Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, Inc.

Street Address:
213 North 5th Street
Suite 1030
Reading, PA 19601


Phone: 610-372-8433
Fax: 610-374-2866
Website: www.nhsgreaterberks.org

Ronald Miller, Executive Director

Contact Name: Ronald Miller
Phone: 610-372-8433x207
Fax: 610-374-2866
Email: rmiller@nhsgreaterberks.org


Staff Size: Full Time: 9    Part Time: 2

Background
Founded in 1977 by a partnership of local residents, businesses, and local government working together to revitalize the Sixth Ward neighborhood, promote reinvestment, restore pride and the quality of life.

Mission
Homeownership builds strong families; strong families build stable neighborhoods; stable neighborhoods build dynamic, healthy communities. Therefore: The Mission of NHS of Reading, Inc. is to facilitate and provide 'affordable housing' programs and initiatives that will expand homeownership opportunities for all people of Berks County, especially low to moderate income families, and will contribute to the revitalization of our neighborhoods and the greater commuity.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $1,754,604

 Lines of Business
  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management

  • Real Estate Development


    • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership
  • NeighborWorks Community Building and Organizing

    • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 92 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 114 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 66 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 0 rental units.
  • Invested $427,169 in the community through Neighborhood Housing Services of Greater Berks, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $6,059,421 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $6,486,590.

    • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    1/26/2009 Benchmark Accomplishments 2008 ¦ Total value of community output generated through the NHS organization during the fiscal year is $7,100,000. ¦ The HomeOwnership Center® made 28 HOP Loans (closing cost/downpayment assistance) of $400,000 in second mortgages. ¦ We assisted 77 renters become first-time homeowners, resulting in a community investment (est. mortgages) of over $6,500,000. ¦ 529 families benefited from the Fastrac homebuyer education and budget/credit counseling services this year. ¦ Our total loan portfolio increased by 12% over the previous year and hit a low of 2% delinquency rate this summer. ¦ NHS is re-developing 3 vacant blighted properties in Reading, and assisted/collaborated with Habitat in building 4 new homeowner units; total value is $700,000 ¦ NHS has partnered with Alliance for Building Communities of Allentown, to co-sponsor a 27 unit, $5.5MM senior apartment project in Hamburg. Project completed and 100% leased up. ¦ We were one of 5 agencies in PA to receive NFMC program funding; foreclosure programs were developed and staff trained in foreclosure mitigation. ¦ For Operation Facelift, NHS complemented the 360 Group Work Camp and local volunteers. 61 senior homeowners assisted,and generated over 8,000 manhours of community volunteeer labor throughout the year;

    Community Services
  • Community Building

  •  Annual Paint the Town Event

  •  Clean-up Project

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Landscape and Neighborhood Beautification

  •  Leadership Training

  •  Minority Awareness Program

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  • Family Health Programs

  •  Afterschool/Tutoring Programs

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  Foreclosure Prevention Counseling

  •  Tandem Lending

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Handyman Referrals

  •  Home Maintenance Training

  •  Lead Poison Prevention

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  HomeBuyers Club


    • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Stuart BowmanBoard Secretary; Board MemberFinancial InstitutionAffinity BankVP; mortgage lending
    Wayne CockrellBoard Member Ex OfficioLocal Government  
    Peter DelinkoBoard MemberResident  
    Debbi EisenhowerBoard Member At LargeBusinessPrudential Landis Homesale ServicesRealtor
    Joseph ForbesBoard MemberResident  
    Robert HoppesBoard Treasurer; Board MemberResident  
    Ronald KalyanBoard MemberBusiness  
    Jeffrey N KauffmanBoard PresidentSovereign BankVice President
    Glenn KeyBoard MemberResident  
    Sharon McMichaelBoard Vice PresidentFinancial InstitutionNational Penn BankVice President
    Michael Restrepo, Esq.Board MemberBusiness Attorney
    Carl TaylorBoard MemberResident  
    Denise TrumpBoard MemberBusinessM&T BankBranch Manager
    Michael WhiteBoard MemberFinancial Institution  
    Daniel WrightBoard MemberLocal GovernmentCity of ReadingCommunity Development Officer
    Michael ZaunBoard MemberBusinessSusquehanna Bank PAVice President

    About the NeighborWorks ® Network
    The NeighborWorks® network is a nationwide network of more than 240 community development organizations working in nearly 4358 urban, suburban and rural communities across America. These organizations engage in revitalization strategies that strengthen communities and transform lives. In the last five years alone, NeighborWorks® organizations have generated more than $8.5 billion in reinvestment and helped more than 500,000 families of modest means purchase or improve their homes or secure safe, decent rental or mutual housing.

    NeighborWorks ® America Contact Information
    District:  Mid-Atlantic
    Name:  Sasha M. Johnson
    Phone:  
    Toll-Free:  
    Fax:  
    Email:  smjohnson@nw.org