Housing Authority of the City of Erie

06/19/2026

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a day that honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

As we reflect on this important moment in American history, we reaffirm our commitment to creating communities where every individual and family has the opportunity to live with dignity, stability, and hope.

Happy Juneteenth.

06/15/2026

The Housing Authority of the City of Erie is proud to have received a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency's Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund.

HACE will leverage this funding with other sources to rehabilitate the Better Housing property development on East 16th to 17th between Holland and German. HACE purchased this property in 2019 and has spent $1.4 million to date on renovations, $750,000 of which was covered by PHARE grants.

This final phase of the rehabilitation will remove stucco and vinyl siding and replace with durable, energy-efficient cement board siding; replace all front doors; replace an under-utilized parking lot with green space; restore curbs and install 450' of wrought iron fence to enhance safety and curb appeal; update 12 HVAC units; change the name and create new signage; and install landscaping, address numbers, and exterior lighting. During the Meet Your Neighbor Day on July 15, residents will be invited to choose the color of their front doors and vote on a name for the development.

The awards were announced on June 11. The full list of projects is available at 2026 PHARE Project Summaries. Congratulations to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Erie, Bayfront East Side Taskforce, St. Martin Center, the City of Erie, Erie County Department of Human Services, Mercy Center for Women, and Erie’s Black Wall Street on their awards.

There are so many exciting projects and initiatives happening in Erie, and we are grateful for the commitment, passion, and hard work of our community partners, as well as the support of PHFA, in helping create housing opportunities for the people of Erie. Please stay tuned for details.

06/11/2026

The Housing Authority of the City of Erie (HACE) is proud to have secured a $500,000 three-year grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to expand the Erie Police Athletic League (PAL) into a new, dedicated out-of-school time program site for at-risk youth living in our affordable and public housing communities. This initiative, called PAL HOPE ASPIRES
(Housing Opportunities for the People of Erie After-School Police Initiative for Residential Educational Support), will provide tutoring, mentoring, recreation, team-building, athletics, and character-development activities for children in grades 3–12, beginning with a pilot of 40 elementary-aged students in Grades 3- 5 during the 2026- 27 school year.

According to Dusti Dennis, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the City of Erie, "The Housing Authority, through our COPPS program, is happy to collaborate with the Police Athletic League (PAL), City of Erie Police Department, Erie County Probation, Eagle’s Nest, and EMTA to expand PAL for the benefit of our youth who live in our properties. We are excited about this opportunity, how it will build on PAL's work, and the positive impact it will have on our children. Our COPPS Team is looking forward to getting started as soon as we have a program coordinator on board. COPPS has been a model in community policing, and this will only add value to the good work they already do."

Corporal Mike Roofner, Quebec Unit lead, indicated that: "HOPE ASPIRES is an incredible opportunity to build a lasting partnership between youth residents, their families, members of HACE, and the City of Erie Police COPPS program."

More information will be available once a program coordinator is hired and the program details are finalized. If you have children in Grades 3 through 5, please keep an eye out for additional information.

City's Police Athletic League coming to Erie Housing Authority

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant will bring PAL activities to at-risk youth living in public housing.

05/26/2026

At their regularly scheduled meeting on May 26, 2026, the HACE Board of Commissioner recognized two outstanding scholarship recipients for their academic achievements and commitment to continuing education. Samira Babiker was awarded the $2,000 L. Dewitt Boosel Memorial Scholarship, while Asia Suber received the $3,000 Paul G. Pecharko Memorial Scholarship, which is presented to adult continuing education students. The Board congratulated both recipients and acknowledged their dedication to furthering their education and pursuing future success. These scholarships were awarded by the Pennsylvania Association of Housing & Redevelopment Agencies (PAHRA).

05/18/2026

Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you already applied for a mail ballot, you can track its status online using the state ballot tracker. Completed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

You can drop off your ballot at the drop box outside the Erie County Courthouse at 140 W. 6th Street.

Check your voter registration status: vote.pa.gov/Status.

Find your polling place: vote.pa.gov/Polls.

05/12/2026

The Housing Authority of the City of Erie has summer job opportunities available! You must be a resident, but not head of household, 18-22 years old, currently attending an accredited college/university or an accredited trade school full-time, or enrolled to begin an accredited college/university or an accredited trade school full-time for the fall 2026 semester. Positions are available with the Housing Authority and with our social service partners. Students will work 35 hours per week and will be paid $15 per hour. Apply in person at 606 Holland Street or contact Sheila Hayes, Resident Initiatives Coordinator, for application information (814) 452-2425. Applications will be accepted until May 29, 2026

05/04/2026

Hey—quick reminder: are you registered to vote?

It’s easy to put it off, but it only takes a couple of minutes, and it makes a real difference. Your vote helps shape what’s happening in your community—schools, housing, jobs, and so much more.

If you’ve moved, changed your name, or just aren’t sure, now’s a good time to double-check your registration. And if you’re not registered yet, go ahead and take care of it today!

04/29/2026

For more than 30 years, Housing Authority of the City of Erie has shown what it means to lead by example. Through United Way of Erie County’s Workplace Campaign, local companies and organizations rally their teams to give back, supporting efforts that strengthen our community through employee contributions. As an added incentive, employees who give more than $156 annually are entered to win a range of prizes made possible by generous partners. For the past three years, someone from HACE has taken home that prize, reflecting our consistency, generosity, and commitment.

That consistency starts with a shared purpose. As Executive Director Dusti Dennis explains, “The United Way’s mission closely aligns with the mission of the Housing Authority. Both organizations are committed to strengthening our community and supporting individuals and families in need.” That alignment has helped sustain a remarkable tradition of 100% employee participation, year after year. Thank you to our incredible team for supporting United Way of Erie County.

04/27/2026

The Housing Authority of the City of Erie has summer job opportunities available! You must be a resident, but not head of household, 18-22 years old, currently attending an accredited college/university or an accredited trade school full-time, or enrolled to begin an accredited college/university or an accredited trade school full-time for the fall 2026 semester. Positions are available with the Housing Authority and with our social service partners. Students will work 35 hours per week and will be paid $15 per hour. Apply in person at 606 Holland Street or contact Sheila Hayes, Resident Initiatives Coordinator, for application information (814) 452-2425. Applications will be accepted until May 29, 2026