HERMITAGE Five agencies apply for housing trust funds

The money is not available to individuals.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Mercer County Affordable Housing Trust has five applicants seeking the first funds from the program set up to help build homes for low- and moderate-income families.
The trust was established by the Mercer County commissioners in October 2001, funded by a $13 fee added to every real estate transfer recorded in the county.
The fund has amassed a pool of $246,000, and the county has begun accepting applications seeking some of that money.
Mercer County Regional Planning Commission, located in Hermitage, is serving as the program administrator.
Groups and developers eligible
The money isn't available to individuals but is designed to provide funds that can be used by nonprofit groups and developers who want to build affordable homes or rehabilitate existing housing stock for low- and moderate-income families.
The trust money can be used as a leverage to bring in other funds, said Dennis Puko, the planning commission's executive director.
The trust has a 13-member board which will review applications and make recommendations for approval or rejection to the county commissioners, who will make the final decision.
Who's seeking the funds
The five projects now seeking funds are asking for a total of just over $196,000. They are:
UCommunity Counseling Center of Mercer County: Requesting $32,500 to help buy and convert a house on Richmond Drive in Hermitage. The state is contributing $125,000 to start-up costs.
UMercer County Community Action Agency: Requesting $20,771 to help build three single-family homes for ownership (two in Farrell and one in Sharon) and four rental units in Sharon. The total project cost is $652,000.
UMercer County Housing Authority: Requesting $31,200 on a $188,000 project to develop a program to allow recipients of federal Section 8 housing rental vouchers to use those vouchers as mortgage payments so they can buy homes.
USouthwest Gardens Economic Development Commission: Requesting $100,000 to help finance a homeownership plan for Barnes & amp; Miles Global Community Development of Pittsburgh to build five houses in Farrell for low- and moderate-income families. The project cost is $365,000 and is to be the first of three phases that will eventually build a total of 25 homes.
UAlternatives for Women: Advocacy, Resources & amp; Education (AWARE): Requesting $13,200 to help fund a $114,135 program to provide an additional 60-day stay at its emergency care shelter for victims of domestic violence. The current program allows only a 30-day shelter stay.