mortgage for first-time homebuyers earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income. The city’s Philly Stat 360 website currently lists 16,394 built or preserved units under the initiative. This figure includes market-rate homes and private development projects, not just city-funded units. The administration did not specify how many of those units are directly tied to H.O.M.E. funding.
