Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe

12/29/2025

Press Release for Immediate Release:

Redevelopment Authority of Monroe County and Monroe County Habitat for Humanity Collaborate to Improve Home in Pocono Pines

Pocono Pines, PA — December 29, 2025 —

The Redevelopment Authority of Monroe County (RDA) Weatherization Assistance Program and Monroe County Habitat for Humanity are proud to announce a collaborative home improvement project in Pocono Pines that will enhance safety, energy efficiency, and long-term affordability for a local homeowner.

Through this partnership, the RDA Weatherization Assistance Program is providing critical energy-efficiency repairs utilizing Certified Weatherization Technicians, while Monroe County Habitat for Humanity is contributing skilled labor, volunteer support, and home repair expertise. Together, the organizations are addressing both immediate health and safety concerns and long-term sustainability, helping the homeowner reduce utility costs and improve overall living conditions.

Planned improvements include weatherization measures, such as installing insulation, air sealing, and other energy-saving repairs, as well as essential home repairs coordinated by Habitat for Humanity. This coordinated approach ensures the home is not only more energy efficient but also safe, healthy, and durable for years to come.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to helping Monroe County residents remain safely and affordably housed,” said Jennifer Petersen, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of Monroe County. “It shows how public programs and nonprofit organizations can work together to address complex housing issues as our community continues to face rising energy costs, aging housing stock, and affordability challenges."

Scott Fabian, Executive Director of Monroe County Habitat for Humanity added, “Partnerships like this allow us to extend our mission beyond building homes to preserving them. Working alongside the Weatherization Assistance Program means families can live in homes that are both energy efficient and secure.”

The project highlights the importance of cross-agency collaboration in addressing housing challenges throughout Monroe County, particularly for homeowners facing rising energy costs and aging housing stock.

For more information about the RDA Weatherization and Housing Rehabilitation Programs, visit https://www.monroecountyrda.org/

To learn more about Monroe County Habitat for Humanity and volunteer opportunities, visit https://habitatmc.com/

Media Contacts:
Jennifer Petersen
Executive Director
Redevelopment Authority of Monroe County
570-421-4436
[email protected]

Scott Fabian
Executive Director
Monroe County Habitat for Humanity
570-730-0547
[email protected]

At Monroe County Habitat for Humanity, our vision is a Monroe County in which everyone has a safe, decent place to live.

12/08/2025

Happy Holidays from the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe

12/04/2025

🏠 Monroe County working together to address housing issues at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania Annual Conference in Hershey.

12/03/2025

Monroe County is represented at the 'Homes Within Reach' Conference in Hershey, PA. Richard Schlameuss from Monroe County Transportation Authority, Tom Campbell from Pocono Mountains United Way, Jennifer Petersen from Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe, and Leslie Perryman from Cornerstone Community Initiative.

10/29/2025

The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania has released a new report. AFTER the PAUSE: The rise of eviction filings post-pandemic MONROE COUNTY, PA

"In the period from July 2022 to June 2023, Monroe County recorded 1,234 eviction filings, nearly 103% of the pre-pandemic filing level (Figure 2). To put it in perspective, this implies that approximately 3 renter households face eviction filings daily in the county."

10/20/2025

FAIR HOUSING: Did You Know?

Fair Housing discrimination still exists and impacts the most vulnerable in our community, including children and seniors experiencing economic hardships. The Fair Housing Act, a pivotal legislation passed in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson, was a significant expansion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Its association with Dr. King and the open housing marches in Chicago underscores its importance. 'Every condition exists,' Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, 'simply because someone profits by its existence. This economic exploitation is crystallized in the slum.' The Fair Housing Act protects the rights of vulnerable populations in protected classes, including Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, S*x, Family Status, and Disability, from discrimination in housing activities related to buying or renting a home, financing or insuring housing, and seeking housing assistance. The Act was a crucial step in addressing this exploitation, a word that has unfortunately been scrubbed out of the safe, affordable housing debate.

Gaps exist in protected classes impacting Fair Housing. Federal Laws do not currently protect households that have experienced evictions, bad credit, or live on fixed incomes from obtaining affordable housing. In 2024, Monroe County’s rent increased by an average rate of 3.1%, 5% higher than the National Average, while the cost-of-living adjustments for seniors on Social Security was just 3.2%. In Monroe County 2021-2022 school year, 446 homeless children were identified, where 16% of children are living in poverty, and 23% are being raised in single-parent households. These statistics underscore the urgent need for further action and protection.

In Evicted: Poverty and Profits in the American City, Matthew Desmond writes, “It is hard to argue that housing is not a fundamental human need. Decent, affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without stable shelter, everything else falls apart.”

Image by freepik

10/16/2025

Redevelopment Authority of the County of Monroe launches New Website thanks to Courtney Quaresimo and Quantifi Media.

Explore housing and community programs that help strengthen Monroe County through redevelopment, financial aid, and homeowner support.

10/09/2025

10/02/2025

Holiday Energy saving tip of the season:
It is easy to go overboard with the festive seasons and who doesn't love the decorations? To help save energy, use LED lights and plugging them into timers are a great way to cut that energy cost.

10/01/2025

October is Energy Awareness month! Every day we will bring you new tip and tricks to help you save energy.