on the market for four or five days, and apartments are hard to get.” While this demand has led to a 160% increase in housing prices over the last decade, York remains relatively affordable compared to neighboring metropolitan areas. The city’s housing strategy emphasizes diversity in housing types and price points. A standout example is the development right by the mayor’s house, where Four Squares, an African American development group, is building 20 new single-family homes on land that had been vacant for decades, a project that exemplifies inclusive development and community renewal. The housing initiatives also address broader social challenges.“Our shelters are at a bottleneck because of the affordable housing crisis,” Mayor Helfrich notes. “When people can’t find affordable places to live, they get stuck in shelters, which prevents others from accessing those services.” To address this, York is prioritizing development at all levels.“If we build for everyone—affordable, middle-market, and higherend—it creates opportunities for people to move up,” he explains. “That, in turn, frees up more affordable options for others.” WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND SECOND CHANCES Workforce development in York combines innovative training programs with a deeply compassionate focus on second chances. Through partnerships with organizations like Tech Centro and Crispus Attucks, the city is creating pathways to employment while addressing labor market gaps in an evolving economy. A groundbreaking initiative involves virtual reality career training, funded through a grant from Comcast and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “We got a grant to purchase virtual reality goggles that are career training goggles,” Mayor Helfrich explains.“You can be incarcerated but be in a virtual world where you’re learning new skillsets.” The program offers training in various fields, from mechanical work to drone operation and aircraft maintenance, ensuring Photo Credit: Robert Nulph Magic Brought to Life In the Strand Theater of the Appell Center 11 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02 YORK, PA
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