For over 12 years, The Partnership CDC has worked to rehabilitate and restore vacant property to create decent housing for low and moderate income families in West Philadelphia. Rather than try to interfere with market forces, the CDC seeks to empower individuals through education and to provide access to funding so that local residents can build their own wealth through homeownership. Our Housing Counseling program often works with buyers to address credit issues and prepare them for homeownership.

Where rapid gentrification has occurred, The CDC has invested in a modest rental portfolio to maintain affordability for local residents. We are also working in partnership with local neighborhood groups to address the stubborn problems of abandoned and dilapidated properties that persist in our service area.

Our organization understands the importance of creating affordable homes as well as preparing homebuyers to invest in the community as a long-term solution to the economic disinvestment in our city. Construction costs to rehabilitate neglected housing stock in the city typically far exceed the price at which they are sold to low income families. As a result, The Partnership CDC relies on donations and uses innovative challenge grants to leverage funds to rehabilitate homes.

Placing families in newly rehabilitated homes-- while educating these families on how to maintain and protect their investment-- not only fulfills personal dreams, but stabilizes neighborhoods and strengthens the city.