WEST CHESTER, PA — This week, the Allies for Housing in Chester County, in collaboration with Chester County Commissioners, gathered for the 3rd Annual Affordable Housing Summit at Milestone Events in West Chester. The summit facilitated critical dialogue among elected officials, non-profits, and individuals with firsthand experiences of housing insecurity.
Cheryl Miles, Community Housing Director for Kennett Area Community Services, captured the summit’s essence in her opening remarks: “We live in a very progressive county. The population is growing, and the number of businesses is increasing. Yet, there’s another type of growth in Chester County.” She emphasized the barriers many face, including “limited resources, unfair housing practices, skyrocketing mortgage and rental rates.”
Mayor Lillien DeBaptiste of West Chester encouraged attendees to embrace difficult conversations, stating, “We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We have to have the uncomfortable conversations and look inward and outward to make a difference.”
The summit concluded with legislative requests aimed at increasing affordable housing availability. These included securing funding for housing at 60% AMI or less, adhering to Federal Fair Housing regulations in fund distribution, and revisiting zoning laws to incentivize affordable housing across municipalities.
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