SOSNA held our first general meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, March 30 via ZOOM. The topic was preservation and hosted a few guests including Vicki Riley from the Department of Revenue, Brandon Washington the founder of "1901" co-work space and Patrick Grossi from the Preservation Alliance.
You can watch the recording of the meeting on Facebook or download the recording.
Vicki Riley provided us an overview of assistance programs available to residents for their 2021 Real Estate Tax Bill and water bills.
Real Estate Tax Assistance Programs
**real estate taxes are due March 31!
Homestead Exemption - saves taxpayer up to $629 on real estate taxes (no age of income requirements); application deadline is 9/13
questions? call 215-686-9200
Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Freeze - saves money for senior citizens (65+ years old) who live and own their own home; taxes are frozen
Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA) - residents who own and occupy their homes can make monthly payments on back taxes; must provide proof of income and residency
Real Estate Tax Installment Program - residents who own and occupy their homes can make monthly installments; eligibility is based on income; seniors 65+ are eligible regardless of income
Real Estate Tax Credit for Active Duty & National Guard - provides a tax credit for members called to active duty anywhere outside Philadelphia
Water Bill Assistance Programs
Philadelphia Water Department Water Bill Customer Assistance Programs - for anyone having trouble paying their water bill should apply for help. Assistance programs are designed to help PWD customers who are:
low income (tiered assistance program)
seniors (25% water bill discount)
having a special hardship that makes it difficult to pay their water bills (income guidelines apply)
Standard Water Payment Agreements - allows customers to make monthly payments on past due water bills (no age or income requirements)
Business Taxes
Business Recovery Payment Agreements - for businesses struggling to pay taxes due after March 1, 2020 and/or if business owes taxes before that date
Tax guidance during the pandemic - find the latest tax and policy updates on the Revenue website at: www.phila.gov/covid-19-tax-relief
CONTACT:
In-Person
Municipal Services Center
1401 JFK Blvd, Concourse Level
Phila, PA 19102
8:30a-5p
To visit, you must schedule an appointment to make payments in-person:
Phone: 215-686-6442 or 215-686-6600, select option #3
Or schedule a time to speak to a representative in-person:
Property Taxes: 215-686-6442 or 215-686-6600, select option #3
Water: 215-685-6300
tax questions: revenue@phila.gov
water questions: wrbhelpdesk@phila.gov
Online Payments
Property Taxes: (877)-309-3710
Water Bills: (877)-309-3709
Vicki Riley, Public Information Officer
vicki.riley@phila.gov
Brandon Washington, SOSNA Board of Directors spoke to us about the 1901 Co-Work Space and how to get involved.
Fill out the form to stay up to date on updates on "1901": https://forms.gle/N6wQRYtMxet5wKX19
Contribute to the GoFundMe to help cover costs for this space: https://gofund.me/627cf596
Nicole Koedyker, SOSNA's Executive Director debuted SOSNA's Preservation Action Plan with the help of Patrick Grossi from the Preservation Alliance.
SOSNA aims to preserve the historic resources that provide meaning to the neighborhood through policies, storytelling and support programs.
This action plan outlines potential actions we can take to start these conversations with our neighbors about the past, present and future.
You can download the plan here and some of the research documents cited in the plan including the Pew Charitable Trust's Report on Philadelphia's Changing Neighborhoods and The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's report on Gentrification and Changes in the Stock of Low-Cost Rental Housing in Philadelphia, 2000 to 2014.
SOSNA welcomes any questions, comments, stories and ideas using this form: https://forms.gle/7mfScVTZyL8iV7eP6
