News / Events
Bernice Elza Homes Opens
October 21, 2009, Office of Housing and Community Development Press Release
CONTACT:
Holly Ramey, Office of Housing and Community Development
215-686-9727
Trish Downey, People’s Emergency Center
215-382-7522 ext.247
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY
MAYOR NUTTER, COUNCILWOMAN BLACKWELL TO JOIN PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY CENTER IN DEDICATIONOF HOUSING NAMED FOR BLACKWELL’S MOTHER
WHO:
Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell; Gloria Guard, president, People’s Emergency Center (PEC); Deborah McColloch, director, Office of Housing and Community Development; Eugenie L. Birch, co- director, Penn Institute for Urban Research; Brenda Laroche, deputy regional director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; other banking and housing officials; community representatives.
WHAT: Dedication Ceremony for Bernice Elza Homes
WHEN: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: 3801 Brandywine Street
Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Councilwoman Blackwell and the People’s Emergency Center will dedicate the newly created Bernice Elza Homes. Named for Councilwoman Blackwell’s mother, Bernice C. Brooks, and Gloria Guard’s mother, Elza Marques Guard, this West Philadelphia development consists of six affordable permanent-rental housing units. All six homes are reserved for homeless teen mothers aging out of foster care and their children. All families living in the Bernice Elza Homes will have access to an on-site counseling facility and PEC programs.
This is PEC’s most ambitious “green” project to date and is on track to be silver LEED-certified. The project was funded by a combination of federal and private funding including a Community Outreach Partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Photos from the event can be viewed here.
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