Housing Development Corporation of NEPA

and innovative nonprofit organization serving low- and moderate- income individuals and families, with an emphasis on Luzerne County. Working in conjunction with the Luzerne County Housing Trust Fund, this program assists low- and moderate-income families become homeowners by providing closing cost assistance up to $7,500 along with free homebuyer education to eligible households. Comprehensive Housing Counseling Initiative. Homebuyer/homeownership counseling is required for potential homebuyers with a defined risk factor, such as a credit score below 680, obtaining a PHFA, FHA, or USDA mortgage loan. HUD-Certified Housing Counselors provide Pre-Closing (pre-settlement) Workshop / Counseling Program, One-on-One Pre-Purchase Counseling, and Pre-Purchase Educational Workshop opportunities. This program is designed to bring tangible improvements to communities, addressing specific housing priorities such as: expanding homeownership opportunities, increasing minority homeownership, fighting practices of predatory lending, helping homeowners save their home from foreclosure, and increasing housing opportunities for the elderly and the disabled. To be eligible for this program, you must be referred by a lender. Supportive Housing & Rapid Re-Housing for the Homeless. HDC provides rental assistance and supportive housing services to homeless individuals and families with disabilities in Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These competitively obtained HUD funds can provide rental assistance as part of a comprehensive program including supportive services. These supportive services include, but are not limited to, information and referral, education, employment services, alcohol and drug abuse services, case management, child care, health care, life skills, mental health services, transportation and housing assistance. Eligibility for these programs is based on homeless status and disability status. Saint Gabriel Apartments; Former convent, Church of St. Gabriel, Hazleton. The $1.8 million restoration and conversion of the former St. Gabriel’s Convent located in Hazleton was completed in 1999. HDC and the Archangel Housing Partners were the co-developers in this adaptive reuse of a historic building, resulting in twelve units of affordable rental housing and commercial space. Public and private funders include Luzerne County Office of Community Development, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, First Federal Bank, Security Savings, PNC Bank and PP & L. HDC now co-owns and manages this property as a LIHTC building. The Schain Building; Former Schain Department Store, Berwick. In 1995 HDC completed the $2.1 million historic restoration and conversion of a former department store located in Berwick, Columbia County in conjunction with the Greater Berwick Corporation. Twenty-four rental units and three commercial spaces were rehabilitated. The project was financed utilizing the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program with equity provided by the PA Housing Opportunities Fund. HDC co-owns this property with the Greater Berwick Chamber of Commerce and manages this property as a LIHTC building. Courtright Neighborhood Senior Cottages. In 2010, HDC in conjunction with the city of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, and GRIT, Inc. transformed an abandoned industrial site in a residential neighborhood in Wilkes-Barre into a vibrant development of affordable, energy-efficient, "green" housing that is close to major employers and a revitalized downtown center. The development includes 16 senior rental units among its homeownership and duplex units, intended for seniors with income up to 50% of the area median income.