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Affordable Housing Dynamics in Williamsport, PA: LIHTC Impact on Little League's Birthplace
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, known for hosting the Little League World Series, maintains a notable Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city's LIHTC-funded projects comprise 371 total units, with 317 designated as low-income units. This represents approximately 3.5% of Williamsport's estimated 10,634 housing units.
Williamsport has received $3,203,041 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With approximately 10 projects, this equates to an average of $320,304 in federal funding per project, or about $8,633 per unit. The city holds 0.54% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC funding, indicating a modest share of the state's affordable housing resources.
The LIHTC program in Williamsport spans 24 years, from 1992 to 2016. The first project, Grier Street Manor, was completed in 1992, while the most recent named project, Grove Street Commons, was finished in 2016. The 1990s saw the most activity, with three projects completed: Grier Street Manor, Weightman Block, and Williamsport Manor.
The LIHTC-funded housing in Williamsport includes a variety of unit sizes. There are 121 one-bedroom units, 76 two-bedroom units, 18 three-bedroom units, and 4 four-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on smaller households, with a significant number of units suitable for individuals or couples.
Williamsport's population has been declining, from 29,509 in 2010 to 27,755 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the median income has increased from $37,379 in 2013 to $44,787 in 2022. This trend may indicate a changing economic landscape in the city.
Racial demographics in Williamsport have remained relatively stable. The white population consistently represents around 77-79% of the total. There has been a slight increase in diversity, with the percentage of residents identifying as two or more races growing from 2% in 2013 to 6% in 2022.
Williamsport's LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents a small but significant portion of the city's housing stock. The city has maintained a consistent approach to affordable housing development over more than two decades. While the population has decreased slightly, rising median incomes and stable racial demographics suggest a changing socioeconomic landscape. The variety of unit sizes in LIHTC projects indicates an effort to meet diverse housing needs within the community.
