Ballot Question #2

Should the Home Rule Charter be amended to increase the minimum amount that must be appropriated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the City’s operating budget each year?

VOTE YES!

And tell your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to vote yes too!

BACKGROUND

Philadelphia’s Zoning Code allows developers to build denser buildings if they make a “payment in lieu of providing affordable housing” to the City of Philadelphia. These payments are meant to go into the City of Philadelphia’s Housing Trust Fund, the primary local municipal funding source for affordable housing programs and projects.

However, these “payments in lieu” have never led to a proportionate increase in affordable housing resources. This means we are being cheated out of nearly $36 million in affordable housing benefits – enough for more than 1,800 homes – that we are entitled to by law!  

Neighbors are not getting the help they need to stay in or find safe, stable, and affordable housing. Many Philadelphians are also becoming distrustful of the zoning process because the City is not following through on its commitment to invest developer payments back into their communities.

On May 20th, Philadelphia voters can finally end this injustice by voting yes on Ballot Question #2 and creating a guaranteed funding stream to build and preserve more affordable homes in Philadelphia.

At our current pace, it will take over 200 years to build enough affordable housing. At a time when the federal government is driving up housing costs and taking away services for working families, City Council, housing advocates, experts, and community leaders all agree: make Philadelphia more affordable by voting YES on Ballot Question #2. 

IMPORTANT DATES

• May 5th: Last day to register to vote
• May 13th: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
• May 20th: MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION, VOTE YES ON BALLOT QUESTION #2

RESOURCES

• Register to vote:https://vote.phila.gov/voting/registering-to-vote/
• Request a mail-in ballot: https://vote.phila.gov/voting/vote-by-mail/
• Find your polling place:https://vote.phila.gov/voting/election-day/where-is-my-polling-place/
• Sample ballot: https://vote.phila.gov/voting/voting-at-the-polls/sample-ballots/
• Bill No. 240061 (approved unanimously): https://phila.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6503233&GUID=EB1CCEE6-0F6E-4B41-92D8-C53D0C1E4AF0&Options=ID|Text|
• Resolution No. 240068 (approved unanimously): https://phila.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6503395&GUID=6382CA6A-DE0B-43F2-A6A0-DAA1194A48E3&Options=ID|Text|

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