Pathways Housing Breaks Ground on Transformative Affordable Housing Project in Sharswood

For Immediate Release

September 12, 2025 

Pathways Housing Breaks Ground on Transformative Affordable Housing Project in Sharswood 
Phase 1 of the 17th Street Community Corridor to Deliver 40 Deeply Affordable Units with Supportive Services 

Philadelphia, PA – Pathways Housing Wellness Corporation (PHWC) is proud to host a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the 17th Street Community Corridor Project. The groundbreaking is set for 10am on Tuesday, September 16th and will be held at 1421 North 17th Street.

Several key partners and special guests will speak prior to the official groundbreaking, including Kelvin Jeremiah, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Senator Sherif Street, Councilmember Jeffrey Young, Jr., Ira Richards, PHWC Board President, Kathleen Mullin, Director of Housing Initiatives for Amerihealth Caritas, and William Harris, President of United Neighbors Alliance Civic Association. 

Located on the 1400 block of North 17th Street, this project will result in 40 deeply affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments and a 12-space parking lot for residents. The expected occupancy date is January 2027.

Ultimately, the 17th Street Community Corridor will develop 24 vacant lots centered around the intersection of 17th and Master Streets. The proposed development will be undertaken in phases, yielding a combined total of 87 brand new affordable housing units in the Sharswood neighborhood of Philadelphia. 30% of these units will be reserved for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Phase II will deliver 38 units, and Phase III another 9 units for a total of 87 units across the entire 17th Street Community Corridor project. 

PHWC is a nonprofit affordable housing developer that believes affordable homes result in healthier lives and stronger communities. PHWC aims to improve the health of our community by developing housing that is truly affordable for those most in need in Philadelphia, with a special emphasis on those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. PHWC partners with Pathways to Housing PA to provide high-quality wrap-around services to address behavioral and physical health issues for tenants of our developments.  

Philadelphia is facing an affordable housing crisis. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, 49% of Philadelphia households spent at least 30% of their income on housing costs in 2024, meaning they met the federal standard of being cost burdened. To add to that, 69% of cost-burdened Philadelphia households have incomes below $30,000 per year. Affordable housing is significantly more difficult to find for low-income families, especially those who are not white: 50% of Hispanic households and 46% of Black households are cost burdened, compared with 32% of white households.   

Housing is a well-known social determinant of health. Research shows that the following four characteristics of housing affect health outcomes:  

• Stability: Presence of stable housing improves health; unhoused people die 20 to 30 years earlier than those who are housed.  
• Safety and Quality: Environmental factors within homes, such as lead exposure, water leaks, poor ventilation, dirty carpets, and pest infestation, are correlated with poor health outcomes.  
• Affordability: A lack of affordable housing options can affect a family’s ability to pay other essential expenses, such as food and medical care, which has a direct impact on health.  
• Neighborhood: Access to public transportation, grocery stores with nutritious food, and safe spaces to exercise are all correlated with improved health outcomes.  

PHWC strives to develop housing that accounts for the above characteristics, therefore improving health outcomes in our community. As a nonprofit developer, PHWC is in a unique position to do this. Nonprofit developers are not beholden to the same revenue goals as a for-profit developer. PHWC builds housing that is not only deeply affordable, but also well-designed and built to last in communities most in need.  

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About Pathways Housing Wellness Corporation 
Pathways Housing Wellness Corporation (PHWC) is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing units in Philadelphia. PHWC works with and understands the needs of those at risk of or experiencing homelessness by building units that are affordable to those most in need in our community. Visit www.PathwaysHWC.org for more information. 
 
Media Contact 
Valerie Johnson, VP of Advancement and Social Enterprise 
vjohnson@pthpa.org 
267-252-8136