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Ferry, DiBello Answer Candidate Survey on Housing
All three seats on Montgomery County's Board of Commissioners are up for grabs on November 7. Last month, the Montco 30% Project emailed...
Michael Hays
Oct 12, 20235 min read


MontCo Rep Introduces Fair Share Housing Bill
Speaking from experience, many good bills passed in the PA House of Representatives never get a fair hearing – or vote – in the PA...
Michael Hays
Oct 7, 20232 min read


Tax Dollars Wasted on Market-Rate Homes
We are in the midst of a debate about affordable homes in Montgomery County. Good. Most people would acknowledge that Norristown and...
Michael Hays
Sep 30, 20233 min read


Recap: New shelter in Plymouth Meeting; Norristown to land before the U.N., & Events
This week saw a series of developments surrounding housing and homelessness, with stories and updates from Norristown and Upper Gwynedd,...
Michael Hays
Sep 24, 20233 min read


Norristown Police Sought Names of Homeless
The Norristown Police Department tried to obtain names of the unhoused from Montgomery County more than two months before news broke that...
Michael Hays
Sep 14, 20233 min read


Norristown Emails Show Disdain for Homeless
In the 14 months that have passed since Montgomery County’s only year-round homeless shelter closed, both encampments and evictions have...
Michael Hays
Sep 9, 20235 min read


What’s Up With the Rental Market?
To be a renter in Montgomery County these days is to wage battle against math and economics – without any real assistance from the...
Michael Hays
Sep 1, 20233 min read


Momentum Builds with Vote for 60 Apartment Homes
For the first time, supporters outnumbered the nimbys and helped provide the necessary political backing for a unanimous vote Tuesday...
Michael Hays
Aug 23, 20231 min read


Housing People Can Afford
Literally, housing that is affordable is a life-saver. People who spend less on housing costs have more money to spend on food, medical...
Michael Hays
Aug 17, 20231 min read


New Roommate Service Debuts in MontCo
“Empty nesters” and cost-burdened renters may be an ideal match in a new Pennsylvania-sponsored option. Those looking for creative...
Michael Hays
Aug 11, 20231 min read


Inqy: Peco to Give 45-Day Notice to Encampment
Over the weekend, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Peco will take additional steps in August to get remaining campers to leave the...
Michael Hays
Jul 31, 20231 min read


Volunteers & Contributors Welcomed
Twenty years ago -- almost to the month -- I started volunteering with political and social movements for the first time, at the age of...
Michael Hays
Jul 29, 20231 min read


Homelessness Task Force Debates ‘Fair Share’ of Services Between Norristown, Pottstown & Others
Since the spring, a large panel of elected officials and other stakeholders have met virtually to delineate “actionable” projects to...
Michael Hays
Jul 21, 20233 min read


Zoning Matters
Have you ever walked or driven past a vacant big box store or office park and wondered to yourself, “Why can’t that space be converted to...
Michael Hays
Jul 16, 20233 min read


Housing Vote is Promising; Reinforcements Needed
An affluent community in Montgomery County is one step closer to approving a development that would provide much needed affordable units...
Michael Hays
Jul 13, 20232 min read


Housing Vouchers: An Explanation
In this post, we turn our attention to one of the federal government’s most utilized and popular programs to lower the cost of housing:...
Michael Hays
Jul 7, 20232 min read


Rental Assistance Available via 211
While the rent is due tomorrow, July 1, for many people, the rising cost of apartments – along with the need to save money essentially...
Michael Hays
Jun 30, 20232 min read


Keeping the Focus on Solutions and Avoiding Sweeps
Norristown Council President Thomas Lepera’s chair sat empty during Tuesday’s council meeting. Meanwhile, members of the community turned...
Michael Hays
Jun 22, 20232 min read


Flags, Music, & Basketball: Juneteenth Op-Ed
Parents and other spectators gathered for summer league basketball on a mild evening at Park Place in Upper Gwynedd Township. They offer...
Michael Hays
Jun 19, 20231 min read


Housing Debate Intensifies in Upper Gwynedd
Emotions spilled over during Wednesday night’s meeting of the Upper Gwynedd Township Planning Commission during discussion about a...
Michael Hays
Jun 15, 20232 min read
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