Resource Guide for Homeowners
Updated May 2013
EMERGENCY UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Help with All Utilities
Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF)
 (215) 972-5170; http://www.uesfacts.org/utility-grant-program.html
 Provides grants of up to $500 for water bills or up to $1500 for gas or electric bills, if applicant
can reach a balance of $0 with grant plus their own money or other sources.
 Applicant must have shut-off notice or have a utility shut-off.
Help with Water Shut-offs
Water Revenue Bureau Emergency Line
 (215) 685-6300
 Call to set up a payment plan.
Help with Heating
Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
 (215) 560-1587; http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/foradults/heatingassistanceliheap/index.htm
 Helps pay heating costs through grants.
 Provides free heater repair.
 Heating bill can be current or delinquent.
CRISIS Emergency Heat/Fuel Program
 (215) 687-0060
 Helps pay heating-related bills, such as for electricity, gas, water, or coal, in emergency
situations.
 Provides free heater repair.
 Open between November and mid-March.
HUD Heater Hotline
 (215) 568-7190
 Provides free heater repair.
UTILITY PAYMENT PLANS
Help with All Utilities
Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF)
 (215) 972-5170; http://www.uesfacts.org/utility-grant-program.html

Provides grants for emergency assistance with utility bills.
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Help with Water Payment Plans
Water Revenue Assistance Program (WRAP)
 (215) 686-6880
 Provides grants up to $200 to help pay water bills.
 Refers callers to the Water Revenue Bureau to set up payment plans.
Water Revenue Bureau Senior’s Discount
 (215) 686-6880
 Offers a 25% discount to homeowners at least 65 years of age who have the water bill in their
name and have a household income of $26,700/year or less.
Help with Gas and Electric Payment Plans
PECO Payment Plans
 (888) 480-1533
 PECO Energy’s CAP Rate Program
o (800) 774-7040;
https://www.peco.com/CustomerService/AssistancePrograms/CAP/Pages/CAPApplication.aspx

o Provides a discounted rate on gas and electric service.
PECO Energy’s LIURP Program
o (800) 675-0222
o Can help lower the amount of gas and electricity used.
o Provides free weatherization measures installed in the home and conservation education.
Philadelphia Gas Works Payment Plans
 (215) 235-1777; http://www.pgworks.com/assistanceprograms/index.htm
Help with Telephone Service
Verizon


(800) 837-4966; http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/pa_lowincome.html
Offers various no-cost and low-cost programs to help low-income residents get or keep telephone
service.
SafeLink Wireless
 (800) -Safelink; https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/home.aspx
 Provides low-income Americans with a free cell phone and monthly airtime if they are incomeeligible or already receive assistance like Food Stamps or LIHEAP.
RESOLVING A UTILITY DISPUTE
Community Legal Services’ Energy Unit
 (215) 981-3777; http://www.clsphila.org/Content.aspx?id=177
 Provides legal advice and possibly legal representation in utility disputes.
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PA Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Office
 (215) 560-2414; http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id=451
 Hears complaints about the Philadelphia Water Department.
PA PUC-Bureau of Consumer Services
 (800) 692-7380; http://www.puc.state.pa.us/general/filecomplaints.aspx
 Receives and responds to complaints about PECO’s service.
REAL ESTATE TAXES
Low-Income Real Estate Tax Installment Plan
 (215) 686-6442; http://www.phila.gov/revenue/pdfs/2012reinstallapp.pdf
 Allows homeowners to pay their tax bill in up to 8 payments throughout the year.
 Allows seniors at least 65 years old to pay their tax bill in up to 20 payments. (A payment plan
that extends into the following year results in a lien, and interest will still accrue. However, the
lien and interest will be eliminated once you have paid in full under the payment plan.)
 Application deadline is usually at the end of February of each year.
State Property Tax Rebate Program
 (888) 222-9190;
http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_rent_rebate_program/11410
 Applicants can be permanently disabled persons who are at 18 years old, widows or widowers
who are at least 50 years old, and seniors who are at least 65 years old.
 Provides a rebate of up to $975 for real estate taxes paid in the previous year.
 Income cannot exceed $35,000/year (excluding 50% of Social Security benefits).
 Deadline to claim rebate is usually June 30 of every year, but the state sometimes extends the
deadline as late as December 31.
Housing Counseling Programs
 (215) 334-4663; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/cslgagencies.htm
 Provides free assistance in negotiating payment plans for back real estate taxes.
Philadelphia Senior Center Housing Counseling
 (215) 546-5879; http://www.philaseniorcenter.org/counseling%20-%20housing%20and%20in-center.php
 Open Monday through Friday, 8:45 am to 4:15 pm.
 Provides free housing counseling to seniors at least 60 years old.
Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program
 (215) 686-3256 or (215) 686-3257
 Provides complete real estate tax exemption for the primary residence owned by any honorably
discharged veteran who is 100% disabled and has a financial need, or by the surviving spouse of
any honorably discharged veteran who was 100% disabled if the surviving spouse has financial
need.
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HOME REPAIRS
Grant Programs (free repairs)
Basic Systems Repair Program (BSRP)
 (215) 448-2160; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/bsrp.htm
 Provides free repairs (emergencies and otherwise) for electrical, plumbing, and heating systems
and for roofs.
 Total repairs needed cannot exceed $17,500.
Emergency Heater Hotline
 (215) 568-7190
 Provides free minor heater repairs.
Weatherization Assistance Program
 (215) 448-2160; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/weatherization.htm
 Provides free weatherization assistance, such as sealing windows and improving insulation.
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia
 (215) 568-5044; http://www.rebuildingphilly.org/homeowners.htm
 Provides free home repairs, including special programs for veterans.
American Red Cross
 (215) 299-4000;

http://redcrossphilly.org/page.cfm?info=Our%20Work&service=Emergency%20Services&title=Disaster%20Relief
Provides free disaster relief assistance for homes affected by serious fire or flood.
Loan Programs
Homeowners Emergency Loan Program (HELP)
 (215) 685-4901; http://www.phila.gov/water/Responsibilities_of_.html
 Provide loans for plumbing repairs.
Philadelphia Home Improvement Loan (PHIL)
 (877) 487-4452; http://www.PhilaLoan.com
 Provides low-interest home improvement loans up to $25,000.
 Loans are available only through participating lenders. Use the above contact information to
locate participating branches.
PHIL Plus Loan
 (215) 686-9723; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/miniPHIL.htm
 Provides low-interest home improvement loans up to $25,000, to be repaid over 20 years.
 Customers must apply through a qualified free housing counseling agency – contact
(215) 334-4663 or http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/cslgagencies.htm
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Mini-PHIL Loan
 (215) 686-9723; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/miniPHIL.htm
 Provides low-interest home improvement loans up to $10,000, to be repaid over 10 years.
 Customers must apply through a qualified free housing counseling agency – contact (215) 3344663 or http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/cslgagencies.htm.
PHIL Energy Loan
 (215) 476-4205; http://www.phillynhs.org/loans.htm
 Provides loans up to $10,000 at a fixed interest rate to make energy-related repairs, such as heater
repairs or replacing insulation, and to pay off back utility bills.
 To apply, call one of the following five agencies:
o
o
o
o
o
ACORN, 846 North Broad Street, (215) 765-1221
Congreso de Latinos Unidos, 216 West Somerset Street, (215) 763-8870
Germantown Settlement, 218 West Chelten Avenue, (215) 849-3104
Southwest CDC, 6328 Paschall Avenue, (215) 729-3800
New Kensington CDC, 2513-15 Frankford Avenue, (215) 427-0350
The agency will provide budget and home improvement counseling; applicants are then referred
to a participating bank.
Discount Building Materials
Impact Services’ Building Materials Exchange
 (215) 423-3613; http://www.impactservices.org/econ_dev/family/materialsexchange.php
 Provides new and salvaged materials at low cost, including paint, lumber, floor, coverings, used
appliances, mirrors, windows, toilets, and sinks
MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE
Save Your Home Philly Hotline
 (215) 334-4663; http://www.saveyourhomephilly.org/
 Provides referrals to free housing counseling agencies that assist homeowners who are behind on
their mortgages or who would like to re-finance their mortgages.
BUDGET AND CREDIT COUNSELING
Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley
 (800) 989-2227; http://cccsdv.org
 Provides free budget and credit counseling, including help in determining whether to file for
bankruptcy.
 Holds educational workshops on budgeting, credit, money management, housing, and identity
theft.
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Save Your Home Philly Hotline
 (215) 334-4663; http://www.saveyourhomephilly.org/
 Provides referrals to free counseling agencies that provide budget and credit counseling.
Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF)
 (215) 972-5170; http://www.uesfacts.org/self-sufficiency-workshops-series.html
 Provides free energy-efficiency counseling and budget counseling.
LEAD PAINT REMOVAL
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
 (215) 685-2788; http://www.phila.gov/health/childhoodlead/
 Provides grants to homeowners with children to remove lead paint from their homes.
ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS
Utilities
Water Revenue Bureau Senior’s Discount
 (215) 686-6880
 Offers a 25% discount to homeowners at least 65 years of age who have the water bill in their
name and have a household income of $26,700 or less.
Real Estate Taxes
Low-Income Real Estate Tax Installment Plan
 (215) 686-6442; http://www.phila.gov/revenue/pdfs/2012reinstallapp.pdf
 Allows seniors at least 65 years old to pay their tax bill in up to 20 payments throughout the year.
(Note: making more than 8 payments per year causes a lien to be placed against your property.)
 Deadline is usually at the end of February of each year.
State Property Tax Rebate Program
 (888) 222-9190; http://www.revenue.state.pa.us
 Eligible applicants include seniors who are at least 65 years old.
 Provides a rebate of up to $975 for real estate taxes paid in the previous year.
 Income cannot exceed $35,000/year (excluding 50% of Social Security benefits).
 Deadline to claim rebate is usually June 30 of every year, but the state sometimes extends the
deadline as late as December 31.
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Home Repair
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA)
 Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program (SHARP)
o (215) 765-9040; http://www.pcacares.org/pca_ss_Homeowners_Resources.aspx
o Provides assistance to seniors at least 60 years old with safety- and security-related home
repairs
 Emergency Fund
o (215) 765-9040;
http://www.pcacares.org/ServiceDetail.aspx?service=PCA+Emergency+Fund+-+Emergency
o Offers small grants to needy elderly over age 60 to meet emergency energy, food,
housing, and medical needs.
Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services (PNHS)
 Senior Housing Assistance Program (SHAP)
o (215) 476-4205; http://www.phillynhs.org/MSRP.htm
o Provides grants of up to $1,500 for major systems repairs for seniors at least 55 years old
in the West Philadelphia area – grants pays up to 75% of repair cost; senior pays balance
o Income cannot exceed 80% of area median income.
ASSISTANCE FOR DISABLED PERSONS
Real Estate Taxes
State Property Tax Rebate Program
 (888) 222-9190;
http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/property_tax_rent_rebate_program/11410
 Eligible applicants include permanently disabled persons who are at 18 years old.
 Provides a rebate of up to $975 for real estate taxes paid in the previous year.
 Income cannot exceed $35,000/year (excluding 50% of Social Security benefits).
 Deadline to claim rebate is usually June 30 of every year, but it can be extended. (For real estate
taxes paid in 2008, the deadline to apply is December 31, 2009.)
Home Repair
Adaptive Modification Program
 (215) 448-2160; http://www.phila.gov/ohcd/adaptmod.htm
 Provides free improvements for physically disabled homeowners and tenants, to allow for easier
access to and mobility within a property.
 Applicants must apply by phone, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Hearingimpaired applicants should call TDD at (215) 448-2184.
Liberty Resources’ Home Modification Program
 (215) 634-2000; http://www.libertyresources.org
 Provides adaptations to homes of disabled individuals.
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