On Tuesday, The Philadelphia City Council Committee of the Whole resumed its hearing on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s signature HOME legislation, which would initiate $800 million bonds to create and further fund programs aimed at building new homes and preserving the city’s aging housing stock.
The Council passed a resolution that differed greatly from the Mayor’s original proposal, adding $82.6 million to the initial borrowing. The added spending brings the cost for the first phase of the program from $194.6 million to $277.2 million.
The resolution council passed makes the following amendments to the original legislation:
| PROGRAM | ORIGINAL ALLOCATION | AMENDED ALLOCATION |
| Affordable Housing Preservation Funds | $29,627,500 | $46,172,000 |
| Affordable Housing Production Funds | $24,343,333 | $29,466,000 |
| Basic Systems Repair Program | $34,775,000 | $40,000,000 |
| Homelessness Prevention | $3,800,000 | $8,800,000 |
| Philly First Home | $10,666,667 | $12,500,000 |
| Rent and Moving Assistance (Fresh Start PHL) | $1,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Shallow Rent Program | $2,000,000 | $3,500,000 |
| Tangled Title Prevention and Resolution Program | $2,200,000 | $3,125,000 |
| Turn the Key | – | $43,500,000 |
In response to the changes, Mayor Parker released the following statement:
“The resolution that City Council passed out of the Committee of the Whole today contained language that our bond lawyers have repeatedly advised would prevent the administration from being able to issue the bonds. That means homes are not being restored. It means homes are not being built or repaired.
Throughout the legislative process we have communicated to Council that amending the HOME program statement and budget in a way that creates significant legal issues would mean that we will not be able to issue bonds until next year, at the end of March, at the earliest.
To be clear, that means no shovels in the ground, and no homes repaired through the Basic Systems Repair program, which will run out of money in February.
I am in discussion with Council President Johnson now as to possible next steps, so we can get these bonds issued ASAP.
The Parker administration remains ready and willing to work with Council on a $2 billion HOME plan to create, restore or repair 30,000 units of housing. Every day without passage and agreement on a HOME plan is another day of delay for the people of Philadelphia.
We need more housing, and we need it now. We need more existing homes repaired now. We need the One Philly Mortgage established for new homebuyers now. We need more funding for rental assistance now. We need to leave no Philadelphian behind, and there is no time to waste.”
In response, Council President Kenyatta Johnson released the following statement on Wednesday:
Philadelphia City Council members, our lawyers and our housing experts strongly disagree with the suggestion that the Council’s actions on the new H.O.M.E. Resolution are the cause of delays in delivering housing resources to Philadelphians.
Council’s responsibility is not to rubber-stamp legislation, but to ensure that any multi-billion-dollar public investment is legally sound and targeted to the Philadelphians who need it most. City Council unanimously voted to appropriate over $277 million in support of the Mayor’s H.O.M.E. initiative, which is $82 million higher than the first H.O.M.E. budget introduced on October 30.
Council members repeatedly raised concerns-directly and in good faith-about accountability, neighborhood equity, homeowner protections, and the long-term impact of the H.O.M.E legislation. Those concerns were raised early and consistently. Council’s action today strengthened the H.O.M.E resolution, not sabotaged it.
I heard clearly and directly from Councilmembers about critical issues they want addressed in the first-year HOME Plan spending. Those concerns center on accountability, neighborhood equity, and-most importantly-making sure that the deepest investments reach the poorest and most vulnerable Philadelphians.
As Council President, my number one responsibility will always be to fight for the interests of my members, and those concerns of Councilmembers and Philadelphians are fully reflected in this legislation.
City Councilmembers want shovels in the ground. Council wants homes repaired. Council wants families to stay in their neighborhoods. But Council also refuses to rush into issuing $800 million in debt without iron-clad legal protections and clear guarantees that the lowest-income Philadelphians will benefit from the first round of the H.O.M. E spending.
Threatening residents with a shutdown of the Basic Systems Repair Program and assigning blame does not move this process forward. Collaboration and working together does.
Important housing programs in City government will not be shutting down because of any delay in the first round of borrowing for the HOME program.
There is already plenty of money in the City’s current Fiscal Year 2026 $7 billion operating budget for these programs, so it is false to suggest that the services will stop operating. The city also has a $1.2 billion surplus from our Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
Every member of City Council and I remain fully engaged with the Administration to resolve remaining legal and policy issues swiftly and responsibly. City Council is preparing to introduce an amendment to the H.O.M.E bond ordinance as early as this week’s Council session to move quickly to ensure that funding for programs will be available as soon as possible.
Our shared goal is—and has always been—to deliver a HOME plan that addresses various housing needs for all Philadelphians, especially those with the greatest need.
The final resolution was brought before City Council for its first reading at Thursday’s meeting. After the meeting adjourned, Council President Kenyatta Johnson continued to dispute the administration’s position, reemphasizing the city’s fund balance, overall budget, and that funding for the Basic Systems Home Repair program is sound. But Johnson dismissed any discord between Council and the Mayor.
“That’s just part of the legislative process,” Johnson said of the disagreement. “We have all support the HOME Plan, so we’re just working out the logistics and make sure its executed in an equitable way.”
Johnson would not say when the new bond legislation, a requirement now that the city is borrowing more in the first phase of the plan. By necessity however, due to council rules, the final legislation would be passed until January, as all ordinances need to he heard twice in council before final passage. The only way around this would be for Council to hold an additional session, an idea that seems to have little traction at the moment.
Instead, it seems more likely the bond ordinance will, at least, be introduced next week and referred to committee and be taken up again when Council resumes in January. This would likely lead to the bond issuance in March. The situation remains fluid, and Hall Monitor will provide updates as they are made available to us.
Other Council Committee Hearings:
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Public Property and Public Works heard testimony and favorably recommended the following legislation:
Public Property and Public Works
Bill No. 250573
An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an amendment to a lease agreement with 2401 Walnut LP, for use by the City of all or a portion of the premises located at 2401 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under certain terms and conditions.
250717 An Ordinance renaming and designating the property commonly referred to as Wissinoming Park, located at 5801 Frankford Ave, as “Margaret Tartaglione Park” in the City of Philadelphia.
Bill No. 250807
An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire, on behalf of the City, fee simple title or a lesser interest, by purchase, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation or otherwise, for the purpose of making, enlarging, connecting, extending, operating, and maintaining public parks for recreational use, certain parcels of land, generally bounded and located between Vine Street, Fairmount Avenue, 8th Street and 12th Street, together with all improvements thereon and all associated easements and appurtenances; and to lease the property, or a portion thereof, to the Center City District; all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250832
An Ordinance formally renaming the Wynnefield Branch Library, located at 5325
Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131, as the “Reverend Louise Williams
Bishop Library” to honor the dedication and service of former Pennsylvania State
Representative Louise Williams Bishop.
Bill No. 250833
An Ordinance amending Title 16 entitled “Public Property” to add a new chapter to explicitly require the Philadelphia Land Bank to submit an annual report to Council that details the disposition of all land subject to the Land Bank, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250841
An Ordinance authorizing the Director of the Department of Aviation, on behalf of the City, to transfer or convey real estate interests to resolve litigation with Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250847
An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to acquire fee simple title or a lesser real estate interest in and to all or a portion of the properties known as 1948 Cayuga Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250913
An Ordinance renaming the Paschalville Library to the “Hardy Williams Library of
Paschalville” in honor of Pennsylvania State Senator Hardy Williams, a distinguished politician and trailblazer for the African American community.
Bill No. 251017
An Ordinance authorizing the Director of the Department of Aviation to acquire, on behalf of the City, fee simple title or a lesser real estate interest by purchase, amicable negotiation, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation or otherwise, in and to all or portions of a certain parcel of land known as 4521 Island Avenue, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251023
An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development or the Philadelphia Municipal Authority to fit out a Health Center Facility based on plans and specifications acceptable to the City that will be developed on premises located on Frankford Avenue in the vicinity of Pratt Street and Dyre Street and to repay the landlord for the costs of the fit out, under certain terms and conditions
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Appropriation heard testimony on the following legislation:
Bill No. 251027
An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 from: the
General Fund, the Water Fund, the Water Residual Fund, the Grants Revenue Fund,
the Aviation Fund , and the Transportation Fund, all from certain or all City offices,
departments, boards and commissions; to: the General Fund, the Water Fund, the
Water Residual Fund, the Aviation Fund and the Transportation Fund, all to certain or
all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Streets and Services heard testimony on the following legislation:
Streets and Services
Bill No. 250843
An Ordinance amending Chapter 10-700 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Refuse and Littering,” to require locking dumpsters; all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250946
An Ordinance authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the vicinity of 4435-37 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250982
An Ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on certain portions of LeCount and Bambrey Streets, all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251022
An Ordinance amending Section 9-208 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Sidewalk Cafés,” to revise standards and requirements associated with Sidewalk Cafés, all undercertain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251025
An Ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Ryan Avenue between Leon Street and Frankford Avenue.
Bill No. 251028
An Ordinance authorizing the installation, ownership and maintenance of various encroachments in the vicinity of 510 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19123, under certain terms and conditions.
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Finance heard testimony on the following legislation:
Finance
Bill No. 250574
An Ordinance amending Chapter 19-1700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“Finance, Taxes, and Collections,” to allow for refunds of the realty transfer taxes to victims of deed fraud, all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250951
An Ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Traffic Code,” by revising certain definitions; adding a new Section 12-926, entitled “Fee for Use of Bus Loading Zones and Facilities,” to impose a fee on certain activities by intercity buses; authorizing the installation and use of camera-based monitoring systems for administration of the fee system; and authorizing an agreement with the Philadelphia Parking Authority for enforcement and collection of certain fees for intercity buses; all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250953
An Ordinance authorizing the Procurement Department, on behalf of the City of
Philadelphia, to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Energy Authority for implementation and evaluation of energy conservation capital measures designed to reduce energy, water, wastewater, or other consumption or operating costs at specified City properties, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250954
An Ordinance authorizing the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into a
provider agreement with Citizens Bank National Association for provision of payroll banking services to the City, under certain terms and conditions
Bill No. 250981
An Ordinance authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service
Agreement between The City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and The Philadelphia
Energy Authority relating to the financing of the construction, equipping, installation and implementation of energy conservation improvements and other measures designed to reduce energy, water, wastewater, or other consumption or operating costs at specified properties owned or leased, and operated, by the City; approving the issuance by such Authority of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness in one or more series to finance or refinance the costs of such project and authorizing and approving the obligation of the City to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement; authorizing certain City officers to take certain actions required to issue such bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; covenanting that the City will make necessary appropriations in each of the City’s fiscal years to provide for, and will make timely payments of, the Service Fee and other amounts due under the Service Agreement; and authorizing City officials to take other necessary or appropriate actions to effectuate the purposes of this Ordinance; all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 251018
An Ordinance approving the amendment of the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget
providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints and conditions and acknowledging the receipt of the Revised Forecast of Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2027 through 2031, as amended.
Bill No. 251019
An Ordinance amending Bill No. 250103, (approved June 13, 2025) entitled
“Authorizing the Procurement Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Energy Authority for coordination of a guaranteed energy savings contract for implementation and evaluation of energy conservation measures designed to reduce energy, water, wastewater, or other consumption or operating costs at specified City properties, all under certain terms and conditions,” to clarify the scope of the guaranteed energy savings contract and make related technical changes; all under certain terms and conditions.
The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Rules heard testimony on the following legislation:
Committee on Rules
Bill No. 250845
An Ordinance amending Section 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“Overlay Zoning Districts,” by amending Section 14-530, entitled “Eighth
District Overlay District,” and making related changes all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250947
An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning
designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by N Frazier St., Master St., N Ithan St., and Media St.
Bill No. 250949
An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and
Planning” to establish Seventh District Overlay District and restrict certain
residential uses, under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250952
An Ordinance amending Section 14-602 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Use Tables” by defining building types and clarifying uses permitted in the RTA-2, Residential Two-Family Attached base zoning district, all under certain terms and
conditions.
Bill No. 250983
An Ordinance amending Section 14-503 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“/NCA, Neighborhood Commercial Area Overlay District,” by amending the East
Falls Neighborhood Commercial Review Area, and making related changes, all
under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250984
An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning
designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Eva
Street, Dearnley Street, Flamingo Street, Hillside Avenue, Shaw Street, Wigard
Avenue Extension, Umbria Street, Minerva Street, and Shawmont Avenue.
Bill No. 250985
An Ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within the area bounded by Bryn Mawr Avenue, Wynnefield Avenue, Nevada Street and the SEPTA Railroad
Right of Way.
Bill No. 250986
An Ordinance amending Section 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled
“Overlay Zoning Districts” by creating Section 14-545, entitled, “/WFS, West
Fairmount Sports Area Overlay District,” all under certain terms and conditions.
Bill No. 250987
An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning
designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Ridge
Avenue, Sunset Avenue, Harner Street, Port Royal Avenue, Hagys Mill Road,
and Cathedral Road.
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