Housing & Home Owner Counseling

One of Walnut Hill's development goals is to convert large buildings in Walnut Hill to affordable apartments and condominiums with handicapped accessibility and age-appropriate amenities. By promoting and supporting the creation of housing for Walnut Hill's aging population, the organization will ensure that seniors can remain active in the revitalization of Walnut Hill and contribute to the health and well-being of their neighborhood. WHCA will also identify independent agencies that can help these seniors with estate planning and ensure that their homes transition to the next generation of responsible, committed residents.

A healthy neighborhood enjoys demographic diversity and inter-generational residents. The provision of affordable housing for Walnut Hill's aging community complements WHCA's counseling and support for first time homebuyers and ensures a balanced age demographic for Walnut Hill.

Walnut Hill Community Association will work with area CDC's and other agencies on to provide housing counseling for Walnut Hill residents and ensure that they are aware of their financing options (such as refinancing, home rehabilitation loans, and home equity lines) in the changing housing market. Service providers will offer housing counseling in a classroom setting and focus on Walnut Hill's residential market. One potential strategic services provider, The Partnership CDC, provides classroom counseling in addition to a home counseling hotline, through which they can answer questions on an individual basis. The services provided by The Partnership CDC will be particularly valuable, because it is a West Philadelphia-based organization that is recognized and trusted by many of the residents. Since 1994, The Partnership CDC has provided housing counseling services to 5,700 families in Philadelphia, resulting in $75 million in mortgage commitments towards residential purchases, and they will be a valuable asset to the Walnut Hill revitalization efforts.