Montgomery County is a fascinating, beautiful place. 

Main Line mansions and historic parks.  Mega-malls and multinational corporate headquarters.  People can go for long periods of time without ever passing through the pockets of poverty housing in our county.  But it exists here, in areas of Norristown, Pottstown and others where low-income families struggle in communities laced with crime and despair.  Some choose to see poverty elsewhere, but not in their backyard.  Yes, there is a staggering shortage of decent housing in third world countries.  Yes, there are entire neighborhoods of blight in Philadelphia. 

But there are over 5,600 houses right here in Montgomery County that have been labeled unfit by the Housing Authority.  These houses have been condemned due to inadequate heating and plumbing, leaking roofs, peeling plaster, or uncontrolled rodents and insects. 

Some may think that the “real” work needs to be done elsewhere.   We believe that people have a right to simple, decent, affordable housing right here in Montgomery County.  The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s generally accepted affordability standards state that a person should not pay more than 30 percent of income for housing.  To afford Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom housing unit in Montgomery County, a person earning minimum wage would have to work 130 hours per week!  In order to afford a two bedroom housing unit in Montgomery County working 40 hours a week, a person would have to earn over $16.75 per hour, or $34,840 per year.  No one deserves to live in unfit housing.  No one should have to work 130 hours per week just to shelter their family. 

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County cannot rebuild 5,600 condemned houses alone.  The good news is that we don’t have to.  In the neighborhoods where we have a committed presence, like Cherry Street in Norristown, others are beginning to believe in the possibilities of restoring the neighborhood.  We see private contractors beginning to repair dilapidated housing.  We see homeowners who care about cleaning the crime and decay from their street.  We believe that eliminating poverty housing is a reachable goal in Montgomery County.  The more houses we build, the more others take heart.  We believe that we can eliminate poverty housing in Montgomery County in our lifetime!

To check out statistics about the need for affordable housing in Montgomery County, check out the National Low Income Housing Coalition or check out the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.

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