Bizzarro announces $350,000 in grants for housing affordability and rehabilitation
Will fund four housing projects and initiatives in Erie County
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro June 12, 2025 | 10:35 AM
ERIE, June 12 -- Four county organizations received a combined $350,000 to improve housing affordability and decrease homelessness across the region, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro announced.
“Housing is undoubtedly a human right, so I applaud these organizations that are working to make it as affordable, accessible and equitable as possible. This is vital funding that will go a long way toward putting a roof over the heads of more Erie County residents and provide them with financial literacy resources to keep them housed,” said Bizzarro, who represents Fairview and Millcreek townships.
The funding was delivered through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program, meant to assist in the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing across the state. Four Erie County organizations have received grant funding through this round of PHARE funding:
- $100,000 to the Erie County Department of Human Services for the Landlord Incentive Program. The project is a landlord risk mitigation program that will provide signing bonuses, additional security deposit, damages and vacancy loss to help gain new landlords and keep current landlords to rent affordable housing.
- $100,000 to the St. Martin Center, Inc. for the 2024 Solid Ground Initiative. St. Martin Center, Inc. (SMC) will provide interim financial support via security deposit, rent, and mortgage assistance to prevent or resolve homelessness, along with access to resources like financial literacy education helps families to deal with financial challenges before they reach a crisis.
- $100,00 to the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) for Project GECAC 2025, which aims to expand the program to offer a full array of housing counseling services while meeting the demands of the community. It also will afford the organization the extra time needed to be able to take some of the services to locations in outlying county areas.
- $50,000 to the Community of Caring for the Shelter and Beyond initiative. This will provide a continuum of services from shelter to establishing a housing plan and eventually securing permanent housing.
Money to fund this round of PHARE grants came from Marcellus Shale Impact Fees and Realty Transfer Taxes and was administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
The announcement continues Bizzarro’s effort to secure investments for local projects, including helping direct more than $5 million back to Erie County this year.