Guest Opinion: Bucks needs affordable housing, health care, good-paying jobs – Bucks County Courier Times
In its capacity as the designated Community Action Agency for Bucks County, the Bucks County Opportunity Council recently conducted a community needs assessment to determine the high priority needs of those living in poverty.
We share the results of the assessment with partners and use them in our strategic planning to expand and improve services countywide.
Affordable housing/homelessness, rental assistance, health care, employment that pays a living wage and the need for additional education and training to secure higher paying jobs were the critical needs identified.
Expansion of senior services, access to mental health services, lack of public transportation, food access and affordable child care also were high on the list.
A total of 585 responses were collected from key stakeholders, current clients and community members through the use of surveys, focus groups and social media. The data serves as a catalyst for BCOC’s planning, and to identify new partners needed to achieve progress.
For example, after affordable housing was identified in the last audit, and with the pandemic threatening to further increase evictions, BCOC reallocated staff and developed new community partnerships to address housing needs on two levels: To find available units in the affordable range and to provide rental assistance for families facing evictions.
BCOC’s mission is to lift families out of poverty. But before we can work on long-term economic stability with our clients, it is imperative that their need for safe housing be met first.
We made great progress this year: 106 residents were moved out of homelessness; 2,658 residents avoided eviction; 9,737 households received direct financial services, helping 26,378 residents; and 486 residents received utility assistance to prevent shut-offs.
BCOC Housing Locators worked to identify affordable housing — not an easy task in a county where the cost of living is high, there is a vacancy rate of only about 1%, and almost half of renters are spending more than 30% or more of their income on rent, creating a “housing-cost burden.” Families with two parents working minimum wage jobs cannot afford to live in Bucks County without government support.
BCOC, landlords and clients worked together to secure CARES funds so that landlords could be paid and clients could remain housed. Eviction hurts everyone, and it is never a solution; landlords do not get paid and those who are evicted begin a downward spiral that creates stress for the families and further burdens the system.
We are experiencing first-hand the generosity of landlords who believe in second chances, and who value the expertise of our housing team. BCOC is actively looking for additional landlords to partner with in this program.
Realtors who help identify housing for our clients can earn a finder’s fee. This work is collaborative and includes the Bucks County Department of Housing and Community Development as well as many organizations of the Housing Continuum of Care.
When federal COVID-19 funds were allocated to Bucks County to help renters who were threatened with eviction, BCOC, in partnership with the Bucks County Housing Link and the YWCA, created a new partnership to expedite funds to those in need.
The Bucks Emergency Rental Assistance, BERA, Program has helped renters remain in their homes and assisted landlords to get the relief they needed to operate. The BERA helpline is 888-50-BUCKS.
Community Action means community engagement to find community solutions. Together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. For more detailed data on our Community Needs Assessment, visit www.bcoc.org.
Erin A. Lukoss is the CEO and executive director of Bucks County Opportunity Council.
