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Affordable Housing in South Bethlehem: A Single LIHTC Project Amidst Population Decline
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
South Bethlehem, a small community in Pennsylvania, has a modest Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city has a total of 18 affordable units, all of which are designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of approximately 273 units, the LIHTC-funded affordable housing covers about 6.6% of the city's housing stock.
The city has received $52,091 in project tax credits from the LIHTC program for affordable housing. With one project, this translates to an average federal funding of $52,091 per project and $2,894 per unit. South Bethlehem holds 0.01% of the total state LIHTC funding.
The sole LIHTC project in South Bethlehem, South Bethlehem House Apts, was completed in 1996. This indicates that affordable housing has been present in the city for over 25 years. All 18 units in this project are one-bedroom apartments, suggesting a focus on smaller household sizes or individual residents.
Over the past decade, South Bethlehem has experienced a significant population decline, from 1,041 residents in 2014 to 712 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the median income has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between $43,213 and $52,173. The racial composition of the city has been predominantly white, consistently above 96% throughout the period.
The lack of new LIHTC projects in the last decade could be attributed to the declining population, which may have reduced the demand for additional affordable housing units. The stable median income might also suggest that the existing affordable housing stock has been sufficient to meet the needs of the low-income population.
South Bethlehem's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory consists of a single project with 18 one-bedroom units, completed in 1996. While this covers about 6.6% of the estimated housing stock, it is important to note that other affordable housing programs may contribute to the city's overall affordable housing inventory. The city has experienced a population decline over the past decade, which may have influenced the lack of new LIHTC projects. Despite this, the median income has remained relatively stable, and the racial composition has been consistently predominantly white.
