Affordable Housing Trends in Zip Code 19138: A Decade of Change in Philadelphia
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
DATA SOURCE
Zip code 19138 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, contains 52 units of affordable housing funded by Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). These units represent 0.47% of the estimated 11,018 housing units in the zip code, based on the 2022 population of 28,756 and the national average household size of 2.61. The LIHTC projects in this area have received $347,463 in tax credits, averaging $6,682 per unit and accounting for 0.06% of Pennsylvania's total LIHTC allocation.
The development of LIHTC-funded housing in zip code 19138 occurred primarily between 1987 and 1997. The first project was completed in 1987 at 2015 W Godfrey Ave, and the most recent in 1997 at 936 E Price St. The 1980s saw the highest activity, with four projects completed during this decade, including those at 1344 E Rittenhouse St and 1511 E Mayland St in 1988. The housing inventory consists of 36 two-bedroom units, 7 one-bedroom units, and 6 three-bedroom units.
Demographic trends in zip code 19138 over the past decade show a gradual population decrease from 32,939 in 2013 to 28,756 in 2022. Despite this decline, the median income increased from $37,996 in 2013 to $44,236 in 2022, indicating some economic improvement. The racial demographics have remained relatively stable, with the Black population consistently representing around 92-93% of the total population. There has been a slight increase in diversity, with small increases in the Hispanic and two or more races categories.
The lack of new LIHTC projects in the last decade, combined with demographic data, suggests a persistent need for affordable housing. The increasing median income and decreasing population may indicate gentrification pressures or changing housing needs that could benefit from updated affordable housing options.
In summary, zip code 19138 in Philadelphia has a small but established inventory of LIHTC-funded affordable housing, developed primarily in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These units provide important affordable options in an area that has experienced economic changes over the past decade. The demographic trends, including a decreasing population but rising median income, suggest an evolving community that may benefit from continued attention to affordable housing needs.
