Chester County Department of Community Development

05/21/2026

When there isn’t enough housing, everyone feels it.

But progress is happening.

In 2024, the Chester County Department of Community Development set a goal to add 1,000 affordable housing units in Chester County by 2030, and it's already underway:
🏘️283 new homes opened
🚧139 units under development
⚙️67 units pending

Each new home means more stability, more opportunity, and more people able to live and work in the community they call home.

04/28/2026

The Chester County Department of Community Development invites public review and comment on the 2026 Action Plan starting April 28 through May 27, 2026. This plan outlines funding allocations for key HUD programs, including the Community Development Block Grant and Emergency Shelter Grant. Two amendments for previous action plans will also be available for review. A public hearing is scheduled for May 7, 2026. Your feedback is essential.

Email from Chester County Department of Community Development Visit our Website Community Developments Vol. 10 April 2026 Public Notice: 2026 Action Plan CARES Act Amendment 2022 Action Plan Amendment

04/09/2026

The Chester County Department of Community Development is accepting applications for a Fiscal Coordinator position in its Fiscal Team.

The Fiscal Coordinator is responsible for managing and maintaining program accounts and funds for various federal, state, and locally-funded programs.

Interested candidates should have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experiences, knowledge of IDIS and LOCCS (Federal Government disbursement programs. This position requires a strong work ethic, working knowledge of budgets, spreadsheets, interpreting audits, an understanding of federal and state fiscal compliance and recordkeeping requirements.

The Fiscal Coordinator is responsible for managing and maintaining program accounts and funds for various federal, state and locally-funded programs.A criminal background check is required.

03/11/2026

As required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development the 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) is available for public review and comment on the Chester County Department of Community Development's (DCD) website from Wednesday, March 11, 2026, to Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Written comments will be accepted until the end of the public comment period and should be addressed to Dolores S. Colligan, Director, Department of Community Development, 601 Westtown Road Suite 365, West Chester, PA 19380 or emailed to [email protected]

03/05/2026

❄On the night of Janurary 28th, 9 teams of volunteers completed the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count across Chester County.

Take a look at the photos in this post to see the teams in West Chester, Phoenixville, Coatesville, and Oxford in action.

📸The PIT count is meant to serve as a snapshot of homelessness in a community and to provide a sense of the overall scope of homelessness in America

This effort was made possible through the incredible dedication of volunteers from Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center (NSC), Human Services, Inc., Oxford SILO, Chester County Department of Community Development, Coatesville VA Medical Center, Open Hearth Inc., Friends Association, Good Samaritan Services, Brandywine Valley Active Aging, North Star of Chester County, Coatesville Bible Fellowship, KACS, and City of Coatesville Police Department.

01/28/2026

On January 21, 2026, the Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children opened its new ten-unit non-congregate family shelter in West Chester. The purchase of the shelter and operating location was funded by the Chester County Commissioners through a $3.27 million acquisition grant, the largest single award ever from the Department of Community Development.

Friends Association acquired a vacant building on Paoli Pike in West Chester, located near public transportation and a grocery store. The renovated family center provides families with private bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces, as well as shared laundry facilities. The building also serves as their primary office location, making supportive services easily accessible to residents.

Once placed at the new facility, families will have access to Friends Association’s skilled case managers, case conferencing, and a path to identifying safe, stable, and affordable housing. The resources now offered through this facility serve as examples of how Chester County's system of care supports community members in their times of need.

With the opening of the new shelter, Chester County's total family shelter capacity will increase from 16 to 26 units. These additional units will provide trauma-informed shelter, safety, and privacy to families experiencing homelessness in Chester County, including all families currently on the shelter waitlist.

12/22/2025

So many traditions this time of year focus on light in the darkness. Through a very challenging year, our partners and their staff have been a light to those in crisis in Chester County.

With your steadfast determination, unwavering warmth, tireless efforts, and continued devotion to those in need, we have accomplished so much together.

•Achieved Built for Zero Data Quality for the Chronic Population.
•Maintained at least two years of permanent housing for 95% of those who exited to a permanent housing destination.
•Provided home rehabilitations for safety and accessibility for over 175 households.
•Decreased the number of those in Chester County experiencing first-time homelessness by 12%.

From me to you and on behalf of the staff at the Chester County Department of Community Development we wish you all a warm and joyous holiday season with opportunities to rest and keep burning brightly in 2026.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Dolores Colligan
Director

12/16/2025

Holiday Hours for all Chester County Government and Court Offices

🎄Christmas Eve 12/24 - 8:30AM - Noon
🎅Christmas Day 12/25 - CLOSED
🎇New Year's Eve - 12/31 - 8:30AM - Noon
🌟New Year's Day - 1/1/26 - CLOSED

12/09/2025

December 8, 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rescinded the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Fiscal Year 2025 Continuum of Care Program Competition, pending edits.

Email from Chester County Department of Community Development Visit our Website Community Developments 2025 Continuum of Care Program Letter of Interest Deadline Extended On December 8, 2025, the U.S.

12/05/2025

The Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) has received international recognition from Built for Zero for its progress in reducing and preventing homelessness.

The Chester County Department of Community Development was recently honored by Built For Zero at their international conference for significant progress in reducing homelessness. Staff were recognized for their strong collaboration with new partners and behavioral health providers, as well as their commitment to including individuals with lived homelessness experience in shaping policies and decisions. Read more: chesco.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1694.

Pictured L-R: Lauran Rillstone, DCD’s Community Services/Construction Manager; Kelly Raggazino, CEO of Open Hearth Inc., Cory Lovera, Housing & Community Resource Manager for Open Hearth, Inc.; Rob Henry, Administrator for the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness, Emily Kopp, DCD’s Lead Street Outreach Team Coordinator; and Hilary Haake, DCD’s Data and Street Outreach Team Manager.