Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.

Street Address:
239 North 10th Street
Allentown, PA 18102



Phone: 610-437-4571
Fax: 610-437-9958
Website: www.nhslv.org

Carol Ann Jurchenko, Executive Director

Contact Name: Carol A Jurchenko
Phone: 610-437-4571x10
Fax:
Email: carol@nhslv.org



Staff Size: Full Time: 3    Part Time: 1

Background
Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley was established in May 1981.

Mission
Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. is a resident-led, not-for-profit community development organization. Our purpose is to encourage involvement, leadership, confidence and pride in our neighborhoods. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life for all persons in our service areas by offering and facilitating home ownership, housing rehabilitation, lending, counseling and educational programs.

Total Operating Expense (9/30/2007): $358,817

Lines of Business
  • Community Building and Organizing

  • Home Ownership Promotion Services

  • Lending and Loan Portfolio Management


  • National NeighborWorks ® Programs
  • NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership

  • Accomplishments in FY 2008
  • Provided 252 families with pre- and post- purchase housing counseling.
  • Rehabilitated or repaired 7 rental or owner occupied units (1-4 units).
  • Assisted 31 families in purchasing a home through homeownership counseling, downpayment, closing cost or financing assistance.
  • Owned or managed 24 rental units.
  • Invested $298,787 in the community through Neighborhood Housing Services of the Lehigh Valley, Inc.'s revolving loan fund, which leveraged $3,383,752 from conventional lenders and other sources.
  • Total direct investment in the community is $3,682,539.

  • Additional Accomplishments
    Date Additional Accomplishment
    6/30/2005 *NHS of the Lehigh Valley was the recipient of the Allentown Human Relations Commission Award in October 2004, for assisting over 1,100 families in the Lehigh Valley to purchase homes since 1992. *82 households received $850,621 in grants/loans for down payment/closing costs and housing rehabilitation loans. *94 individuals attended Financial Fitness classes. *34 households received pre-purchase credit/budgeting counseling. *6 households received foreclosure intervention/refinancing counseling. *3 individuals received Section 8 to Homeownership counseling. *377 households received information, either at presentations or by having packets mailed, regarding the programs and services offered by NHS of the Lehigh Valley.
    7/19/2006 For fiscal year July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 63 households were assisted in purchasing homes. $629,127 was disbursed in loans and $155,684 was disbursed in grants for down payment and closing cost assistance. 9 households received housing rehabilitation loans that totaled $64,345. 58 individuals attended Financial Fitness Classes. 13 households received pre-purchase credit/budgeting counseling. 9 households received Foreclosure Intervention/Refinancing counseling. 49 individuals received Section 8 to Homeownership counseling. 279 households received information, either at presentations or by having packets mailed, regarding the programs and services offered by NHS of the Lehigh Valley. In May 2006, NHS of the Lehigh Valley celebrated their 25th Anniversary of providing programs and services throughout the Lehigh Valley.
    8/17/2007 7/1/06 - 6/30/07 Accomplishments: Three new programs have been added: Consumer education counseling for residents of the Allentown Rescue Mission, Financial Fitness classes in Spanish, and housing rehabilitation and closing cost assistance through the Allentown Elm Street Demonstration Program. Fifty-five families purchased homes using programs provided by NHSLV; $468,285 was distributed in loans; $136,245 was distributed in grants. Seven families received rehabilitation loan assistance totalling $163,704. Sixty-one individuals attended Financial Fitness classes. Thirty-seven residents of the Allentown Rescue Mission received consumer education counseling. Fourteen households received pre-purchase credit/budgeting counseliing. Fifteen households received foreclosure intervention/refinancing counseling. Six households received Section 8 to Homeownership counseling. 328 households received informational packets on NHSLV services and programs.
    8/26/2008 33 households purchased homes receiving a total of $374,621 of down payment and closing cost assistance. One household successfully realized their dream of home ownership accessing the Section 8 to home ownership program. 14 households received rehabilitation loans/grants totalling $167,599. A $5,000 grant was secured from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development for improvements to the Central Fire Station in Allentown. 121 individuals attended Financial Fitness Classes. 243 individuals/households received pre-purchase counseling. 95 individuals/households received assistance with resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency. 128 individuals/households received assistance with home maintenance and financial management for home owners. 11 individuals/households received assistance in locating, securing, or maintaining residence in rental housing.
    9/15/2009 NHS completed implementation of the Allentown Elm Street Demonstration Program, a $325,000 grant that provided major housing rehabilitation assistance to nine households and down payment assistance to two households. 24 households purchased homes in the City of Allentown ($205,989 was disbursed in loans and $82,005 was disbursed in grants for down payment and closing cost assistance). 7 households purchased homes in Lehigh County ($18,525 was disbursed in loans and $59,315 in grants for down payment and closing cost assistance). 2 households purchased homes in the City of Bethlehem ($32,290 was disbursed in loans for down payment and closing cost assistance). 2 households purchased homes in Northampton County ($24,250 was disbursed in loans for down payment and closing cost assistance). 1 household in Allentown received facade improvement assistance from Wachovia Bank through the Lehigh Valley Hospital Employer Assisted Housing Program in the amount of $4,000. 1 household in Allentown received housing rehabilitation assistance through the Allentown Elm Street Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant Program that totaled $14,288. 9 households received housing rehabilitation assistance through the Northampton County Deferred Loan Rehabilitation Program that totaled $84,151. 67 homeless clients of the Allentown Rescue Mission attended Financial Fitness classes. 284 individuals/households received pre-purchase counseling. 17 individuals/households received assistance with resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency. 140 individuals/households received assistance with home maintenance and financial management for home owners. 3 individuals/households received assistance in locating, securing, or maintaining residence in rental housing.

    Community Services

  • Community Building

  •  Annual Paint the Town Event

  •  Community Outreach and Organizing

  •  Community Planning

  •  Leadership Training

  •  Neighborhood / Resident Crime Watch

  •  Neighborhood Festivals

  • Financial Planning and Assistance

  •  Down-payment Assistance

  •  Financial Education

  •  IDA Savings Program

  •  Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

  •  Tandem Lending

  • Green Building and Home Improvement

  •  Energy Conservation Programs

  •  Environmental Friendly Building Materials

  • Housing Programs and Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Home Ownership Center

  •  Home Ownership Counseling

  •  Rental Housing

  •  Section 8 Housing


  • Board of Directors
    NameBoard Role/TitleSectorCompany/OrganizationJob Title
    Celia AlvaradoBoard MemberBusinessKeystone Nazareth Bank & TrustAssistant Vice President, Lending Outreach Coordinator
    Gary BertschBoard MemberResidentWest Ward PartnershipProject Manager
    Toni FiorettiBoard MemberFinancial InstitutionTeam Capital BankVice President/Residential Lending Manager
    Don HullenbaughBoard MemberBusinessState Farm InsuranceAgent
    Judith A HunsickerBoard PresidentResidentEmbassy BankChief Operating Officer
    Richard A MillerBoard Vice PresidentResident  
    Deneen ProctorBoard MemberResident  
    Kathy SchrayBoard MemberLocal GovernmentCity of Allentown, Bureau of Building StandardsFinancial Specialist
    Sharon SmithBoard SecretaryResident  
    Brian StineBoard TreasurerBusinessAmerican Bank 
    Irene WoodwardBoard MemberLocal GovernmentCity of BethlehemHousing & Community Development Planner

    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