The City of Philadelphia is working to expand comprehensive first-time homeownership opportunities and increase housing supply through multiple innovative housing programs, such as the Turn the Key Neighborhoods Program, which transforms vacant, city-owned lots into affordable homes. FUSE Executive Fellow Christine Behr will collaborate with a team of content experts to develop strategic recommendations and pilot solutions that strengthen and scale up city operations and programs, addressing challenges in land acquisition and disposition, permitting and zoning barriers, and developer capacity. This will support Philadelphia’s broader strategy to deliver 30,000 affordable housing units by 2030, increasing the supply of affordable housing, reducing racial disparities in homeownership, and promoting long-term neighborhood stability and economic mobility in historically underserved communities.
Starting in October 2025, Behr will collaborate closely with the Department of Planning and Development, the Philadelphia Land Bank, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, third-party consultants, and the Department of Public Property to expand equitable and affordable homeownership opportunities in Philadelphia. This initiative will support Philadelphia’s broader strategy to achieve 30,000 affordable housing units by 2030, thereby reducing racial disparities in homeownership and promoting economic stability for all residents.
