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Affordable Housing in Robinson, Pennsylvania: LIHTC Impact on a Small Community
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Robinson, Pennsylvania, is a small community with a distinct affordable housing profile. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has funded 9 affordable housing units in this area, all of which are designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of approximately 552 units, the LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises about 1.6% of the city's housing stock.
Robinson has received $122,386 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With two approximate projects, this translates to an average federal funding of $61,193 per project and $13,598 per unit. The city holds 0.02% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC funding, indicating a relatively small share of the state's affordable housing investment.
The city's affordable housing development occurred between 1998 and 2000, with two notable projects: Garfield Court and Fieldcrest. The 1990s saw the most affordable housing development in Robinson. Garfield Court, completed in 1998, provides 8 units, while Fieldcrest, finished in 2000, adds 1 unit to the inventory.
The LIHTC-funded housing in Robinson consists of 1 one-bedroom unit, 2 two-bedroom units, and 6 three-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on accommodating families of various sizes within the affordable housing framework.
Over the past decade, Robinson has experienced fluctuations in its population, with a general declining trend until 2020, followed by a recent increase. The 2022 population stands at 1,441, up from 1,090 in 2019. Concurrently, the median income has shown an overall upward trajectory, rising from $46,612 in 2016 to $56,388 in 2022, with a peak of $63,845 in 2021. This economic improvement may partially explain the lack of new LIHTC projects in recent years.
The racial composition of Robinson has remained predominantly white throughout the available data, with a slight increase in diversity noted in 2022, where 2% of the population identified as two or more races. This demographic stability suggests that any changes in affordable housing needs are likely driven more by economic factors than racial dynamics.
Robinson's affordable housing landscape, shaped by LIHTC investments, represents a small but significant portion of its housing inventory. The two projects, completed in the late 1990s and early 2000s, provide a mix of unit sizes catering to different household compositions. While the city's share of state LIHTC funding is modest, it has contributed to maintaining a baseline of affordable housing options. The recent uptick in population and median income suggests evolving housing needs that may require ongoing assessment to ensure adequate affordable housing availability for low-income residents.
