Community Ventures, Old First Reformed UCC, and Depaul USA have opened Old First House. This affordable housing mixed-use development includes 34 permanent supportive housing units for the chronically homeless individuals, ground floor commercial space and new office space for Old First Reformed UCC.
Since the 1980s, when then-Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode called on congregations to open their doors to the homeless population, Old First Reformed UCC has sheltered 30-45 homeless men in their social hall, located on the first floor of the church, during the six coldest months out of every year. This project will be an extension—and an improvement—of Old First Reformed UCC’s long-term efforts to shelter the homeless.
When Old First Reformed UCC approached Community Ventures about the idea to redevelop an underutilized portion of their property along the 100 block of N. 4th Street, Community Ventures suggested that the plan be supportive housing as an extension of the work the church had been doing for over 30 years, sheltering homeless men. That turned out to be very much what the Old First congregation had in mind. Old First House replaces two former parking areas and inefficient row house structures that the Church used as office space, parsonage, and Sunday School classrooms for five decades. The new Old First House building includes 2,450 square feet of ground floor commercial space at the corner of 4th & Race and new ground floor offices and multipurpose room for the Church. The second through fifth floors include 34 small efficiency units ranging in size from 277 SF to 353 SF and a residential community room for formerly homeless individuals.
To accommodate the new building, the project moved a circa 1760 three-story building approximately 48’ to the south on the project site, which has been fully renovated and restored. The 1760s building has been used by Old First Reformed UCC since the 1970s as their parsonage and later their church office space. The relocated and renovated building restores the historic commercial façade and will remain the entry for the Church offices.
Old First House has achieved critical environmental sustainability goals. It is Zero Energy Ready, Indoor Air Plus, and Enterprise Green Communities certified. The added insulation, air sealing and high efficiency heating and cooling systems along with the 28 kw solar array on the roof will reduce the building’s carbon footprint and electric bills even further.
The project has been financed through the City of Philadelphia’s Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Low Income Housing Tax Credits and additional funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, TD Bank, National Equity Fund, Community Lenders and operating subsidy from the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA). OZ Collaborative led the design team and Domus Inc was the general contractor.
Old First House become home for its’ first residents in March 2025. Depaul USA, a national homeless services organization operating in 12 cities across the country and part of the global Depaul International Group, is providing both on-site property management and supportive services for the residents. Depaul USA was awarded a HUD Continuum of Care grant so that Old First House residents have access to 24/7 on-site staffing and support.
© 2025