Chester Housing Authority (CHA), the city of Chester’s largest affordable housing provider, has announced it will refurbish 110 housing units in the Ruth L. Bennett Homes. The work is being made possible through a $5 million grant received from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s (PHFA) Housing Options Program. The Ruth L. Bennett Homes, constructed in the 1940s, consists of 261 units. As a result of limited resources, the development is not operating at full capacity and many units have become uninhabitable. “Eighty years of service to the community, exacerbated by more than two years of deferred maintenance due to the pandemic, has taken a toll,” said CHA executive director Steven A. Fischer. “These funds will address outdated kitchens and bathrooms, energy and water efficiency, mold and some structural issues.” Fischer said the grant will help the CHA address the shortage of affordable housing and spur economic growth in the city by creating jobs during the renovation. He said that the neighborhood, known locally as “The Bennett,” has been a strong contributor to the community over the past 15 years through the creation of a two-acre community farm to address food inequity and the addition of a professional childcare center. In addition, a learning center in the neighborhood has been home to Delaware County Community College and Rotary Club sponsored carpentry courses, as well as county services for women and infants.
Source: Chester Spirit; 11/15/2023