Speakers urge council to fund Built to Last and basic home-repair programs; advocates give wait-list figures

Advocates for home repair and energy-efficiency programs asked Philadelphia City Council to fund the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) and to expand the Built to Last whole‑home repair initiative during a Committee of the Whole public meeting on the FY 2026 budget.

Emily Pugliese, policy director at Green Building United, told council, "Green Building United asks that city council, fully fund the energy the Philadelphia Energy Authority at 10000000 dollars to include $5,000,000 for the built to last program," and argued that energy‑efficiency investments reduce long‑term housing costs for low‑income households.

Speakers from Philly Climate Works and the Here for Climate Justice coalition reiterated that utility cost increases and aging housing stock create acute energy burdens. Patrick Houston of the Here for Climate Justice coalition supplied district‑level wait‑list counts for Built to Last and said, in total, 2,617 low‑income households across the city are on the program's wait list. He urged council to secure $10,000,000 for the PEA and Built to Last.

Legal and community advocates including Ben Clark of Community Legal Services and members of 1PA argued that home repair programs prevent displacement, preserve generational wealth and reduce downstream costs, such as emergency utility shutoffs or foster‑care interventions. Requests included $40,000,000 for Basic Systems Repair and $10,000,000 for Built to Last from some witness coalitions; Green Building United specified a $10,000,000 PEA allocation with $5,000,000 for Built to Last.

Witnesses asked council to prioritize investments that pair repairs with energy upgrades and to ensure programs reach the lowest‑income households on lengthy waiting lists. No formal action on budget line items occurred at the meeting; the hearing record will inform council's next deliberations on the FY 2026 budget.