💰 How to get an $805 tax credit next year

🏡 Mayor’s Housing Program Funding on Hold

Mayor Parker’s initiative to build or preserve 30,000 homes is delayed as City Council continues to negotiate legislation that would provide $800 million for the Housing Opportunities Made Easy program. Parker will have to wait until next year as negotiations continue over what the minimum income levels should be for housing benefit eligibility. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

🤑 Thousands of Pennsylvanians Getting Extra Cash Next Year

The state budget that Gov. Shapiro signed last week includes a tax credit of up to $805 apiece for nearly a million qualifying residents. The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit is modeled after the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and will be automatically applied to tax filings for those who make less than approximately $70,000. [WESA]

• Related: Where to Get Free Tax Help in Philly [✍️ Hey Philly]

✒️ Governor to Sign Anti-Hair Discrimination Bill

Gov. Shapiro expressed support for the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act after the state Senate advanced the bill. The CROWN act expands racial bias protections under the Human Relations Act to include hair styles and religious head coverings. [Penn Live]

📈 Steady Improvements in Kensington

Nearly two years into Mayor Parker’s efforts to address the neighborhood's safety, the number of shootings is the lowest it’s been in years, and some residents say they’ve seen improvements in 311 call responses and trash pickup. But while the number of dealers has reportedly decreased, the drug “flea market” persists. One police officer says local dealers are “leasing out” corners to outside drug organizations. [🔒 The Inquirer]

• The details: Philly is changing how it handles the drug crisis, but how well is that working? [🎧 City Cast Philly]

This week on City Cast Philly, we took a stroll down Baltimore Avenue to get a pulse on all the changes it’s going through. Test your knowledge of West Philly in today’s quiz.