Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$5,023,078

Total expenses

$4,496,151

Contributions and grants received

$4,911,808

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$84,409

Other revenue

$26,861

Total assets, end of year

$3,647,805

Total liabilities, end of year

$1,794,097

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$1,853,708

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$3,870,565

Management and general expenses

$549,005

Fundraising expenses

$76,581

Program service expenses (Part III)

$3,870,565

Program services were 86.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• SEE SCHEDULE OREGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2024-2025REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES (RHLS) WORKS ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES IN THE FIGHT TO CREATE AND PROTECT SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOMES. WE PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR GROUPS SERVING THOSE WITH LOW INCOMES, SHARE KNOWLEDGE, UNITE PARTNERS, AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICY CHANGES. RHLS IS COMMITTED TO INTEGRATING RACIAL EQUITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR WORK, IN PURSUIT OF ACHIEVING RACIAL JUSTICE IN HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND COMMUNITY/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE BELIEVE ALL PEOPLE DESERVE HOUSING THAT IS HEALTHY, SAFE, AND AFFORDABLE IN A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. RHLS HAS HELPED CREATE OR PRESERVE 11,533 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING $2.1 BILLION IN FINANCING SINCE 1973. OUR CORE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGING IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ENGAGING IN SYSTEMS CHANGE THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, DATA ANALYSIS, AND EDUCATION THAT CREATES OR BOLSTERS RESOURCES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION; INCREASES PROTECTIONS FOR LOW-INCOME TENANTS; AND PROMOTES EQUITABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. TRAINING, EDUCATING AND INFORMING TO SUPPORT LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ON TOPICS RELATED TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. KEY RHLS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR NONPROFIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS DURING THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, RHLS REPRESENTED 113 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 149 CASES RELATED TO HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. WITH SUPPORT FROM RHLS, 711 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDING $180 MILLION IN FINANCING WERE DEVELOPED. THIS INCLUDES REPRESENTATION AND FINANCIAL CLOSE OF SEVEN INDIVIDUAL MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FINANCED IN PART WITH THE USE OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT (LIHTC) DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. POLICY AND SYSTEMS ADVOCACYRHLS WORKED IN COALITION WITH PARTNERS IN HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND LEGAL AID TO ENGAGE IN SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS SOME OF THE KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR: ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF RENT CONTROL FOR MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES ON THE STATE LEVEL. THIS INCLUDED WORK ON LEGISLATION AIMING TO IMPLEMENT RENT CONTROL POLICIES IN MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS THE PUBLISHING OF A REPORT THAT INCLUDES A STATE-BY-STATE REVIEW OF RENT STABILIZATION LAWS IN MANUFACTURED HOME COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS WORK IS ONGOING. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RHLS RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF AN INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS. THE GOVERNOR INDICATED HIS INTENTION TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THIS RECOMMENDATION IN HIS FALL BUDGET ADDRESS. WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO CREATE A FUNDING MECHANISM FOR HOME REPAIRS FOR LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME HOMEOWNERS ACROSS THE STATE, BASED ON THE MODEL OF THE WHOLE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM ORIGINALLY FUNDED BY A ONE-TIME INFUSION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) DOLLARS. THIS WORK IS ONGOING. ISSUING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY'S QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN; ACT 129 WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS; AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING GUIDANCE TO THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD); AND OTHERS.TRAINING AND OUTREACHRHLS PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE AT THE NEXUS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES AS A SPECIALTY PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE LEGAL AID NETWORK. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, RHLS PROVIDED 65 TRAININGS TO 2,853 ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. SUPPORT STAFF ADDITIONALLY PROVIDED DOZENS OF REFERRALS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CIVIL LEGAL AID, PRIVATE BAR, SOCIAL SERVICES, OR OTHER SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE. INFORMATION SEEKERS UTILIZING THE RHLS WEBSITE ALSO DOWNLOADED 42,143 PIECES OF LEGAL EDUCATION MATERIAL DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. SOME KEY TRAININGS/PRESENTATIONS INCLUDED: PRESERVING RENTAL HOUSING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS. HOUSING ACCESS FOR RETURNING CITIZENS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR TENANT SELECTION PLANS. THE ADVOCATE'S GUIDE TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT (LIHTC) FORUM ON THE JOHNSON V. GRANTS PASS SUPREME COURT DECISIONSTRATEGIC PLANNINGRHLS LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND REBRANDING EXPLORATION, SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL CONSULTANTS. THE GOAL: TO DEFINE A CLEAR AND ACTIONABLE ROADMAP FOR RHLS'S NEXT CHAPTER, ONE THAT BUILDS ON ITS STRENGTHS, CENTERS RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY, AND POSITIONS THE ORGANIZATION FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH DRIVEN BY OUR MISSION AND VALUES. OVER FIFTEEN MONTHS RHLS ENGAGED OVER 100 STAKEHOLDERS, BOARD MEMBERS, CLIENTS, FUNDERS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS, THROUGH INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, AND SURVEYS, CULMINATING IN A DISCOVERY BRIEF. THIS DISCOVERY BRIEF SURFACED CRITICAL INSIGHTS ABOUT RHLS'S IDENTITY, STRENGTHS, AREAS FOR GROWTH, AND THE VALUES THAT MUST GUIDE ITS FUTURE.INSIGHTS FROM THE DISCOVERY BRIEF WERE USED BY THE STAFF AND STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SHAPE THE ORGANIZATION'S 2025-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH CALLS FOR GROWTH IN OUR CLIENT SERVICES, GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION, AND POLICY WORK AS WELL AS GOALS TO SUPPORT THIS GROWTH. THE NEW BRAND AND ASSOCIATED ASSETS WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEAR.

  Expenses $2,479,147

• SEE SCHEDULE OPULP'S PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2024-2025THE PENNSYLVANIA UTILITY LAW PROJECT ("PULP") IS A STATEWIDE LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT OF REGIONAL HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES AND IS A MEMBER PROGRAM OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK (PLAN). AS THE DESIGNATED SPECIALIZED PROJECT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGAL AID NETWORK FOR UTILITY ISSUES, PULP'S MISSION IS TO SECURE JUST AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO UTILITY SERVICES FOR PENNSYLVANIANS EXPERIENCING POVERTY.PULP'S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: REPRESENTING, AS DIRECT COUNSEL OR CO-COUNSEL, QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL UTILITY CUSTOMERS AND CONSUMER GROUPS COMPRISED PRIMARILY OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS AND/OR THAT ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. ADVOCATING FOR THE INTERESTS OF LOW-INCOME UTILITY CONSUMERS BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT ADMINISTER PROGRAMS OR HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT ON ENERGY OR UTILITY MATTERS AFFECTING LOW-INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS. PROVIDING EDUCATION, INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO SOCIAL, LEGAL, AND HOUSING SERVICE PROVIDERS; NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS; LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS; UTILITIES; THE REGULATORY COMMUNITY; AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA.KEY PULP ACCOMPLISHMENTS:IMPACT LITIGATIONIN THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, PULP HANDLED 47 HIGH IMPACT CASES INVOLVING COMPLEX REPRESENTATION AND LITIGATION BEFORE THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. WE COMPLETED AND CLOSED 21 OF THOSE CASES, AND 26 REMAINED IN VARIOUS STAGES OF LITIGATION AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. PULP'S IMPACT LITIGATION IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING UTILITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING RATES, COLLECTIONS, AND TERMINATIONS, AND EXPANDING UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM FUNDING, ASSISTANCE LEVELS, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THROUGH THIS IMPACT LITIGATION, PULP SECURED MORE THAN $3,000,000 IN ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY HARDSHIP FUND GRANT ASSISTANCE AND LEVERAGED AN ADDITIONAL $16.7 MILLION IN INCREASED FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING $2.2 MILLION IN ONGOING ANNUAL INVESTMENTS. OUR ADVOCACY ALSO HELPED TO REDUCE PROPOSED UTILITY RATE INCREASES BY $584 MILLION ANNUALLY, SAVING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EACH YEAR.WHILE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY, PULP'S IMPACT ADVOCACY RESULTED IN NUMEROUS IMPROVEMENTS TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFITS INCLUDING REDUCTION IN THE APPLICABLE ENERGY BURDEN STANDARDS FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOW INCOME CUSTOMERS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA, IMPROVEMENTS TO ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION IN LOW INCOME RATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, AND ELIMINATION OF BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT. THESE PROGRAM POLICY REFORMS WILL GENERATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDED RATE RELIEF TO PENNSYLVANIA'S LOW INCOME CONSUMERS. INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIONPULP HANDLED 424 INDIVIDUAL CASES THROUGH ITS EMERGENCY UTILITY HOTLINE. PULP ACHIEVED SUBSTANTIAL SUCCESS FOR CLIENTS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION LEVERAGING APPROXIMATELY $379,154 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO OUR CLIENTS THROUGH CLOSED CASES: PREVENTED TERMINATION OF SERVICE AND/OR ASSISTED WITH RECONNECTION IN 278 CASES. REMOVED BARRIERS TO ENROLLMENT IN UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN 215 CASES. HELPED CLIENTS TO DEFER APPROXIMATELY $261,936 IN UTILITY DEBT FOR FORGIVENESS OVER TIME. REMOVED APPROXIMATELY $7,751 IN DEBTS FROM CLIENT ACCOUNTS. ELIMINATED $5,941 IN FEES AND SECURITY DEPOSITS ASSOCIATED WITH RECONNECTION. OBTAINED $103,526 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL RELIEF THROUGH GRANT ASSISTANCE, REFUNDS, AND REDUCED DEBT.PULP ALSO REFERRED 394 LOW INCOME PENNSYLVANIANS TO OTHER LEGAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDED OVER 44 HOURS OF FREE PRO SE ASSISTANCE TO SELF-REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS.TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEPULP HOSTED OR PRESENTED AT 53 TRAININGS, REACHING 2,941 ATTORNEYS, ADVOCATES, REGULATORS, POLICYMAKERS, AND UTILITY PROFESSIONALS ACROSS ALL REGIONS OF THE STATE. WE ADDITIONALLY DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 6,750 PIECES OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, NOT INCLUDING ELECTRONIC DOWNLOADS. NOTABLE TRAINING EVENTS INCLUDE: 2024-2025 LIHEAP PROGRAM REVIEW- PRESENTED OUR ANNUAL LIHEAP PROGRAM REVIEW WEBINAR, PARTNERING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES. WE BROKE OUR REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION RECORD THAT WE SET IN THE 2023-24 YEAR, REACHING 564 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS, WITH 875 REGISTRANTS INCLUDING ADVOCATES, ATTORNEYS, REGULATORS, AND UTILITY PROFESSIONALS. ALL WHO REGISTERED RECEIVED ACCESS TO THE RECORDING OF THE WEBINAR AND MATERIALS. DEFENDING AGAINST UTILITY TERMINATIONS: A SPRING PRIMER- PULP PARTNERED WITH THE PA LEGAL AID NETWORK AND COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF HOW TO PREVENT AND ASSIST WITH CLIENT UTILITY TERMINATIONS. WE HAD 66 ATTENDEES AND 95 REGISTRANTS. CHAPTER 14 SUNSET: WHAT'S NEXT FOR UTILITY COLLECTIONS, BILLING, AND TERMINATIONS IN 2025- PULP PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES, PRESENTING ON HOW THE SUNSET OF THE CHAPTER 14 STATUTE WILL IMPACT THE WORK OF UTILITY ADVOCATES. WE HAD A STRONG TURNOUT WITH 108 ATTENDEES AND 168 REGISTRANTS. PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY LAW CONFERENCE- PULP SERVED ON THREE PANELS AT THE PA BAR INSTITUTE'S PUBLIC UTILITY LAW CONFERENCE, FOCUSED ON ELECTRICITY, GAS, AND WATER AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, REACHING NEARLY 200 UTILITY LAWYERS AND POLICY MAKERS ACROSS THE STATE. UTILITY RIGHTS FOR TENANTS: HOUSING EQUALITY SUMMIT- AT THE INVITATION OF THE PA HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION (PHRC), PULP PRESENTED TO APPROXIMATELY 50 ATTENDEES AT PHRC'S HOUSING EQUALITY CONFERENCE ON STATUTES THAT PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF TENANTS TO MAINTAIN UTILITY SERVICE TO THEIR HOMES. IMPACT OF ACCESS TO UTILITIES ON PATIENT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING- PULP PARTNERED WITH TOWER HEALTH, PRESENTING TO 50 ATTENDING ADVOCATES, ON THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH AND UTILITIES, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF ENERGY INSECURITY AND OBTAINING MEDICAL CERTIFICATES AND OTHER PROTECTIONS FOR HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDING MEDICALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE. ADDRESSING UTILITY NEEDS FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, VOCA- PARTNERING WITH THE PA LEGAL AID NETWORK, WE PRESENTED TO 74 ATTENDING ADVOCATES ABOUT THE AVAILABLE UTILITY PROTECTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. NATIONAL ENERGY AND UTILITY AFFORDABILITY CONFERENCE - PULP PRESENTED ON THREE PANELS AT THE NATIONAL ENERGY AND UTILITY AFFORDABILITY COALITION, REACHING WELL OVER 300 LOW INCOME UTILITY ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE PRESENTED ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RATEMAKING FOR LOW INCOME ADVOCATES, AND EFFECTIVE LOW INCOME UTILITY PROGRAM DESIGN.PULP ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES ALSO PROVIDED OVER 1,336 HOURS OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO LEGAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDERS STATEWIDE TO HELP RESOLVE PRESSING UTILITY MATTERS FOR LOW INCOME CONSUMERS. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH DIRECT CASE CONSULTATION, TRAINING, AND CO-COUNSELING.

  Expenses $1,391,418

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• COMMONWEALTH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  501(C)(3) · PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS · PA

• COMMONWEALTH HOUSING LEGAL SERVICES

  501(C)(3) · PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS · PA

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

10 October 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202502839349301145

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