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HARRISBURG – State and local housing officials highlighted the positive impact of the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program during a public hearing of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee Wednesday morning. “Communities both large and small in the Shale region have benefited from PHARE over the past two years, and the program shows the potential to be a key piece of our overall efforts to revitalize our communities and grow local economies all across the state,” said Committee Chairman Senator David G. Argall (R-29). The program was created in 2010 to coordinate funding for rehabilitation and project planning to provide opportunities for economic development for businesses and affordable housing for families. Funding was provided for the program in 2012 through Marcellus Shale impact fees. To date, the program has received $16.7 million from the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission. This funding has helped address housing needs in 36 counties that host drilling operations. Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Executive Director Brian Hudson reported that the program has helped more than 1,700 families statewide since 2012. Nearly 40 percent of PHARE funds have benefitted families earning less than half of the area median income. Hudson urged counties to explore options for public-private partnerships to maximize resources available to help match families to affordable housing options with the help of the private sector. The committee also heard testimony from several county housing officials detailing the positive effect that PHARE funding has had in Pennsylvania communities, including home rehabilitation projects for seniors and disabled individuals, planning projects to expand housing options and rental assistance programs for low-income families. Testimony was provided by Greene County Commissioner Charles Morris; Sullivan County Housing Authority Executive Director Mark Roinick; Westmoreland County Department of Planning and Development Director Jason Rigone; and Lycoming County Planning Commission Lead Planner Kim Wheeler. Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Executive Director Elizabeth Hersh praised the overall economic impact of the program, which has leveraged more than $10 in local, state, federal and private dollars for every dollar invested.&title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&speed=0&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479&buttons.like=0&" width="100%" frameborder="0" allow="fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;">