SeniorLAW Center

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HOMEOWNERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (“HAP”)  

Addressing the needs of low-income elderly homeowners in Philadelphia, enabling them to maintain their homes and remain in their communities, helping them to lead safe, independent lives and expand their long-term care options. 

Funded largely by the generous support of The Pew Charitable Trusts, HAP provides a multi-faceted direct service and advocacy approach to address the enormous needs of Philadelphia’s older homeowners.  Through its Homeowners Assistance Program, SeniorLAW Center has served the needs of thousands of elderly homeowners, enabling them to maintain their independence and remain in their communities by improving the safety and quality of their homes and their lives.

Vast numbers of Philadelphia’s elderly are homeowners -- approximately 117,000 homes in Philadelphia are owned by older adults age 65 and over.  Many elderly homeowners live alone on fixed incomes consisting primarily of social security. 

The legal problems elderly homeowners are confronting in our community are varied and potentially devastating.  They include contractor fraud and exploitation, utility shut-offs, mortgage foreclosure, tax problems, accessing home repair resources, property damage caused by deteriorating neighborhoods and demolition of neighboring properties, code enforcement problems, demolition decrees, administration of estates, and clearing title to property so that resources for repairs and maintenance may be accessed.  

HAP provides direct legal assistance with these and other housing issues; educates seniors and professionals about legal issues affecting older homeowners; and pursues numerous important advocacy efforts, including legislative and regulatory work with City Council, focusing on contractor fraud licensing, legislation and enforcement.

HAP is the program under which SeniorLAW Center’s four community-based legal clinics are conducted.  Through HAP, seniors have regular access to a SeniorLAW Center legal representative in the neighborhoods in which they live and the languages they speak.  Our community partners are: