On Wednesday, April 22, 2015, Mayor Michael Nutter, Councilwoman Tasco and Special People in the Northeast (SPIN) joined Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC) President Sharmain Matlock-Turner and its Community and Economic Development Committee* to celebrate the sale of its 400th home under the Home Buy Now (HBN) program. HBN, a program managed by UAC, provides grants funded by the city and participating employers to help employees purchase homes in Philadelphia. Since 2004, the program has leveraged $82 million in home sales and returned $1.60 for every dollar invested by the city.
The 400th homebuyer, Sharemah Gambrel, is a native Philadelphian and employee at Special People in the Northeast (SPIN), a nonprofit serving adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities including autism. She was able to purchase her first home with a $4,000 grant provided by SPIN and HBN. To read more about HBN, click here.
*Photo credits: (From left) Angela Goode, CED Director; Chris Waters, HBN Program Manager; Mayor Michael A. Nutter; Sharemah Gambrel, Homeowner; Paulette Carter and Angela Brown, CED Committee Members; Sharmain Matlock-Turner, UAC President; and Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco.