Philly Plain Dealer

In a collaborative effort between the Philadelphia Association Community Development Corporations (PACDC) and Philadelphia city council members, after almost 2 years, PACDC has been able to help secure 3.5 million dollars for general operating costs for 60 Community Development Corporations across the city of Philadelphia. With the help of Philadelphia city council members Jamie Gauthier, Rue Landeau, and Mark Squilla. 

Last Monday, the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC) and Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) celebrated the historic funding given by the Parker administration at the “Winter House” project site.  

“Philadelphia needs affordable housing now more than ever. Our statistics are tremendous 23% of people in deep poverty, 11% in deep poverty ,most philadelphians cannot afford what market rate developers even deem affordable,” Said Councilmember Rue Landau

In the most recent release of the FY-26 budget Mayor Cherelle Parker has allocated 3.5 million dollars to Philadelphia Community Development Corporations (PACDC) for the general operating budget of CDCs across Philadelphia. PACDC will be able to facilitate this money and make it accessible for 60 CDC’s across Philadelphia. This funding is quite different from most of the funding in the City of Philadelphia right now. Originally, PACDC ask was for 6.25 million and for multi year funding to continue support the work annually. 

“This money a lot of the time is the catalyst to get state funding. This is the key to get you moved up the list, so it’s not only important for cdcs to get a few extra dollars. But it is also important to go and catalyze that , so this 3.5 million can become 30 to 40 million dollars just because of the money that CDCs bring to the city of Philadelphia. Again this is just the start, it’s only a little bit of money but it’s a good start to make sure we can double and quadruple those resources, let’s get to work.,” Said Councilmember Mark Squilla 

This includes finances to be able to continue advocating for the work of CDCs, pay staff at CDCS, promote social services, economic development opportunities   continue to promote and connect the work of CDCs all throughout Philadelphia. The work of local CDCs has more than 5.4 billion economic impact in the city and more than a 9 billion dollar impact for the state of Pennsylvania.

“I worked as a housing lawyer for most of my career, I represented low income tenants. I saw firsthand how the housing affordability crisis was and still is such a hindrance to us in Philadelphia. And how it threatens the instability of communities and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. We fought to make sure the mayors homeplan, got passed and we’ll continue to make sure those dollars get into affordable housing projects and keep making sure low income Philadelphians benefit from this,” said Councilwoman Rue Landau.

Due to the Digilent work from the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC),by the end of 2025, Philadelphia’s Chinatown will have another new affordable housing development for its longtime residents. Many would call this a victory in the ongoing fight to preserve Chinatown’s community, but according to the community and local organizations this is just beginning in the fight to preserve and keep Philadelphia affordable.  

More recently, Philadelphia’s Chinatown was threatened by an attempt to move the Philadelphia 76ers downtown which would have completely altered the Chinatown community, its residents, and businesses as they know it. Leaving community members  to advocate for themselves, but in a part of the city that has provided so much joy and significance to Philadelphians of all different backgrounds, residents from all over the city stood in solidarity with the Chinatown community  from preventing the arena move from happening. From community rallies, to protests, and informational sessions all hands were on deck. Eventually, the plan to move fell through. 

The current space for the new “Winter House” project is currently sitting on a vacant lot on 10th and Winter Streets in Chinatown. It is slated to be a mixed use development, which means it will be home to 6 brand new affordable units and a commercial space on the first floor that is anticipated to be a small shop run by local Chinatown residents.