FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Maisel
Director of Communications, City of Harrisburg
(717) 255-7295
[email protected]
November 14, 2023
HARRISBURG – City residents looking to buy a home for the first time can get essential help at no cost thanks to a new Harrisburg homebuyer December workshop course run by Tri-County Housing Development.
The counseling class takes Saturday, December 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency building, located at 201 N. Front Street. The workshop will assist prospective buyers with information about mortgages, credit budgeting, and other general facets of home ownership. The class runs eight-hours, and when completed, a certificate is provided to the attendee which will benefit them with down payment and closing cost assistance opportunities when they purchase their first home.
The course is free to the public, though it does require pre-registration. Potential attendees are asked to call TCHDC Housing Counselor Denise Welch at (717) 231-3604 ext. 122 or email [email protected] to sign up.
“We look forward to pre-qualifying many prospective homebuyers for a Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency (PHFA) mortgage loan,” said Gary Lenker, Tri-County HDC Executive Director. “We believe in the power of homeownership to help build lives and families, and we look forward to this new chapter, as we take on a new home and added opportunities to serve the community.”
Tri-County Housing Development was recently approved to participate in the Comprehensive Homeownership Counseling Network as part of the Level Up Program through the PHFA. The Level Up Program works with nonprofit organizations to guide and support them in building their own housing counseling programs.
Free parking is available in the PHFA garage. Space is limited, so anyone who registers and either does not call or no-shows, or cancels on the day of the event, will not be permitted to re-register for another six months. In addition, due to the nature of the classes, children can not be accommodated. Breakfast pastries and lunch will be provided to attendees.
The City of Harrisburg continues to make affordable living one of the top priorities of Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams’ administration. Part of finding an affordable home for your family, according to the city’s Department of Building and Housing Development Director Dennise Hill, is knowing what to look for when speaking with sellers or real estate agents.
“The City of Harrisburg is excited about this service being provided to the community because it empowers residents to stabilize their families and neighborhoods through homeownership,” Hill said. “By assisting City residents with the knowledge of how to purchase a home, Tri-County HDC is continuing their proven history of partnering with us in rebuilding a strong community, one household at a time.”
