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Housing & Economic Development 
Residents cannot fully participate in their community without a safe, secure place to live. Recognizing this, a significant part of our revitalization strategy is to develop both affordable and market rate rental and homeownership units in our community. For more than 20 years, OARC has been transforming West Oak Lane into one of the city's most livable neighborhoods in Northwest Philadelphia. OARC develops housing that is affordable, provides community resources and support services, attracts thriving employment and business opportunities and produces cultural and recreational activities for everyone from kids to seniors. OARC has completed projects that created more than:
We’ve also helped create daycare facilities for working families, job training and placement, adult education, family education programs, several economic development projects, home repairs for senior citizens, renovated vacant houses to sell to new homeowners, business assistance, and the West Oak Lane Charter School, a Kindergarten through 6th grade charter school with an enrollment of over 600 students. Throughout West Oak Lane, OARC has turned potential buyers into homeowners through its For Sale Housing initiative. This renovation and resale program enables families to buy newly-restored homes at affordable prices. Previously, homeowners have given their houses a facelift through OARC's earlier programs, "It's Your Turn" and the "Senior Home Repair" programs. Currently, for those seeking homes or already homeowners, OARC's West Oak Lane CDC Housing Counseling Program offers many counseling services designed to help during the pre and post purchase stages. And home improvement fever has caught on. Inspired by OARC's $20 million investment in West Oak Lane, other homeowners have cleaned up, fixed up and spruced up their own homes. The end result? Increased property values, increased home ownership and a lively neighborhood that is the city's hot new community. |
