48 Brand-New Workforce Housing Units Proposed

ROYERSFORD, PA – Mission First Housing Group, in partnership with Royersford Baptist Church, is excited to announce plans for developing Cypress Place at Royersford – a brand new 48-unit workforce housing development adjacent to the church at 452 S Lewis Rd, Royersford, PA.

The vision of Cypress Place at Royersford is to ensure people who work in the Royersford community can also live in that community. The target market for Cypress Place at Royersford is people who live in the area and are struggling to pay rent, people who work nearby but are unable to live near their workplace because housing costs are too high and people who grew up in the area but have been unable to find housing that they can afford here.

Cypress Place at Royersford is a community with workforce housing offering lower rents that working families can afford, enabling them to live closer to work and have more resources to meet other needs like food, clothing and transportation. This development is proposed in response to a need for housing that is less expensive that the average apartment in the area.

The average rent at Cypress Place at Royersford is expected to be $1,000 for a one bedroom, $1,200 for a two bedroom and $1,370 for a three bedroom – 30% below the current rental market in Royersford. A household would only need an annual income of approximately $36,000 to afford the average rent a two-bedroom apartment at Cypress Place – 30% below what is needed in today’s market.

“It is important to us that people have the opportunity to live and thrive in the community they are familiar with, in a home they can comfortably afford,” said Thomas A.K. Queenan, Chief Executive Officer and President of Mission First. “The plan for Cypress Place at Royersford gives us opportunity to work with a pillar of the community, Royersford Baptist Church, and local officials to bring critical affordable housing to Royersford.”

The project combines the 35 years of affordable housing development expertise of Mission First with the 145 years of community connection and commitment of Royersford Baptist Church, whose congregation seeks to live out the command to love our neighbors through a long heritage of practical actions that meet identified needs. Mission First and Royersford Baptist Church share a common vision of safe, equitable housing that will strengthen the community.

“Our congregation has been committed to supporting the surrounding community since our founding in 1879; it is one of the many ways we practice what we preach and live out our faith, said Rev. Sarah Strosahl-Kagi, pastor of Royersford Baptist Church. “We are excited for this opportunity to partner with Mission First and to be a beacon of hope to our neighbors in need by utilizing our resources for the common good.”

Mission First has also assembled an experienced team of local and regional professionals to create a high-quality workforce housing development. The team will employ best practices in design and development, along with feedback from neighbors, to shape a successful project for the community.

Mission First Housing Group will seek funding for the project from a combination of sources, including applying for Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and PHARE programs funds, seeking support for loan funds from Montgomery County and a mortgage.

Community members are encourages to visit www.cypressplacepa.org to learn more about Cypress Place at Royersford, follow the project’s progress, share their ideas about the plan and ask questions of the development team.

On August 21, 2024, Mission First Housing Group and Royersford Baptist Church will present its concept to the Upper Providence Planning Commission seeking early feedback and comment.

###

About Mission First Housing Group

Mission First Housing Group develops and manages affordable, safe and sustainable homes for people in need, with a non-profit, mission-driven focus on the most vulnerable. Mission First currently provides affordable housing and services to more than 6,000 people in nearly 4,000 apartments, serving populations in need, such as veterans, survivors of domestic violence, seniors and the disabled. www.missionfirsthousing.org.