Loading Content...
Affordable Housing in Wilkes-Barre: LIHTC Impact on a Former Coal Mining City
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Wilkes-Barre, a city in Pennsylvania, has a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory consisting of 295 total units, all of which are designated as low-income. This represents approximately 1.75% of the estimated 16,884 housing units in the city, based on the 2022 population of 44,068 and the national average household size of 2.61 persons.
The city has received $1,546,146 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With 3 approximate projects, this averages to about $515,382 per project. The average federal funding per unit is approximately $5,241. Wilkes-Barre holds 0.26% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC funding.
Wilkes-Barre's affordable housing development spans nearly three decades. The first LIHTC project, Interfaith Heights, was completed in 1989, and the most recent, Heritage Point Apartments, in 2017. The 2010s saw the most recent development activity, with Heritage Point Apartments adding 56 units to the inventory.
The affordable housing stock in Wilkes-Barre consists of a mix of unit types. There are 85 one-bedroom units, 130 two-bedroom units, 74 three-bedroom units, and 6 four-bedroom units. This range of unit sizes indicates an effort to accommodate various household compositions within the low-income population.
Over the past decade, Wilkes-Barre's population has fluctuated, with an increase from 40,648 in 2019 to 44,068 in 2022. The median income has shown an upward trend, rising from $33,195 in 2013 to $42,208 in 2022. This increase in income may indicate changing economic conditions in the city.
Racial demographics have shifted significantly during this period. The white population decreased from 72% in 2013 to 54% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 13% to 29%. The Black population remained relatively stable at around 10-12%. These demographic changes may influence future affordable housing needs and planning.
Wilkes-Barre's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory represents a long-term commitment to providing low-income housing options. The city's 295 affordable units, spread across three projects developed over nearly 30 years, demonstrate ongoing efforts to address affordable housing needs. The diverse mix of unit types suggests an attempt to cater to various household sizes within the low-income population. As the city's demographics continue to evolve, particularly with the growing Hispanic population and increasing median income, future affordable housing initiatives may need to adapt to these changing dynamics.
