Tri-County Housing to unveil five affordable townhomes in Harrisburg

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Tri-County Housing will join state, city and county leaders Monday in cutting the ribbon on five affordable new townhouses. 

The homes are located along the 2100 block of N. Fourth Street in the City of Harrisburg. The ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. 

Gary Lenker, executive director of nonprofit Tri-County Housing, the owner/developer of the project, said the project was made possible by the support of First Commonwealth Bank. Lenker added it was the first awarded to his nonprofit in his 12-year tenure and comes at a time when the shortage of affordable homeownership opportunities in Dauphin County is severe and escalating. 

“After years of attempts to secure funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) in a highly competitive environment, we were elated to earn their support,” Lenker said in a statement. “As we work to help address the housing crisis in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties, we are grateful for the support of the state, the county, the city, the FHLB, our financial partners, and especially First Commonwealth Bank, and the community.” 

The five affordable townhomes were built on vacant lots acquired from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.  The three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath townhomes will be available for purchase for eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners with a Veterans preference, replicating the successful Hummel Street Project in the city. 

The proposal was awarded $750,000 from the Federal Home Loan Bank Pittsburgh AHP Program. According to a release, this funding award was the only one awarded in the midstate in the December 2024 funding round.    

The revitalization project previously received $400,000 in PHARE funds from the PA Housing Finance Agency, along with Neighborhood Assistance Program dollars, and a Keystone Communities Program Grant for $366,000, both provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). 

Among those expected to be in attendance Monday are DCED Deputy Secretary Rick Vilello, a representative of PHFA; Sen. Patty Kim, Rep. Nate Davidson, Dauphin County Commissioners, Mayor Wanda Williams, Harrisburg City Council members and local, banking, and housing leaders 

Tri-County Housing was formerly Tri-County Housing Development Corporation (TCHDC). Tri-County/TCHDC has served Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties for 36 years. Since 1990, they have developed or rehabilitated more than 800 units of affordable housing, for both rent and purchase. They specialize in rehabilitation and redevelopment projects as well as new home construction. Tri-County rehabilitates abandoned and blighted properties in the City of Harrisburg and throughout Dauphin and Cumberland Counties.