PHILADELPHIA  – Mayor Cherelle L. Parker today issued the following statement in response to the latest City Council vote regarding the H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made Easy) legislation, underscoring her commitment to preserving Philadelphia’s iconic rowhomes and protecting homeowners across the city.

“I will continue to lead the effort to Save Row Homes in Philadelphia. About 70 percent of Philly homes are rowhomes, and 75 percent of those are over 50 years old. They need repairs to remain vibrant and critical investments for our homeowners.

“Today’s vote in City Council’s Committee of Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation on legislation concerning the city’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Plan has taken place. However, an amendment to the H.O.M.E. legislation, requested by my administration on a critical issue concerning income eligibility limits for the Basic Systems Repair and the Adaptive Modifications Programs (BSRP and AMP), was not introduced in Council.

“The whole debate over income eligibility limits for BSRP and Adaptive Modifications is to make sure that we leave no working Philadelphian and no qualifying Philly rowhome owner excluded from these vital programs. That includes City employees too. We have a duty and a responsibility to them.

“If we don’t save Philly rowhomes, we’re going to become a city of used-to-be neighborhoods, blocks that used to be nice but now are showing signs of age and decline. I will not allow that to happen – not on my watch as Mayor of Philadelphia.

“I’ll take this message with me wherever I go. My mission won’t change!

“I will not leave any Philadelphian behind, including working Philadelphians or their neighborhoods!”