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Affordable Housing Analysis in Zip Code 18102: Three Decades of LIHTC Development in Allentown, PA
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Zip code 18102 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, contains a significant Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. This area encompasses 102 affordable housing units, all categorized as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population estimate, the total housing inventory in this zip code is approximately 20,080 units. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents about 0.51% of the zip code's housing stock.
The LIHTC program has allocated $1,285,538 in tax credits for affordable housing projects in zip code 18102. This equates to an average federal funding of $12,603 per unit. This zip code's allocation accounts for 0.22% of the total LIHTC funding distributed to Pennsylvania.
Affordable housing has been a consistent feature of this community since 1988. The earliest recorded projects include "833 W Pine St" and "964 Jackson St," while the most recent completed project is "Sacred Heart Residences" in 2017. This 29-year span demonstrates a sustained commitment to affordable housing in the area.
The 1980s witnessed the highest number of affordable housing project completions, with seven projects finished during this decade. Notable projects from this period include "North Hall St" and "846 W Walnut St."
The LIHTC-funded housing in zip code 18102 provides a range of unit sizes to accommodate various household needs. The inventory comprises 60 one-bedroom units, 33 two-bedroom units, 7 three-bedroom units, and 2 four-bedroom units.
Zip code 18102 has experienced significant demographic changes over the past decade. The population has increased from 48,258 in 2015 to 52,408 in 2022, indicating a growing demand for housing. Median income has also risen, from $30,643 in 2015 to $37,451 in 2022, suggesting potential shifts in affordable housing needs.
Racial demographics have also changed. The Hispanic population has grown from 59% in 2015 to 68% in 2022, while the white population has decreased from 24% to 18% during the same period. These demographic shifts may influence the types of affordable housing required in the community.
Zip code 18102 in Allentown has an established LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory, with projects spanning nearly three decades. The current inventory represents a small percentage of the estimated housing stock but signifies a substantial investment in the community. The area has experienced population growth and income increases over the past decade, along with changes in racial demographics, which may impact future affordable housing needs. The variety of unit sizes in the LIHTC inventory indicates an effort to accommodate diverse household compositions within the low-income population.
