Chester County Churches Create Housing Connections
August 22, 2024
Delaney* and her two children had been staying with a family member after losing their housing. She applied to an affordable housing complex, but the waitlist was too long. She reached out to Bridge of Hope for support and shared that quiet and safety for her kids are top priorities in finding housing.
Meanwhile, leadership at a church in Chester County was brainstorming how to use a house they own adjacent to the church property. They were familiar with Bridge of Hope, having participated as a Neighboring church a few years ago, and decided to offer the house at an affordable rate to a participating family.
When Delaney and her case manager saw the home, they knew it was a good fit for her family. The church worked to expedite some small renovations, like painting and replacing the carpet, so that the family could move in quickly. We are so grateful for their leadership and their desire to be part of the solution in this affordable housing crisis.
Through church collaboration like this, and along with other landlord partnerships, we are celebrating that the average number of days to find housing was 60 days for Bridge of Hope Chester County this year! That’s less than half of the average of 126 days from the previous year.
You can be part of the solution too! Would your church want to Neighbor a family? Does your church have property to affordably rent to a family in Bridge of Hope? Let us know!
Rachel Thomas Steadman | Ty Williams |
Program Director | Church Engagement Director |
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