Philadelphia City Council passed ten bills and resolutions in their weekly public meeting on Thursday, focusing on zoning and housing measures. If signed by Mayor Jim Kenney, they will change some tax rules and create more funding for affordable units and programs to assist existing homeowners.

City Council’s Committee on Appropriations passed a three-bill package Wednesday, providing framework for more funds to support existing homeowners and develop more affordable housing in the city. 

Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess (District 9), with Mayor Bill Peduto and community leaders, is attempting to ease displacement in East Liberty after years of redevelopment and gentrification through a projects funded in part by the affordable housing fund.

Announced last week, the proposal comes after a few years of fighting that’s turned the East End neighborhood into a model for what long time, often African-American, city residents fear from the city’s tech renaissance.

Affordable housing is dwindling in Philadelphia. But like in Pittsburgh, Philly’s city council thinks it has a solution.

Back in June, the council passed a construction bill that would tax all new development at one percent. That money is supposed to go directly the Housing Trust Fund, which supports the production and preservation of affordable housing in the city.

With the passage of a controversial deed transfer tax last year, Pittsburgh has its affordable housing fund. Entrusted to a board of 16 city leaders and advocates, the board met this week for its second hearing on how to use the $10 million pool.

But even as the listening continues, some members are already pushing to get the funding into the city’s 90 neighborhoods immediately to start addressing an 18,000 unit deficit in affordable housing.