Mayor Parker Reaches Halfway Mark with 16,000 Homes Under H.O.M.E. Plan as SEPTA Secures $80M Trolley Grant

Administration Reaches 16,000 Homes Delivered Under H.O.M.E. Initiative

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Marking a monumental benchmark in municipal housing affordability and neighborhood preservation, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced in late September 2026 that the city has officially reached the halfway milestone of its ambitious Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) initiative. Since launching the program, the city and its non-profit housing partners have successfully built, preserved, or repaired more than 16,000 affordable residences across Philadelphia neighborhoods.

Financed through strategic municipal bond allocations, state tax credits, and private-public capital matches, the H.O.M.E. framework prioritizes tangible home repairs for legacy homeowners, provides down-payment assistance to first-time buyers, and finances shovel-ready multi-family rental buildings. Mayor Parker reiterated her administration's commitment to reaching the full 30,000-unit goal before 2028, ensuring long-term residents are protected from property speculation and displacement.

SEPTA Wins $80 Million Federal Grant for Trolley Station Accessibility

On the regional mass transit front, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) celebrated the award of an $80 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation's All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP). The federal funding will finance complete ADA-compliant retrofits across three high-traffic subterranean trolley stations in Center City: 22nd Street, 33rd Street, and 36th Street.

Engineering upgrades include excavating and installing heavy-duty passenger elevators, reconstructing passenger boarding platforms to match new low-floor modern light-rail vehicles, installing high-contrast tactile edge-warning systems, and modernizing passenger communications. SEPTA Chief Executive leadership emphasized that full accessibility guarantees equitable mobility for seniors, parents with strollers, and persons with disabilities.

Citywide Data Center Task Force Convenes Under Executive Order

Concurrently, City Council and mayoral officials convened the newly established Citywide Data Center Task Force under Executive Order 6-26. The working group will deliver recommendations on zoning, municipal tax incentives, and electrical grid protections for upcoming tech developments, ensuring Philadelphia's industrial growth remains sustainable and environmentally sound.