Housing Shortage Causes Employment Crisis

Tim Daley of Habitat for Humanity and Steve Gieringer of Neighborhood Housing Services join forces to tackle Berks County's housing crisis by transforming affordable housing into workforce housing that benefits both employers and employees. Their innovative approach bridges the gap between business needs and worker stability, offering homeownership opportunities that strengthen communities while addressing critical employment challenges.• Housing has become an employment issue as businesses struggle to retain talent due to housing affordability challenges• Habitat for Humanity has evolved to focus on workforce housing for those making $23-33 per hour• Homeownership provides stability for families and benefits municipalities through increased tax revenue• Neighborhood Housing Services offers unique financing solutions including down payment assistance up to 105% of property value• Comprehensive education (50 hours) and seven years of post-purchase counseling ensures buyer success• Creative financing programs developed during COVID continue to have 100% performance rates• Both organizations are rebranding their work as "workforce housing" to accurately reflect who they serve• Home prices in Reading have increased from $39,900 in the 1990s to $160-200,000 today• Over 300 first-time homebuyers have been created through these programs in the last three yearsTo learn more, visit www.habitatberks.org and www.nhsgb.org.#habitatforhumanity #neighborhoodhousingservices #NHS #thebradweismanshow #tbws2025 ---Welcome to The Brad Weisman Show, where we dive into the world of real people, real life, and everything in between with your host, Brad Weisman! 🎙️ Join us for candid conversations, laughter, and a fresh take on the real world. Get ready to explore the ups and downs of life with a side of humor. From property to personality, we've got it all covered. Tune in, laugh along, and let's get real! 🏡🌟 #TheBradWeismanShow #RealPeopleRealLife  Credits - The music for my podcast was written and performed by Jeff Miller.