Affordable Housing in Coplay: LIHTC's Impact on a Changing Pennsylvania Borough
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
DATA SOURCE
Coplay, located in Pennsylvania, is a small community with a housing inventory of approximately 1,299 units. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has funded 21 affordable housing units in the borough, representing 1.62% of the total housing stock. These units are all designated as low-income housing.
The LIHTC program has provided $29,555 in project tax credits for affordable housing in Coplay. This funding supports one project, resulting in an average federal contribution of $29,555 per project and $1,407 per unit. The affordable housing development in Coplay dates back to 1993 when the "Community Help P" project was completed, marking the 1990s as the most active decade for affordable housing development in the area.
The LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory in Coplay consists of 21 total units, including 2 efficiencies and 1 two-bedroom unit. This unit distribution suggests a focus on accommodating smaller household sizes within the subsidized housing stock.
Coplay has experienced demographic changes over the past decade. The population has grown from 3,201 in 2019 to 3,390 in 2022, indicating a modest increase. Median income has fluctuated, reaching $52,986 in 2020 before decreasing to $49,610 in 2022. Racial demographics have also shifted, with the Hispanic population increasing from 15% in 2019 to 28% in 2022, while the white population decreased from 76% to 70% during the same period.
Despite these demographic changes, no new LIHTC projects have been developed in Coplay in the last decade. This lack of new development could be attributed to various factors, such as limited funding availability or changes in housing priorities.
The LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory in Coplay, while modest in size, has been a consistent part of the community since 1993. The single project provides 21 low-income units, primarily consisting of efficiencies and smaller units. The existing affordable housing stock covers a small percentage of the estimated housing inventory, suggesting potential opportunities for future affordable housing initiatives to address the evolving needs of the community.
